Finding Community When You’re Far From Home for the Holidays

Photo by Janelle Pol

I love Christmas celebrations,  almost to an almost worrying degree. By December 1st (okay, honestly, more like August) I have decorated, planned gifts, signed up for every festive event, and am eagerly counting down the days. Last year, I had a Christmas tree before I had any furniture in my new apartment. 

My family has loads of weird and wonderful traditions around this time — including parading around the house wearing silly hats, all while being led by my mother who holds a Christmas pudding (a very British dessert, which also happens to involve fire!) as Handel’s Queen of Sheba blasts. We still don’t know where this strange ritual came from. All that our poor guests know is they are required to partake in the madness. 

But of course, my true love for Christmas (and all celebrations) comes from the friends and family I am blessed to be surrounded with for the day.  

FAR FROM FAMILY

There are a lot of unknowns that come with moving your life across the world. In addition to the excitement, anticipation, and reveling in being in a new place (New York City, no less!), I had underlying anxiety about where I would find myself during the festive season, as well as a serious fear that I would spend it alone. 

I moved here at the beginning of October, just as the American holiday season kicked off. I realized it wasn’t just Christmas I would have to worry about, but also Thanksgiving and a slew of seasonal parties.

I pushed this nagging fear to the back of my mind, because initially there was so much more to get used to — a new work environment, moving into an apartment, unfamiliar grocery stores, conquering the laundromat, and so much more that comes with a cultural shift. I still don’t understand why pumpkin is in everything. Having something fun to do for Christmas seemed a low priority.

FINDING A NEW FAMILY

However, almost immediately, I found a church community and this group of exceptional people became the provision of celebration. And I realized the God I know is very kind. 

As Christmas Day loomed, my first one ever away from my family, I was scooped up by a new family. A group of us, united by the fact we had to stay in New York over the holidays, gathered together for a beautiful day of food, drink, and laughter. I only knew one other person at the beginning of the day, but by the end of the celebration, I had many more friends.

God had taken care of this seemingly small need in the middle of big change, providing others to encourage and uplift me on a day that mattered to me. And amazingly, this provision has continued every single celebration or holiday since. I have been surrounded by friends for New Years, Easter and the 4th of July. 

All this confirms to me that God not only cares about me but he loves a celebration, too. It’s comforting to know that in a city which can be so isolating, there are communities waiting to welcome foreigners like me into their parties, to join them in toasting the New Year and eating too much turkey on Thanksgiving. And hopefully, I can bring a little bit of my own festive traditions and madness to the celebration.  

Worried about being alone for the holidays? God sees you and knows your heart. Reach out to him and ask him for a community to belong to. And open your heart to new opportunities. Seek out others, as I did in connecting with the community of faith when I moved here.

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Anna has been state-side for a year now, and lives in Hells Kitchen. She works in Flatiron as a Visual Merchandiser, otherwise known as the “Make It Pretty Committee” as she likes to joke. She loves cupcakes, kickboxing and jazzy earrings.