Parties, days of work and school, good food, and maybe a dance or a race or two–one thing is universal, we all love to celebrate! When you’re traveling or living in another country, you may get a chance to experience local holidays firsthand. To hear about a few unusual ones that I’ve experienced (everything from a traditional pig slaughter in Spain, to Christmas markets in Vienna, to Ghost month in Taiwan, to Easter whips in the Czech Republic, and more) check out this week’s episode! For a few tips on how to get the most out of celebrating in other cultures, read on:
What to expect:
- Often holidays are more family-oriented and not as public as you might expect (hint: instead of crazy parties in the street, the city shuts down and everything is closed. Plan ahead!)
- Sometimes traditions will be inexplicable to you, which makes you realize how culturally specific holidays can be! For a fun brain teaser, try to see some of your country’s holidays through an objective lens. Things like April Fool’s Day and Groundhog Day are actually kind of strange. And some familiar holidays can actually be quite problematic with troubling histories (looking at you, Columbus Day and Thanksgiving)
How to get the most out of the experience:
- Keep an open mind. You never know what it’ll be like! Things might delight you, surprise you, shock you, or even repulse you, but try not to have preconceived notions and remember that you’re a guest in their culture.
- On that note, be respectful. You may not understand some traditions, and some things may be objectionable, but you’re still a guest in their country. It doesn’t mean you can’t form an opinion (I certainly have!), but be careful in how you express it. And even if something seems (from an outside perspective) harmless but nonsensical, remember that it does make sense to the people in that country and you need to respect that.
- Join in. The best way to celebrate! Join a local family or friends, eat the food, do the things, go to the parades, join a (dragon boat) team, etc.
- Celebrate with a local. Depending on the holiday and the country, you could very likely be invited to join a family celebration. This is especially prevalent in Asian countries for Lunar New Year, for example.
- Choose whether you want to travel or not. Often, holidays mean time off from work or school, so it can be tempting to use that as vacation time and go somewhere else, but you may miss some of the local festivities. Also, time off usually means that everyone is traveling, and it may be hard to impossible to book tickets or accommodation. Sometimes it’s best to stay put and join the local parties!
- Plan ahead. There are often traditional events that take place, and it’s great if you can be preparted to completely imerse yourself. For example, if a festival involves dancing or some activity, practice ahead of time.
What’s the coolest festival or holiday you’ve ever experienced abroad? Is there any that you’d specifically travel just to see? Send those stories and more to goingoutyourdoortravel@gmail.com and follow me on Instagram and Facebook @goingoutyourdoor.
Going Out Your Door 