What I Learned Celebrating Christmas Abroad as an Expat Family

Holidays abroad look different now, and this year our family may be spread across three countries for the first time. With my sister in France expecting her baby any day, my parents navigating health challenges in the U.S., and us here in Norway, this season is asking for flexibility, softness, and a new kind of togetherness. Living abroad has taught me that holiday magic doesn’t appear because the calendar says December. It’s something we have to make through presence, intention, ritual, and the people we love, whether they’re beside us or thousands of miles away.

In episode 56 of The WandHERwild Podcast, I share what celebrating Christmas and New Year has looked like across Kuwait, Angola, Norway, and now as an expat family raising children in a blended cultural home. From working through the holidays on an oil rig, to rooftop New Year’s gatherings with coworkers who became family, to cozy cabin days in Norway where simplicity reigns, these experiences have shaped the way we create meaning today. Whether your own family is nearby or spread across the world, I hope this conversation helps you release expectations, slow down, and find the magic that’s already here.

In This Episode:

* How holiday traditions shift when family lives in different countries

* Why holiday magic is something we create, not something we find

* What celebrating in Kuwait, Angola, and Norway taught Monica about meaning

* Simple rituals that help families stay connected across distance

* Blending cultural traditions in an expat, multi-faith household

* How slow living in Norway reshaped holiday expectations

* Ways to release perfection and find joy in a changing season

An Invitation For You

Explore Wanderwild Family Retreats, wanderwildfamilyretreats.com, offering child-welcoming, nature-rooted getaways for families to slow down. Upcoming retreats include a [cozy Mom + Child weekend in New York’s Hudson Valley] and a [Spring Family Retreat in Florida], blending wild luxury with nature play and connection.