For some people the holidays are full of magic and nostalgia, and for others, not so much. But when you celebrate your first Christmas abroad and get a chance to start fresh, the holidays are a great time to make new traditions and try something new.

We arrived in Madrid in October 2024, right before the holiday season. While I was initially nervous about feeling lonely spending our first Christmas abroad (and away from loved ones), my husband and I decided to make the most of it and ended up making all new memories.

Whether you’re missing family, figuring out what to do, or just want to make it feel special, here are ideas to make your first Christmas abroad feel meaningful.

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Embrace Local Traditions

While a lot of restaurants close for the holidays, some places have a special cena navideña (Christmas Eve dinner). If you want to get out of the house and try typical holiday food, finding a cena navideña is a great way to experience the culture!

If you’re moving to Spain and looking for ways to experience local holiday traditions, I’d encourage you to:

• Try traditional local foods – especially turrón (traditional almond nougat candy), jamón iberico, and cava (Spanish sparkling wine).
• Visit local Christmas markets – Plaza Colón has a great Christmas market in Madrid. But if you live anywhere in Europe, you’re likely to have a local Christmas market in your city. Research your city to find a christmas market near you!
• Learn about how locals celebrate! In Spain, they celebrate Día de los Reyes Magos (Day of the Wise Men) in January, which is just as important as Christmas. Most families don’t open presents on Christmas, but rather on Los Reyes Magos.

Local Traditions to Experience in Spain

Light Shows & Nativity Scenes

Cities and towns across Spain go all out with dazzling light displays and intricate nativity scenes called Belénes. You’ll find everything from small setups in shop windows to elaborate, life-sized scenes in parks and plazas. These are often complete with running water and live animals – the Spanish do not mess around!

El Gordo Christmas Lottery

You can’t spend your first Christmas abroad without participating in El Gordo. Spain’s famous Christmas lottery, El Gordo, is a national obsession. Drawn every December 22nd, it’s the world’s biggest lottery. Families, coworkers, and friends all pitch in to buy shared tickets and watch the results live, hoping to win big just in time for the holidays. You’ll notice local businesses often sell portions of their own lottery number as well, so you can participate with your community.

La Misa del Gallo

On Christmas Eve, many Spaniards attend La Misa del Gallo (“The Rooster’s Mass”), which is a midnight service that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Even if you’re not religious, it’s worth experiencing for the candlelight, music, and sense of community.

Día de los Reyes Magos

January 6th marks Día de los Reyes Magos, when Spain celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men. The night before, vibrant parades fill the city streets with floats and candy, and kids wake up to gifts left by the Kings. This is similar to Santa’s visit elsewhere. It’s a fun and festive finale to the Spanish holiday season!

The Caganer

This is easily the most bizarre holiday tradition I’ve experienced in Spain! The Caganer is a small figurine of a person “doing their business” (to be polite), hidden somewhere in nativity scenes for good luck and prosperity. Locals see it as a symbol of humility and humor, and spotting one has become a fun holiday game!

There’s actually a store in Madrid that sells the caganer figurines. This makes for a unique and quirky souvenir from your first Christmas abroad!

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Host a Dinner at Home

Life abroad can feel isolating at times, especially when you first move and don’t know anyone yet. But creating community is what will help you feel more integrated into the culture and feel more at home.

Christmas is the perfect time to reach out to neighbors and community members. If this is a goal of yours this holiday season, here are a few things you can do:

• Host a dinner with fellow expats, classmates, or neighbors. If you don’t know where to start, invite your neighbors or even the one or two people you always bump into on your way to the coffee shop! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there – and know that there are plenty of other people in your same position that would appreciate an invite.
• Do a potluck where everyone brings a dish from their home country. This is my favorite way to bridge new cultures and get to know people on a new level.
• Don’t forget to set a festive mood with music, local treats & touches, and decorations from local markets!

My Favorite Christmas Playlist

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Romanticize Christmas Abroad With A City Walk

Harness your main character energy and take a walk through the city! Stop at all the beautifully decorated highlights in the city and snap some photos, grab a hot chocolate, and have a spontaneous day in the city.

One fun idea: Do a christmas “scavenger hunt” – make a list of things to find in the city and take a photo and cross them off the list when you find them! Example: Find the city’s best hot chocolate, snap a photo of your favorite christmas tree, find a light-up reindeer, etc.

At the end of your walk, find a cozy café or wine bar and journal about your first Christmas abroad! Write down what you love about your new home, what you’re excited about, and Christmas traditions you want to incorporate in years to come.

