My Favorite Holiday Memories: Celebrating Family Across Borders and Oceans

The holidays have rarely looked traditional for me. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way. While some families gather at the same dining room table year after year, mine has celebrated Thanksgiving on a Mexican beach, Christmas under the Eiffel Tower, and New Year’s Eve on Amsterdam’s canals – all of which have made for some of my favorite holiday memories.

Growing up, I learned that “home for the holidays” meant wherever the people you love happened to be. And “family”? That word has always meant so much more than biology to me. My Thanksgiving tables were full of my parents (including my dad who chose to be my dad) and the family friends who’d known them since before I was born. My Decembers were spent in my adopted Hispanic family’s kitchen, making tamales for Christmas Eve – they helped raise me, and their home was as much mine as any place I’ve ever lived.

Sometimes holidays meant Mexico with our little village. Other times it was at my study-abroad apartment in Spain, or a Thanksgiving table in Seattle surrounded by the family kindreds who’ve been there for every milestone, or New Year’s fireworks with a friend whose friendship was as deep as any blood tie. The locations changed, the faces at the table included both relatives and chosen family, but the magic of being together? That stayed constant.

So pour yourself some coffee (or wine – no judgment), get cozy, and peruse some of my favorite holiday memories that remind me why gathering with the people we love – wherever in the world that might be – is worth every mile traveled.

Memory 1: Thanksgiving on the Beach in San Felipe 

San Felipe captured my heart when I was seven.  We started going with close family friends that were essentially family. Our spot was a rustic campground on the beach 15 minutes north of town – trailers, palapas, a few built-up with rooftop decks overlooking the Sea of Cortez. The view more than compensated for the rustic element – but honestly, rustic is what we all wanted. We could ride our quads, drive our dune buggies (that’s how I learned to drive!), and unplug from the real world – ok, maybe not for the seven-year-old, but definitely for the adults.

It became our tradition – long weekends away, spring breaks and eventually, holiday celebrations. Thanksgivings were particularly memorable, with people joining us from all over. We’d make different dishes – some traditional, some wild hares like local San Felipe shrimp – and gather to give thanks.

Initially the gatherings were around the campfire, and as years went on the group and sophistication grew, eventually migrating to a garage someone built. Still eating on paper plates, still in our casual camping clothes, but full of laughter and love. Some years the wind was brutal and the weather freezing, but between being bundled up around the campfire, and feeling the love that surrounded us, we kept ourselves warm. 

As I look back, this tradition was an early lesson that holidays are about people, not place, and that family means the people who show up year after year. This shaped everything that came after – my love of beach destinations and travel, my instinct to create my own traditions, and my understanding that our tribe makes us who we are. 

Memory 2: Making Tamales with My ‘Adopted’ Family for Christmas Eve 

When I was born, my mom needed help with childcare. A coworker’s 19-year-old niece started babysitting – but she did so much more than that. She, her parents, and eventually her husband, brought me into their fold and treated me as one of their own. As she had kids, they became my brothers/cousins, and the lines between our families started to blur, to meld. 

Being of hispanic origin, one of their holiday traditions was making tamales, then enjoying them at a big party on Christmas Eve. Like everything else, they invited us in and enveloped us in love, and this became our tradition as well. Having three or more generations forming an assembly line, from the expert spreader at the top to the novice tier and cutter at the end, everybody had a role to play. Being young I started out at the end, and only in the last few years have been able to test my hand at the coveted spreader position. Regardless of where you were, you knew that each tamale took work but more than that – was made with so much love. 

Tamale Day became about more than the food. Stories passed between generations, Johnny Cash playing in the background, bonds strengthening with each tamale tied. We’d celebrate that night, everyone weighing in on how these tamales compared to years past (too much chili, masa’s a little dry, etc), culminating in a big Christmas Eve party where everyone enjoyed what we’d made. 

