This document provides an overview of holiday traditions celebrated around the world and tips for expatriates celebrating abroad. It describes traditions in Sweden, Puerto Rico, Poland, Finland, Brazil, Spain, the Philippines and Greece. Some traditions highlighted include a daughter in Sweden reenacting the legend of Santa Lucia by wearing a candlelit crown and serving her parents, groups of carolers traveling from house to house in Puerto Rico, families in Poland eating fish and sharing wafer bread on Christmas Eve, and Greeks celebrating New Year's Day by eating a coin-filled cake for good fortune. The document ends by offering tips for expatriates to participate in local events and stay connected with family back home during the holidays.

1. Holidays Around the World
A Guide to Enjoying
Host Country Holiday Traditions

2. For expatriates and their families
celebrating the holidays outside of
their home country, new traditions
may seem foreign and a bit
overwhelming when compared to
celebrations at home.

3. In addition to
keeping old
traditions intact,
transferees should
forge new ways of
celebrating by
learning about,
embracing and
honoring new
customs in the host
location.

4. For those celebrating
around the world, here
are overviews of
holiday celebrations in
a few select countries,
as well as some tips to
ease homesickness
during this festive time
of year.

5. Sweden
Feast Day of Santa Lucia, Start of Christmas
Season
On December 13th each year, the eldest daughter in a Swedish family
reenacts the legend of Santa Lucia, who wore a wreath of candles on
her head to help guide Christians through dark tunnels to safety. The
daughters wear a white gown, an illuminated crown, and serve her
parents saffron buns and coffee in bed to evoke
Lucia’s spirit of compassion.

6. Puerto Rico
Asalto: A Traveling Party of Carolers
During the Christmas season, a group of friends stop at another
friend’s house unannounced to sing and dance, while the host serves
traditional asopao de pollo. The party moves from house to house
and the festivities continue until sunrise.

7. Poland
Wigilia: Christmas Eve Supper
Children are sent outside to
look for the first evening
star, which marks the
beginning of the meal. This
fish dinner is accompanied
by a piece of oplatek, which
is a paper-thin wafer with
the Nativity scene
embossed on it. Guests
share the wafer and offer
one another a wish. A seat
is left empty at the table to
welcome a stranger.

8. Finland
New Year’s Eve Fortune-Telling Ritual
This tradition involves pouring melted tin into a bucket of snow or cold
water. As the tin hardens, the shape is held up to a light to cast a
shadow. Your fortune is revealed by the shape of the shadow.

9. Brazil
New Year’s Eve on the Beach
On the beaches of Rio de
Janeiro, revelers watch
fireworks, light candles
and toss flowers into the
ocean as an offering to the
Afro-Brazilian goddess of
the seas, Yemanja, who
represents abundance,
safety and fertility.

10. Spain
The 12 Grapes of Noche Vieja, New Year’s
Eve
At the stroke of midnight, a tradition in Spain is to eat one grape at
every chime, no matter where you are in the world. This ritual began
a century ago after a good harvest and is celebrated each New Year’s
Eve in hopes of good luck and prosperity in the new year.

11. Philippines
Polka Dots and Coins, New Year’s Eve
Circles are important in
many cultures, including
the Philippines. To bring
good fortune and
prosperity in the New
Year, men and women
wear polka dot-patterned
clothing and keep coins in
their pockets during New
Year’s Eve celebrations.
They also stock-up on
round foods, such as
grapes.

12. Greece
Saint Basil’s Day, New Year’s Day
Saint Basil was a fourth-
century bishop who founded
the Greek Orthodox Church
and was know for his
generosity. Greeks celebrate
him with a feast that includes
Vassilopita, a cake with coin
baked inside. Whoever finds
the coin will have good
fortune and happiness in the
new year.

13. Tips for Happy Host Country Holidays
• If allowed at your office, host a holiday party with
your staff to build teamwork and camaraderie, and
invite families to participate in the festivities
• Find seasonal events and traditions to participate in
with your family to feel more engaged with the host
country culture

14. Tips for Happy Host Country Holidays
• Check your policy to see if return visits are included
so that you can take the opportunity to travel home
for the holidays
• With numerous electronic methods to stay in touch,
using internet video conferencing with family back
home can really help you feel connected during the
holidays

15. Paragon would like to extend the warmest of
holiday wishes to our clients, transferees, employees
& partners. From each and every one of us at
Paragon, we wish you abundance, happiness and
peace in a
new year filled with hope.
www.paragonrelocation.com
Happiest of Holidays!