Holidays are a time for family and friends, reliving old traditions and enjoying the comforts of familiarity. Unfortunately, if you happen to be in a foreign country, especially one that doesn't celebrate that holiday at all, holidays can bring on a bout of loneliness and longing for home. Luckily, for the solo traveler, holidays are a great way to connect with fellow adventurers, so that you can celebrate your own traditions together while exploring somewhere new! And, hopefully, make some great friends in the process.
A few summers ago I was backpacking around South East Asia, and found myself in Ko Phangan, Thailand, for the 4th of July. This is an important holiday in my family; aunts, uncles, cousins, family friends, neighbors--you name it!--head to my grandmother's house by the seaside for a weekend of fireworks, cookouts, late night drinks, and, of course, red, white and blue. It's the one time a year that the whole family gets together, and has come to symbolize for me the importance of unity--as a family, and as a nation.
So I was a little disappointed to miss out on the festivities. Granted, I was at least at the seaside--a gorgeous, palm-tree lined, white-sanded seaside, bordered by rocky cliff faces covered in jungle. Not bad. But still, I was missing my New England roots. So, on the 4th, I put on a red and white shirt and my trusty blue sweat bandana (it was Thailand, in July, ok? Things got sweaty.) And you know what? Throughout the day, I noticed other American tourists doing the same thing, and when i heard an American accent, I wished them "Happy 4th of July!" As a fairly shy person, I wouldn't have usually approached random travelers, but hey, we needed to celebrate!
That night, I headed to my favorite bar on the island, an open-air hut with old-school reggae music, black lights hung up and free neon paint, so you could decorate the tables, chairs, walls, and yourself. And there I saw several of the Americans that I had spoken to earlier, replicating the fireworks at home with the brightly colored, glowing splatterings of paint! We weren't trying to be obnoxious Americans, and luckily everyone involved had the respect and taste not to come across that way; but it felt great to be acknowledging this holiday that was special to us--especially because we were abroad.
If you find yourself far from home on a special day, don't let it get you down! Take the initiative to use the holiday to connect with other people who hold it dear. In many countries, the American embassy holds celebrations for special days such as the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Yom Kippur. And in large cities, upscale chain hotels such as the Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, etc. often host holiday celebrations for their guests that anyone can attend for a fee. If you're staying in a hostel, gather other backpackers to celebrate with you, regardless of nationality! If there is a specific tradition in your family, try and put together a make-shift recreation!
As always with traveling, safety and respect are the name of the game when celebrating abroad. Be sure that your festivities are not frowned upon in your host country. And especially for Americans, be extremely aware of your surroundings and company before advertising your foreign nationality. That said, remember that holidays, regardless of what they celebrate, are all about coming together and commemorating something special, so use them as a chance to share your traditions with others, learn about new customs, make friends, and have fun!
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