Holiday Traditions If You're Celebrating Away From Home

With the many travel options now available to families, it's no wonder that quite a few people are now opting to spend the holidays away from home. Affordable airfare, irresistible accommodation packages, plus the promise of a new experience can be enough to lure the Filipino family away from their humble abode during the holidays.

But just because you're in a different place doesn't mean you have to have less fun for the holidays. You can definitely continue to embrace well-loved Christmas or New Year practices even though you may be miles away from home. TravelBook.ph shares several sacred traditions that you can adapt to your out-of-town holiday.

Festive Food

Some food items are non-negotiables during the holiday season. Everyone always looks forward to lola's famousmorcon or tita's sinfully decadent chocolate cake at holiday get-togethers. Going out with the family may mean sacrificing these favorites, especially if there are no provisions for cooking where you will be staying. However, these can in theory be prepared beforehand and packed in order to survive the trip. Take note, though, that some carriers may not allow food on board, and freshly cooked edibles are definitely not to be checked-in.

Try sticking to other holiday staples that are readily available. Queso de bola makes a fine accompaniment tocrackers and ham. Chestnuts can be shared in the car while on the road. Even a comforting cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows can evoke that warm, homey feeling, even if you're all huddled up on a hotel room floor.

Alternatively, you can also gather the family for a good holiday dinner in a highly regarded restaurant or fine dining place in the area. The plus side of spending the holidays in an establishment is not having to slave away over a hot stove to prepare the meal and stand over a sink full of dirty dishes after! Hotel concierges and friendly locals are the best people to ask about a good place to eat, and the Internet can also be a good source of information.

Countdown

No matter where you are on Christmas or New Year's Eve, people will still definitely be staying up late. Check with your hotel or resort if they have public gatherings for countdowns at the lobby or poolside, or continue your own countdown tradition in the confines of your room. Appoint a designated area and call time so that all family members can join in. Little kids--who are usually the most excited--can be assigned to watch the clock and give updates. While waiting for the midnight hour, tell stories of Christmases past and reminisce about the year that Daddy dressed up as Santa Claus, or when the oven broke down with the Christmas ham in it. You'll find that laughing out loud usually helps pass the time. When the clock strikes twelve, break out the bubbly (or soda) and pass around bowls full of snacks and popcorn so that everyone can dig in while opening presents or enjoying a spectacular fireworks display. 

Gift Giving

Everyone looks forward to exchanging gifts on Christmas, but if you're traveling out of town, precious car space will most likely be allotted to overnight bags and other commodities than to big, bulky presents. Try this nice alternative: agree beforehand that everyone should give small gifts that are easier to pack and carry. Or you can minimize clutter further by being someone's secret Santa--draw names out of a hat so that each family member only gives one present to someone else.

You can also try making coupons that family members can redeem during or even after the trip. Ate can pledge dishwashing duty for a week, and Dad can offer coupons for pizza nights.

Read the full article, Out-of-home Holiday Traditions, on TravelBook.ph.