Save These Journal Prompt Ideas!

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Take a Trip or Short Getaway

If you plan it well, the holidays can be the perfect time to travel. Think fewer crowds in some areas and classic winter charm in others.

If you’re based in Madrid, here are a few easy trip ideas:

• Segovia – Wander through this fairytale city famous for its ancient Roman aqueduct, charming streets, and roast suckling pig (cochinillo).
• Toledo – Step back in time in Spain’s “City of Three Cultures,” where winding medieval alleys reveal a blend of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish history.
• Granada – Discover the magic of the Alhambra and soak up Andalusian charm with tapas, flamenco, and snow-capped Sierra Nevada views.
• Lisbon – Just a short flight (or adventurous road trip) away, Portugal’s sunny capital offers colorful streets, scenic trams, and world-class pastries.
• Andorra – Escape to this mountain haven between Spain and France for skiing, snowy hikes, and cozy alpine vibes.

Or, if you’re looking for more of an adventure:

• Go Skiing in the Alps – Trade the city for snow-covered peaks and postcard-perfect ski villages in France, Switzerland, or Austria.
• Vienna or Prague for Christmas Markets – Experience old-world holiday magic with glittering lights, mulled wine, and festive markets straight out of a snow globe.
• Morocco – Hop across the Strait of Gibraltar for vibrant souks, desert sunsets, and a completely different (but equally magical) holiday experience. Check out my guide to Marrakech if that’s on your holiday bucket list!

Need more travel inspo? Discover 5 more holiday travel ideas for your next trip!

Plus, if you’re planning on traveling this season, book your Christmas getaways with Expedia or Booking.com for the best deals!

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Take a Cooking Class or Join a Holiday Event

The holidays are also a great time to connect with others and learn something new! This could be a cooking class, pottery workshop, language exchange, or more!

Here’s the cooking class we did at the Cooking Clubhouse, which we absolutely loved!

Use MeetUp for local holiday events or expat gatherings. There’s a huge immigrant community in Madrid, and there are events catered specifically for this audience. Check online to see what’s going on near you!

Local influencers will occasionally host meetups or girls nights as well. If there are influencers that you follow on social media, stay tuned and see if they do something similar!

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Stay Connected to Home

Make sure to take time out of your day to Facetime and call your loved ones back home. While it’s important that you establish your life abroad, don’t forget to send love to your support system, friends, and family back home! I recommend having your family call you when they sit down for Christmas brunch when everyone is around the table.

If you plan on sending gifts home, make sure to mail them early. In Europe, they can be really specific about what you can and cannot send in the mail, so make sure to check the guidelines before you go shopping.

If you’re the kind of person that would always send a Christmas card in the U.S., look into virtual options abroad! Make your own digital cards on Canva, or use a service like Paperless Post!

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Give Back

Volunteering abroad at Christmas is a great way to make the holidays feel meaningful and meet new, likeminded people.

If you’re based in Spain, check https://www.hacesfalta.org/ to search for volunteer and donation opportunities near you. There are also usually 5ks and races that give back to local charities. This doubles as a fun tradition and giving back!

If you’re connected to any charities, causes, or activist movements back home, you can also donate money or contribute to causes that matter to you from afar.

If you’re from the U.S., consider supporting organizations like Feeding America or No Kid Hungry this year.

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Create New Traditions

Use your first Christmas abroad to blend old and new traditions!

This could be as simple as watching a favorite holiday movie, baking your favorite Christmas cookies, or learning a local recipe. Maybe it includes bringing treats to your neighbors, a holiday walk, or mixing any of the ideas mentioned above!

For us, our favorite new tradition is to ride the Navibus in Madrid, which takes you on a night ride through the best decorated streets.

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Bonus Resources

Find the best holiday travel deals through Expedia! They have great last-minute travel deals and excellent customer service if your travel plans go awry.

For unique experiences, check out GetYourGuide or Viator to see what your city has to offer.

Lastly, browse MeetUp events, local influencer accounts, and Facebook expat groups to find community events near you!

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Final Thoughts

Your first Christmas abroad might not look like home, but it’s a blank slate to create new traditions and show new friends a piece of your home. In your first year abroad it’s not just about the holidays, it’s also about celebrating your growth, courage, and the new life you’re building abroad.

If you’re spending the holidays abroad this year, tell me how you’re celebrating in the comments!

Plus, follow along on Instagram and join the newsletter to become part of the Everyday Abroad community.

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