by I was talking to my British friend the other day about our families’ Christmas traditions. The number of unique dishes that traditionally have to be placed on the table during Christmas in Poland got a bit of a giggle, but it was the hay placed under the tablecloth that got her choking on her […]
Holidays for Cross-Cultural Kids
by It’s high holiday time with the US Thanksgiving just wrapping up and even in my little corner of the world, Christmas is jingling into the grocery store speakers. I live on the subtropical island of Taiwan, so I’m always amazed to hear “Stille Nacht” or “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” as I wind […]
Holiday Traditions: Tips for When You Don’t Agree
by The holidays are here, but not everything brings good cheer! What do you do when you don’t agree with popular holiday traditions? One expat mom in the Netherlands shares her tips. “Phew, he’s gone,” I sigh with relief. “Who’s gone?” asks my husband. “You know who.” The “you know who” I have in mind […]
Christmas in Bethlehem
by As you might imagine, being able to spend Christmas in Bethlehem is a very unique and special experience. In 1999, I found myself on Christmas Eve at the Church of the Nativity, along with thousands of other individuals, literally, from around the world. This is one of the many things that makes Christmas in […]
A Lebanese Christmas Celebration
by Many people in the small Texan town where I grew up didn’t know much about Lebanese culture. I was learning about my identity as a Texan with Lebanese heritage, so I did little to educate them. My mother was Lebanese and was born in Texas. Our Lebanese family had lived in Texas for over […]