Tips on Spending the Christmas Holiday Season Away from Home

So, it's Christmas and you find yourself unable to go home to be with your family. Spending the holidays away from you family can turn the holiday season into a depressing time, if you let it. Instead of sitting around eating a frozen t.v. dinner and watching a sappy Christmas movie there are better ways to spend Christmas than alone and depressed.

Having been stationed overseas in my younger days for the U.S. Army I have experienced what it is like to be away from my family for the holidays. Fortunately for me I was able to spend Christmas with a host family one year. This German family volunteered to let a soldier stay with them in their home during the holiday season. Staying with the family I found myself distracted from missing my family as I got to become a part of theirs for a week during the Christmas season. If you are a soldier stationed away from home you may want to ask about a program like this.

Another way to handle being away from your family would be to spend the Christmas season with nearby friends or coworkers. Many people, when aware of your situation, would likely volunteer their home to be visited by you on Christmas. Don't be shy about accepting their invitations; just make sure you bring a gift of thanks. Many single soldiers stationed with me opted to do this by visiting the homes of their section sergeants or fellow soldiers. If you are in college and can't make it home you may know of someone whose family is nearby that may be willing to let you spend your Christmas with them.

If visiting someone else's home on Christmas isn't possible or out of the question, don't give up hope. You can still celebrate Christmas with a smile. Webcams are generally inexpensive to purchase and allows you to connect with distant family members and friends over the internet. You may not be able to afford a plane ticket home but with the variety of webcams today you are sure to find something affordable to use.

College students or those serving in the military far from home can still enjoy the Christmas season by checking out the calendar of events for their local city. Most cities have their own websites which provide calendars for events or links to events that are going on in your city. Take in a holiday parade, visit a Christmas lights display, or go to a holiday concert in the park. In Portland the Oregon Zoo has an annual Zoo Lights festival which allows visitors to enter the zoo after dark for some holiday lights fun. You can always check the zoo's website in your city to find out if they have any events planned for the holiday season.

Another way you could spend your holiday season is to volunteer for a local charity. When you spend your time volunteering on Christmas you will find that even though you are without your family you are surrounded by love and the meaning of Christmas. Spending your time volunteering will give you less time to miss your family while doing something that warms your heart.

Skip the t.v. dinner on Christmas and cook a feast. Invite other friends or acquaintances who are without their families as well. In fact, if you have enough people you can host a pot luck style Christmas dinner. Since you are likely on a tight budget you and your friends can exchange gifts by hosting a White Elephant Christmas gift exchange. Or stick to a budget of less than five dollars and see what everyone can come up with.

If you are a spouse of a deployed soldier who isn't able to come home for Christmas you could help bring a little bit of home to wherever he or she is. Create a scrapbook using photographs from past Christmases meanwhile writing down special memories you have with your spouse. If you have children you can have them draw artwork for the scrapbook and share their special memories as well. Include a current picture of you and your family on Christmas and using digital software include your missing family member in the picture. Paint Shop Pro has a clone tool which would be perfect for this sort of thing. Send in a package along with some of their favorite Christmas cookies and candy to share with the other soldiers and you are sure to make his or her Christmas a better one.

While you may not be able to spend your Christmas with your family you don't have to be alone and depressed. Using these ideas you can have yourself a merry little Christmas.