Being without your family at Christmas time is one of the biggest challenges when you live on another continent. Rest assured; it does not have to be that difficult.

Thanks to technology, it’s now easier than ever to celebrate Christmas with your family abroad. Here are some tips and ideas to help you survive the holiday season and enjoy every second with your family and friends.

Take full advantage of technology if your family live overseas

Social media can make the distance much shorter. Create a WhatsApp group for your family and share recipes, photos and conversations. Enjoy the holiday season together on Facebook or use a hashtag and share in each other’s joys on Instagram.

With a little planning to coordinate time zones, you and your family can visit face-to-face on Skype, Zoom or Google Hangouts. You can even sit down together for the Christmas dinner; cook your family’s favourite dishes and enjoy each other’s company while you eat. Or try the following ideas:

• Gather around the Christmas tree and open presents.
• Compile a playlist, share it with the family and listen to it throughout the day.

Another idea to feel closer to your overseas family is to invite everyone to take part in a photo challenge. Make a list of Christmas snaps that each family member can take on Christmas Day and share them.

Share your traditions with new friends

Sharing something truly South African or a tradition or recipe unique to your family with new friends will also help reduce the distance between you and your family. Have a real South African Christmas dinner, watch a Leon Schuster movie and tell stories about your family’s Christmas traditions. This way, you create a new tradition for your friends and you feel more at home abroad.

Involve your family in your Christmas abroad. Ever wanted to learn how to make your grandmother’s delicious potato salad? Ask her to demonstrate it to you and your new friends on Zoom or Skype. Not only do you share your traditions with your new friends, but you also spend time with your family.

Christmas time is a difficult time of year when everyone is far away, but thanks to technology, memories and traditions, the continents are getting closer to each other – one potato salad or phone call at a time.

How are you going to keep in touch with your family abroad? Please let us know by commenting below.