Christmas here in America is a day spent with family and giving gifts. But not everyone can be with their families. Even if love can be stretched a thousand miles over oceans and countries, it isn’t the same as being surrounded by it. Here at Dinuba High School, we have exchange students who can’t go home to their families during the holiday.  We spoke to some who explained their own traditions and expectations for Christmas in America.

Yohan Waghmare: India

This year, Yohan Waghmare is celebrating Christmas with his sponsor, Ramon Herevia, Jr. and the Herevia family. In India, there is not a holiday similar to Christmas. However, students do get a winter break. Back home, Yohan spent the holiday cleaning every corner of the house, decorating, and making sweets that were only made during special occasions. Here in Dinuba, Yohan spends his time going to church events with his sponsor family. “Yohan’s been celebrating Christmas, singing Christmas carols, and playing Christmas carols with his guitar,” said Mr. Herevia. Although Yohan is away from home, he does miss his family but as he said, “Mr. Herevia and their family, they were really good to me. So like I never got a chance to miss them a lot.” 

Mina Bacarevic: Serbia

Mina Bacarevic is from Serbia. Back home in Serbia, Christmas is celebrated but with a few differences. In Serbia, 80% of its population is Eastern Orthodox. Mina and her family follow according to the Julian Calendar. On January 6, before the sun rises, the men of the house go to pick up an oak tree instead of a traditional fir tree. Children lay on straw under a table, making animal noises, while their Mother showers them with candy and walnuts, a wish for the home to be rich and have lots of animals that the family will care for. It also represents Jesus’ birth and the animals that surround him. At the end of the night, they take branches from the oak tree and kiss the branches covered in honey while saying a blessing while the branches are halfway in the fire. Before Christmas, Mina and her family fast on Christmas Eve and have a grand feast of 13 different dishes. Bozitnjace is a special dish made for Christmas and part of the big feast, in this case, it would be a whole baked pig. 

“We also have Cesnica special holy bread. We put a coin that represents wealth for the rest of the year, a bean that represents the possessions of sheep, corn seed that represents the possession of pigs, and a dogwood tree that represents health,” Mina explained. 

Although Mina may miss her family she says, “But also I’m happy that I have an opportunity to celebrate American Christmas.” She will try to bring her Christmas tradition to her host family’s home and share her culture. Mina also liked to add that as a student of FLEX, Future Leaders Exchange Program, “I’m really honored that I can be kind of an ambassador for my country and spread knowledge about Serbia.”

Maira Fatima: Pakistan

This year will be the first Christmas for Maira Fatima. Back home in Pakistan, there is no similar holiday, but students do have a winter break. Back home Maira would go out and visit certain areas in her country.  She is excited about Christmas here and expects Christmas stockings, Christmas trees, and Christmas gifts. “I’m a little homesick, but my host family knows how  to handle that,” she said.

During the winter, her parents work often, but she would spend her time horseback riding, spending time with her brothers, or studying. 

She is having fun in America. “Being away from home is sometimes fun and also very bad. It’s super fun learning and being independent.” 

Jazmin Hemdi: Hungary

Jazmin Hemdi has similar holidays as Christmas, except they are a little different. Christmas is a religious tradition, such as Advent is popular in Hungary. “We light up a candle for four Sundays before Christmas,” she explained. “Something also special in December is Saint Nicholas Day. We put boots by the door or window and on the 5-6th of December we receive chocolates and oranges in it.” 

They also exchange gifts like here in America, but most families open their gifts on Christmas Eve. “Well, it is a bipolar feeling for sure,” she said. “I am really happy to experience the American Christmas, but I do miss my family a lot, and my friends during this time even more.”