Photo by cdwheatley via Canva
A Shift in Traditions
Christmas has always been about traditions, but moving from Hungary to New Zealand turned mine upside down. What used to mean snowy nights, endless food, and cozy family movie marathons now looks more like sunny beaches, BBQs, and camping trips. Same holiday, totally different vibe — and it’s made me think a lot about what Christmas really means.
Winter Memories in Hungary
Back home, Christmas meant winter. Big family dinners, collapsing on the sofa in a food coma, watching movies, and wandering through Christmas markets with cold noses and warm drinks. That’s the rhythm I grew up with, and it still feels like “real” Christmas to me.
Summer Celebrations in New Zealand
Here, everything feels different. Christmas in NZ is in summer, and after so many years of winter holidays, I still struggle to get the same feeling. It feels more like a vacation day than a festive one. Companies often shut down for 2–3 weeks, which is great, but instead of cozy evenings indoors, families head to the beach, set up gazebos, and have BBQs. It’s a completely different vibe — fun, but not the same.
Food Traditions: From Halászlé to Pavlova
In Hungary, Christmas meant fish soup (halászlé), potato salad, chicken, mushroom salad, beetroot salad, and endless desserts like bejgli and zserbó. Just writing this makes me miss them — I might try cooking some this year. In NZ, the food is different: ham, fresh salads, pavlova. Until our little one was born, we were often away during the holidays, camping instead of cooking, so we never built strong traditions at home. But now, with a child, I feel more excited to start decorating and creating our own rituals.
Rethinking Presents
We don’t really exchange big presents — just small things here and there. I don’t feel the need for endless gifts; it feels too consumerist. Since we don’t have family here, we usually celebrate with friends, who have become our family in NZ.
The Christmas Tree Dilemma
Growing up, we always had a real tree, though it got smaller as we got older. In Budapest, I never had one because we were usually away. My family eventually switched to a fake tree, which I don’t love. Here, we’re thinking about getting a potted tree, but honestly, our Pohutukawa in the garden feels like the perfect Christmas tree already — deep red flowers against green leaves, exactly the colors I’d choose to decorate.
Finding New Meaning
Christmas has changed a lot for me since moving from Hungary to New Zealand. At first, I struggled with the differences — winter versus summer, cozy traditions versus beach BBQs. But now, with a little one in our family, I feel excited to start building new traditions while keeping some of the old ones alive. Maybe it won’t look exactly like the Christmases I grew up with, but it can still be special in its own way. Between the Pohutukawa tree blooming in the garden, the chance to cook a few Hungarian dishes, and celebrating with friends who have become family, I’m learning that Christmas isn’t about the season or the setting — it’s about creating moments of joy and connection wherever you are.
What about you — have you ever had to reinvent your traditions?
Pohutukawa, Photo by PhotoCPL via Canva
