When I first celebrated the holidays in Canada, I remember thinking:
Why does this feel so… quiet?
Growing up in the Philippines, holidays were loud, long, and impossible to miss. Decorations went up early. Food was always excessive (in the best way). Gatherings didn’t feel optional. Even if you tried to be alone, someone would eventually find you and invite you over. Celebrating wasn’t just a choice—it was a shared experience.
Then I moved to Canada.
Here, holidays felt more contained. Smaller gatherings. Fewer decorations. A clear start, a clear end. By December 26, everything quietly packed itself away and life moved on. At first, it felt strange—almost like something was missing.
But over time, I noticed something else happening.
The quiet made space.
The cold pulled people indoors.
The smaller celebrations made moments feel more intentional.
I didn’t love it right away. But slowly, I learned to appreciate the rest that came with it—the slower mornings, fewer obligations, and the permission to stay home and just be with family. It wasn’t better or worse than what I grew up with. It was simply different.
This reflection is what led to my recent podcast conversation with Rowell. He hasn’t experienced holidays in Canada, so the episode naturally turned into curiosity—lots of “wait… really?” moments—while I tried to put words to what it feels like celebrating away from home.
What we didn’t want to do was compare countries or decide which way of celebrating is “right.” Instead, we talked about what holidays quietly reveal about how we live: how we gather, how we rest, how we give space, and how traditions change as our lives do.
Living between cultures teaches you this sooner or later: you don’t have to carry everything forward exactly as it was. You get to choose what stays, what adapts, and what no longer fits your current season.
These days, my holidays look different than they did growing up—and that’s okay. They still hold meaning. Just in a quieter, more intentional way.
If you’ve ever felt that tension between honoring where you came from and adjusting to where you are now, I think you’ll resonate with this conversation.
🎧 You can listen to the full episode on Spotify.
— Andrea
