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Christmas is just around the corner and many foreigners in Beijing are anxiously preparing for the long flight home in order to spend Christmas with their families. Still, there are many more that will spend yet another Beijing-style Christmas here with friends.

For expatriates living in Beijing, perhaps it was employment ambition, curiosity, or even a crazy impulse that drove them to uproot their lives and move half way around the world to an unfamiliar place.

Inescapably, living abroad is difficult around the holidays as many come to a sudden realization that the world at home does go on without them. Relatives do grow older every year, nieces and cousins get taller every visit, and babies are born.

Unfortunately for many, flying across the globe is both too far and too expensive, so staying in Beijing is the only option.

Therefore, for those only get to see their families once or twice a year, China gives December 25 a new meaning.

For many Westerners, the idea of Christmas awakens childhood memories of a glowing Christmas tree with delicately strung twinkling lights, tinsel and ornaments hovering over brightly wrapped presents in crisp paper.

Everywhere, children typically wake up at the crack of dawn to excitedly thrash their parents out of bed and rush downstairs to see what gifts Santa has left under the tree.

We asked some Beijing expats what their family traditions at Christmas entail in their countries.

"I usually have a big dinner at my dad's on Christmas Eve, then we go to midnight mass, go home, have a drink or two with the family around the Christmas tree, open presents, visit family," explains David Pimentel, an English textbook author.

Olivier Jacques, remembers his Christmases in Quebec City's winter beauty.

"I think it's one of the best cities," he says "because I always remember the nights that I would spend in Quebec City when it was dark and it was snowing a little bit and there are lights everywhere because they make it very special for Christmas."

For Eugene Panchenko, a Vertu Mobile Phone customer service representative, the Russian Orthodox Calendar affects the timing of their holiday.

"In Russia, we don't have Christmas in December, we celebrate it in January," he clarifies. 

The build up and count down for Christmas for many children is usually marked by an advent calendar bearing candies or tiny ornaments for the tree. Some families designate specific evenings for decorating the tree or hanging holly and stockings by the fireplace.

"My favorite part of Christmas was always making cookies with my family; this is what I liked the most," says Filis Jovesic, remembering her childhood in Germany. 

In the eyes of a child, sometimes there is nothing better than collective effort of baking cookies to leave Santa on Christmas Eve, or smearing thick, white icing onto the delicate roof of a gingerbread house and tiling it with little colored gumdrops. 

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Phil Pearson, whose family is from both Japan and the UK explains that like many British families, Christmas is the only time of year when his family goes to church to sing carols.

"In Mexico, Christmas is a really important celebration for family, all my family gathers together, we go to church around ten pm and then we go home and we have all have dinner together," says Luis Euan Itza, a China Representative for Amatar DMC Mexico Travel Service.

One commonality all the families seem to share on Christmas is the inevitable tendency to overindulge with the food.

However, tradition dictates what kind of food to indulge in more than the family's country of residence.

In the United States, the diverse heritage assures that there is not one set Christmas meal. Some families eat roast beef while others prepare Cornish hens or a baked ham.

Mr. David Pimentel's Christmas dinner in America is influenced by his Portuguese father, who prefers seafood and rice paella on Christmas, while local Kro's Nest employee Kara Elise Brouillette's family from Louisiana only serves Cajun food.

Roasted turkey with potatoes is a family tradition that curiously transcends borders and according to many, is a hearty Christmas favorite reaching all the way to Peru and Mexico, the UK, Germany and France, and up to Canada.

However, each country adds its own unique twist to the standard oven basted and baked bird.

The Germans add red cabbage, the Peruvians add apple sauce and the Mexicans add in some spicy chilies and "nopales," a kind of prickly pear cactus.

Still, many French families prelude their turkey or guinea foul by complimenting it with a side of “foie grois,” made from duck or goose liver and sipped with a glass of fizzy champagne.

In Mexico, Mr. Euan Itza says the turkey must be complimented with "romeritos."

"Romeritos are little dumplings stuffed with vegetables and some kind of meat," he explains "they are special because we just make them for Christmas."

Nonetheless, despite all the delectable edibles, foreigners do admit that no family gathering is perfect, and many say that petty disputes or annoyances are inevitable this time of year.

Many say discrepancies arise over board games or cooking responsibilities and the general stress of everyone striving to create the perfect day.

In addition, every family has its own Christmas oddities that can seem comical to other families. 

Cindy Pi from Long Island explains that in her family, a professional film crew follows them around the house throughout the day. The video is then made into what Cindy describes as "a really badly edited techno music video" delivered a week after the festivities.

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For Olivier Jacques, his family has one crazy winter activity that's a bit out of the ordinary.

"We have one specific tradition, all the guests that are at the party take off their socks and their shoes, and they are asked to go run around the house, barefoot," he cringes "but in Quebec, there's a lot of snow and it's quite cold outside, and if it's a bad year it means close to one meter of snow, it's no fun."

Christmas time can evoke nostalgia and a twinge of sadness for many who feel far from home; so, many foreigners try to recreate the traditions of both their families and their cultures.

The typical Beijing Christmas party includes an excess of food and drinks along with perhaps the added suspense of a "Secret Santa" gift exchange. Names are drawn anonymously in advance and gifts purchased for the unsuspecting recipients.
 
Many foreigners opt for hosting a meal at home in a "pot luck" fashion in which everyone contributes one dish or brings something to drink.

Naturally, because of cultural diversity in Beijing, it's not unlikely to see the Christmas meal include items like potato salad, nachos, fried rice and curry. Surprisingly, this is all washed down with beer, sake, tequila or perhaps Chilean wine.

Peruvian native Gabriel Villalobos points out that in order to embrace the Christmas spirit, he must have a sweet and fruity Peruvian cake dipped in chocolate sauce, or as they say, "paneton con chocolate," but he will settle for Italian panetone from Carrefour.

Some expats believe that no amount of recreating or substitutes will ever suffice, despite their valiantly festive efforts.

Others like Mr. Pimentel view it as a new experience in China.

"This is going to be my first Christmas away from home, so I'm actually kind of excited about trying to recreate the whole thing, and I figure as long as you have good friends and all the things that make Christmas, you can really have a fun time," he says hopefully.

Eugene Panchenko is also welcoming the change from his standard Christmas at home.

"This year is very special for me, because I spend it in China, in Beijing, so it's going to be really different. I'm going to meet all my friends from different countries and have a really good night out with them."

Regardless of individual cultures or tradition, many expats emphasize that Christmas in China isn't about wreaths or Santa and it's not about what they eat and or where. Simply put, it's about being with the people they care about.