While Christmas Eve was the main holiday, I actually cherished ‘Tamale Day’ more. More intimate, more connection, seeing new people and new generations come in each year, and now, seeing my 91-year-old Nonnie, all the way down to my 8- and 12-year old goddaughters, joining in that same assembly line so the tradition can continue.

I’m so grateful that so early on, we were welcomed into their traditions, learning their ways, being not just a friend of the family, but PART of the family. It’s a testament to what being chosen, being loved across cultures, and being family is in the truest sense.

Memory 3: My Parents and Gram Bring Thanksgiving to Spain

My passion for travel persisted as I grew up, leading to me spending a college year studying abroad in Spain. My parents and grandmother were eager to visit, and what better time to come than during Thanksgiving? We had a grand plan to make Thanksgiving dinner for my host family and her extended family, sharing our traditions and giving thanks for their hospitality in hosting me. 

With that came recon – can you find cranberry sauce? How about sweet potatoes? Where can we get a turkey? We quickly realized this was going to be tougher than it seemed, but as with anything, my mom took on the challenge in stride. Fast-forward to them arriving with essentially an extra suitcase full of Thanksgiving supplies – they made sure to bring anything we weren’t going to find in Spain. Sweet potatoes stuffed in shoes; cranberry sauce wrapped in clothes, they made sure we had it all. 

I put in a special order to the butcher for a turkey, and when we went to pick it up, we had so many more questions. Yes, we’d like it plucked. No, we aren’t going to need the head and feet, but thank you so much for the offer. And then, where to store it when our Spanish fridge was so small?

All these moments brought us laughs and we made it through. It was such a special day, to see us all gathered around the table, my host family and home family, breaking bread and uniting as one. 

Memory 4: Surprise Christmas Homecoming

That same year, I was getting somewhat homesick and Christmas seemed like a great time to go home. I was also going to move from Alicante to Seville for my second semester, so this was a good breather before I started Spain, chapter two. My parents and I booked my ticket home, but we didn’t tell our extended clan. 

Imagine their surprise when I walked in on Christmas Eve for tamale-making, or showed up Christmas morning for our Jewish family’s traditional bagel brunch. A favorite holiday memory is seeing their surprise, but even more so, seeing them. To be home, to feel the familiar, surrounded by their love. 

It’s such an interesting moment. When I landed, I had excitement about being home, and sadness about leaving the adventure, if only for a bit. When I flew back to Spain, I had excitement for the next chapter of my adventure, and sadness about leaving family and home behind again. It taught me it’s ok to feel both things at once. It’s ok to yearn for adventure AND to stay grounded in family. It taught me the importance of connection in life, to kindreds at home and abroad. 

Memory 5: Trading Tradition for Adventure

Not every holiday needs tradition. Some years, my parents and I choose adventure instead. One Christmas, we wandered Paris amongst the holiday lights, dining on the Seine on Christmas Day.

Another Thanksgiving, we cruised through the Panama Canal with my mom’s high school best friend, hiking volcanoes and exploring Cartagena – no turkey in sight. These trips reminded me that holiday magic isn’t about the meal or the location (though I do love the meal!). It’s about saying yes to something new with people you love.

Memory 6: Thankful for My Tribe’s Seattle Sojourn

I lived in Seattle for five years, and my parents moved up to the Northwest at that time as well. That led to the yearly question, are we heading back to San Diego or staying in the Northwest for the holidays? One year, my tamale family surprised me – they’d drive up for Thanksgiving. My first time hosting them, my parents and another close friend in my new home! 

We all chipped in, everyone taking on different dishes and making a feast to remember. My house wasn’t too big, so quarters were tight, but we made it work. I didn’t see it as too little space – I saw it as my house being filled with so much love. 

The living room may have been bursting, but my heart was bursting even more that my chosen family had traveled all this way to be with us. It turns out that was my last Thanksgiving in Seattle, and I’m so glad it was a special one to remember.

Memory 7: Amazed by New Year’s in Amsterdam

During my time in Spain in college, I also found time on breaks to travel around Europe. Sometimes with friends, sometimes solo, but every time was a great time. After I surprised my family at Christmas, I flew back to meet up with a dear college friend, another kindred spirit, for some euro-fun.  

