this time of year

Hi all...i've lost my way from this site for awhile.
I've been in England a bit over 3 yrs now and have finally felt settled, happy and adjusted for the last year of that.
The only problem is THIS time of year.
End of October - New Year's is such a difficult time for me to be far from home still.
I miss Halloween & Thanksgiving, my old local Christmas parades & Christma craft fair, real christmas trees, real greenery & pinecones style xmas decorations...day after thanksgiving sales etc.
{Don't get me wrong...I love bonfire season here and the local celebration for that takes place right in our field so we make the most of it inviting friends, neighbours, etc.}
Does anyone else still find this time of year difficult (or maybe you did in the past?)
Does anyone have any tips?
I have heard that england does some trick-or-treating but we live in a small village in sussex and have nothing reasonably close by that i know of.

"That time of year" is going to be horrible for me this year, but for a very different reason.  My hubby is in the UK and me and my daughter won't be joining him until March (for several reasons, long story).  This is our first year together as a married couple and we are not going to be physically together for any of the holidays...so that, in and of itself, makes me very sad.  Also, I know this is the last year that I'll be here with my family, so it's bitter sweet to celebrate everything with them, knowing I'll be in your shoes in the future...missing being able to celebrate with them.  My hubby went to a christening for his baby cousin last weekend, and he was telling me how depressing it was for him because all his family had their spouses/significant others with them, but he was sat there without me.  I am trying to see the bright side of things and enjoy the holiday season nonetheless...and although for very different reasons, I feel your pain.

I don't really have any advice...just sympathy. I've also been in the UK just over 3 years now and am handling it the distance much better, but the winter months are very difficult. I miss my family terribly and find the holidays quite lonely, despite a fabulous fiance and lots of friends here. I am looking into getting a sunlight lamp for this winter. Might sound cheesy, but the dark nights don't help - maybe some sunlight will. Other than that, I just try to throw myself into seasonal activities and also to send fun packages to my family for Christmas. Good luck...

I think a lot of us know how you feel. hugs

I haven't much liked the holidays these past few years, but I didn't realise how much I would actually miss the things I'm formilliar with (decorations, food, family etc).  I am hoping it gets a bit easier over time, being apart from your loved ones always is no fun

I guess the way I'm trying to combat it this year is going to the US the beginning of December. Tickets are expensive for Christmas time but we got a fairly good deal, so I'll have a late Turkey day and an Early Christmas. I think we'll aim for holidays in the US every other year, and I'm hoping that'll help. Maybe you can do the same?

I hope you try to embrace the celebrations over here, that's something else I'm doing, enjoying mince pies, and the decorations in the city centre, planning my own little traditions, listing to the christmas songs over here. I hope you can enjoy it!

lots of hugs, x

I know how everyone feels...I was supposed to be with my fiance this Thanksgiving and Christmas...but due to some immigration issues I am here in the states without him and he is in England...
We have talked about when we are married how are we going to do the holidays and we decided we were going to try to spend every other Christmas in the states with my family...I know it is going to be hard to be away from my family...but at the same time I see it as a way to start new family traditions...this past 4th of July I was in England...I had been there for 6 months and my family loves 4th of July...so I decided to invite my British friends over for a 4th of July dinner...I made them all wear red, white and blue and they all tried to talk with American accents...and I made Hamburgers and potatoe salad and made a red white an blue cake lol...this day turned out to be fun and special...and my friends had so much fun learning about a holiday they don't celebrate I think it will become a yearly tradition...so I have decided that when I am over there next year living I am going to have my own Thanksgiving and invite all my friends...it isn't the same as being with my family but it makes the holidays a little easier to bare...If you have kids and they don't do much trick or treating where you are you could maybe have a halloween party for your kids friends and have them dress up and come over...that might be something the kids would enjoy...I know my first Christmas in England is going to be a little hard cause I am not with my family but I figure it means I am with the man I love and that will make it a little easier...and he will bring his christmas traditions and I will bring mine and we will make our own Christmas.....


I hope it gets easier for you....if you need to talk or vent we are here

Josy