How I spent Christmas in Two Countries

This Christmas was particularly busy compared to most years. The reason being, I was spending Christmas in two countries; England and Canada. You may be wondering how it’s possible to be in two places at once, especially two countries that really are quite far from each other. It wasn’t easy.

Last year was Ben’s first year in Canada and so we decided that it would be best to spend the entire holiday with my family in Toronto (also we were poor and couldn’t afford the crazy flight prices to fly him home for the holidays). This year was a different story though.

Our last trip to England was in May and so we were definitely overdue for a trip back. In July we decided we better bite the bullet and book flights sooner rather than later because, with my limited experience as a travel agent I knew flights would skyrocket for the holiday season the minute people started realizing it was just around the corner. We found direct flights to London Gatwick for $950CAD with Air Transat. It definitely wasn’t the best flight I’ve ever been on but it was the cheapest we could find and got us there safely.

The great thing about being from two countries is the cultural differences. In Canada, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning are the major events for us. My family has about 25 people (this is a relatively small dinner for my mother) for dinner and drinks. It’s one of my favourite nights of the year. Christmas morning we wake up as a family and sit around the tree, like most others, to open presents. Because I have two younger sisters we usually fight over who gets to open their gift last. I generally loose. I can’t forget to mention though that mimosas are always present when opening gifts. What’s gift giving without a little champagne anyways?

After breakfast my mother makes the most delicious homemade Eggs Benedict. My mom is an amazing cool but there is nothing like her Eggs Benny. She’ll only make it three times a year; Christmas morning, Easter morning and the morning after Thanksgiving dinner.

After breakfast, full and satisfied we usually go off to our separate corners of the house to revel in the new gifts we’ve just received. Most years Christmas dinner is a small and intimate affair.

However….

In England Christmas Eve is always spent with friends at the local pub until the wee hours of the morning. I’ve hear plenty of stories from Ben of many people being not quite sober stumbling home just in time for Christmas morning. I still don’t understand why. Christmas morning is spent very similarly as in Canada and Christmas Dinner as well. The difference though is Boxing day. When Canadians are generally out getting the latest discounts on products, the English are at home with family having a traditional English Boxing Day dinner of leftover cold meats, cheese, bread, and veggies. Followed by, of course, a night out at the pub.

To make it fair for both of our families Ben and I decided that we would spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family, take a flight Christmas night and arrive just in time to celebrate Boxing Day with his side of the family.

In retrospect it was rather ambitious of us to try and spend Christmas in two countries. We also were forced to miss Christmas dinner which wasn’t so fun. Because travelling is often tight I tend to aim for night flights rather than day time ones to maximize the time I’m spending in whatever country I’m travelling to. Getting off a plane at 3am your time with no more than 20 minutes of sleep to then spend hours with family you haven’t seen in months (celebrating a new engagement!) and then grabbing a few pints at the local pub can have it’s effects on you. Yet, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

We were lucky enough to get the best of both worlds and it has been one of the best Christmas’ I’ve ever had. Plus – double the presents!! ;).

Have you ever spend Christmas in two countries?