We were young and thought we were invincible – pulling all-nighters, fraternity parties, European adventures. We spent Boxing Day in Bruges. New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam.  Meandered through Milan. 

Our lives went in different directions but like any kindred spirit, we always picked right up where we left off. I laughed my hardest and felt my most comfortable when with our crew. He was a friend that was family, my brother. He was an amazing human and I could have used a lot more Simon in my life. I’m glad that I got the chance to tell him that before my Simon time was up. I’m glad that he’s finally at peace, and sad it had to come so soon.

This isn’t how our stories were supposed to end, but then we could have said that long ago. His spirit lives on, memories ingrained, his mark made. He still shines as bright as the fireworks in Amsterdam did that year. He always will. 

Life has a way of reminding us to seize the moment, take the trip, do the thing. Nothing is promised, so it’s important to choose your people, spend time with them, celebrate them while you still can.

Memory 8: Expanding the Tribe at Home

Once I moved back to San Diego, I felt like I was nestled back in my community, back among my kindred village. At one point I started hosting Thanksgiving, and each year the invite list grew. Parents, cousins, second and third cousins, my adopted family, close friends and their families – the list went on. Every year more would join in, and my motto was the more the merrier. 

Despite the crowd, people felt warmth and welcome, with no pressure to engage. Not up for conversing? The TV room is set up in the back. Need a nap? Head to my room for a break. Need vegan or gluten-free options? We’ll create three menus so everyone has plenty of food. 

Hosting a crowd is work, but feeding people is how I show love. Seeing everyone gather, our community come together and grow, more than made up for the effort put in.

It’s been a full circle moment. Going from being a kid at the San Felipe celebrations to being a host. From joining traditions to creating my own. To see my home fill up with people, with love. To see my tribe gathering, people traveling to be at my table. I’m so appreciative of the life I’ve created, the people I’ve connected with, and the memories we’ve made, and will continue to make, together.

Conclusion

Looking back at these favorite holiday memories, what strikes me isn’t the exotic locations or the holiday “perfection.” It’s the people – my parents (including my dad who chose me just as much as I chose him), the family friends who’d known them since before I was born and who are still at my table today, my adopted family who lovingly brought us into their fold, my grandmother who made that trek to Spain, the friend who’s no longer here to make new memories with. These are my kindreds. My tribe. Some connected by blood, most connected by something deeper – choice, love, shared history, and the commitment to be there. 

The best holiday memories aren’t created by following traditions perfectly or by having a ‘normal’ family tree. They’re made when you choose to show up for your people and when they choose to show up for you. 

This holiday season, the best gift you can give – or receive – is simply being present with the people who matter most. Your kindreds. Your tribe. Make the memory. Take the photo. Tell them they’re family. These are the stories you’ll tell for years to come.

Wherever you spend your holidays, however you celebrate, with whomever you call family, I hope you have moments worth remembering. 

Happy travels – and happy holidays – kindreds! 

RELATED POSTS

• Are you and your family taking a trip for the holidays? Check out my article on Multi-Gen Travel Tips.
• Considering a mother/daughter getaway? Take a look at what I learned traveling with my mom.
• Have you created your own chosen family? Take a look at places to go for the holiday: Warm Winter Escapes and Best Girls Trip Destinations 
• Did I inspire a San Felipe trip? Here’s a look at my favorite Baja Hidden Gems 

HELPFUL LINKS

Ready to book? Here are my go-to resources for flights, packing and planning:

• Custom trip planning: Need help planning your holiday travel? Contact me here for personalized itinerary assistance!
• Car, activity and hotel bookings: https://www.expedia.com, https://www.viator.com, https://www.tripadvisor.com
• Flight comparison: https://flights.google.com
• Save restaurants and your hotel in a Google Maps list. https://maps.google.com
• Favorite luggage: I love Away luggage, I have several sizes that work for different types of trips: https://www.awaytravel.com