Over the last 12 years spent in Guatemala, my 'normal' Christmas has actually been different every year.
When you live in a country that does Christmas differently to what you grew up with, and when you are far away from family, you have to rethink things. There are often others around who are far from family too, and each one comes with different ideas of the special food or events that make Christmas Christmas. So every year we have created and enjoyed new traditions that are a mixture of the different cultures and family rituals and activities of the people who are around. Favourite foods aren't necessarily available, and we have to create something similar from what is available or find an alternative. I'm not sure that this is quite how you might define a 'tradition' but in my book it's OK that these traditions are a onetime only event, never to be repeated as you'll never have the same combination of people and nationalities together again!.
In fact it can be useful to help us remember that Christmas isn't about the gifts or the food or the rituals, but about celebrating the coming of Jesus, God with us, the greatest gift of all.
So as we in the UK are reeling from the announcement of new and stricter rules that will limit Christmas plans for many of us, I'm remembering the lessons I've learnt through spending Christmasses abroad.
Celebrate with the people around you, whoever they are.
Adapt your rituals and traditions for the circumstances you find yourselves in.
Be open to learn from others - and join in with their rituals and traditions.
Be thankful for all the good gifts that we have been given - not the ones in sparkly wrapping paper, but the ones that are deeper and connect us with God and each other.
Connect with people in any way you can.
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