Expat Life: How Do You Celebrate the Holidays When Living Abroad?

The famous Andy Williams song proclaims, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” But what about when you’re living abroad? How do expats celebrate the season? Or do you celebrate at all? And what about the locals?

Like so many things in life, the answer is—it depends. Not so much on the country as the individual. There are expats who go all out during the holidays and others who do nothing. We’ll give you an “insider look” at what goes on during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s in Cuenca, Ecuador where we live.

Thanksgiving ~ It should come as no surprise that for locals this holiday is just another day here. But that doesn’t mean expats aren’t able to celebrate. Turkeys are a specialty item generally available in grocery stores only around this time of year for Christmas. So numerous restaurants host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the expat community.

Plus many friends celebrate together in their homes. We joined a group of 18 amigos in Yunguilla (about an hour outside of Cuenca) for a feast of turkey, ham, dressing, salads, sweet potatoes and other veggies, plus a dessert table that included Cynthia’s “not a crumb left” pumpkin pie. A glass of wine or two was consumed as well.😉

Christmas ~ The city goes all out for this one. Miles of lighted decorations line the Tomebamba River, which separates the Historic District from New Town. A massive silver tree—over 100 feet tall—covered with 12,000 LED lights towers over Otorongo Plaza. Nightly fireworks, choral concerts, performances of the Nutcracker, and craft sales are among the daily happenings.

The season’s highlight is the Christmas Eve parade through the Historic District. It lasts all day and features floats decorated with anything from flowers, fruits and vegetables to empty beer cans and liquor bottles, roasted pigs and chickens. There are also bands, dancers and street performers, stilt-walkers, and countless flatbed trucks with children dressed as Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. Organizers claim it is the largest parade of its kind in all of Latin America.

Being with our family, especially the four young grandchildren, during the holiday season is precious to us. We’re in the States now, but did spend a memorable Christmas in Ecuador years ago.

We attended an expat friend’s party to watch that day-long parade pass by beneath the balconies of her beautiful home. 

On Christmas day a local friend invited us to join her family for their celebration. It began with a big surprise—a priest offered Mass under a large tent in their yard! Who knew? Afterwards, the neighborhood kids lined up to receive their gifts from our generous hostess. While all this was going on, a special meal was being prepared for everyone to enjoy. At the end of the evening we raised a glass to toast the season and our friendship.

New Year’s ~ In the States fireworks aren’t legal everywhere. Risk of fire or injury prevent most consumers from enjoying these aerial explosives in their own backyards, so for safety reasons fireworks displays are usually events staged by professionals. Ecuador’s celebration, on the other hand, is an immersive experience so literally “explosive” that it’s almost impossible to describe.

At midnight massive fireworks erupt in every direction for what seems like an eternity. People in the streets are giddily jumping back and forth over burning effigies. The sight, sound, and smell are overwhelming, and the energy is so palpable you find yourself bursting into laughter.

Last year we returned to Cuenca on New Year’s Eve in time to open the windows of our apartment (it’s summer there 😀) and take in the whole spectacle. What a fantastic, unforgettable way to begin 2019!

For us celebrating the holidays is more about what’s in our hearts than where we are. And in that spirit we wish you all the best now and throughout the New Year!