'A trip home is impossible': How foreign residents in Germany plan to celebrate Christmas

Solana Joy and her family never usually get a Christmas tree in Germany. But because they plan to stay in Berlin over the festive period this year, they're embracing this tradition.

"It gets dark so early now, we could use a bit of sparkle," Joy told the Local. 

Due to the pandemic, Joy believes she won't get home to visit her family in Oregon, the US, or her husband Julian's family in Ireland.

"We haven't left Berlin all year, and don't expect to be able to at this rate," she said.

Unfortunately this year, many people's travel plans cannot go ahead due to the health crisis.

READ ALSO: Germany mulls three-week lockdown from December 20th

As The Local has been reporting, the German government wants to ease restrictions over Christmas and New Year, but has tightened measures in the run-up and after it.

However, with countries dubbed high risk zones around the world (and as numbers are still high in Germany), travel is out of the question for most people.

Joy plans to make the best of the situation, though, by visiting any Christmas markets that are able to open.

"And I'm hoping it will snow, at least once," she said. "Otherwise, we'll just decorate, and bake – things like that.

Solana Joy with her son and husband Julian. Photo: Juliana Socher

"My son was a tiny baby last year, so this will be the first holiday season he'll be able to kind of appreciate and get into it. So that part is exciting."

And her tip for getting through the season? "Basically just doubling-down on carbs and shiny things," she said.

"Also, my family is Jewish, so I usually do a little bit of Chanukah stuff around the house – menorah and latkes and that sort of thing. There may be extra potato pancake action this year. And I bought gold glitter nail polish at DM today – I haven't bought glitter nail polish in twenty years."

'Family is really important'

"We were supposed to fly to France with our kids and two-month-old baby, as we do every year to be with family," Camille de Carmejane, who's based in Munich, told The Local.

De Carmejane is now planning a "small Christmas" with her husband and children. But this wasn't what they'd hoped for.

"We just moved back from Australia to Europe before Covid. The idea was to be close to family (in France and north Germany) but we have seen them less then before. We were hoping to have a big family Christmas like every year.

"I was hoping my father and brother could come and visit from France. It would still only be seven of us but it doesn’t look likely at the moment."

Nevertheless she hopes to make the season feel magical for the kids and may put up her Christmas tree early to get into the spirit.

"Family is really important, more then Christmas itself and we have to make it special for the kids because the family won’t be around," she said.

IN DETAIL: Germany extends coronavirus shutdown and tightens restrictions

'Day trips but nothing more'

Lots of internationals around Germany are having to change their plans and adapt to the pandemic.

Anwar Donald George in Essen said his family will likely not travel during the holidays "for the first time ever".

"Yes we are thinking of doing maybe day trips, but nothing more," he said.

Noa Freilich Pollack  agreed that the best plan is to "stay home or travel locally".

Claire in Munich was hoping to meet up with family and travel to Switzerland. But she isn't sure that either will happen. 

"I guess I’ll have to stay in Germany," she said. :No idea what I will do; spend Christmas with my new friends here I guess."

'It feels irresponsible to travel right now'

Cheryl Howard in Berlin said travelling home to Canada is "impossible" right now.

"It means a mandatory two weeks of quarantine, likely in a hotel, which is a waste of vacation time and money. Then quarantine and doing more tests when back in Germany. Doesn't seem worth it right now.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about travel in Germany (and abroad) at Christmas and New Year

Cheryl Howard wearing a face mask in Berlin. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Howard

"When Canada loosens the quarantine requirements for citizens (they are currently evaluating proposals to reduce quarantines with testing), only then can I think of returning. Soonest scenario is next spring, which is really sad."

Howard, who has lived in the capital since 2011, plans to have a small Christmas in Berlin.

Germany has extended the 'lockdown light' over December, stopping to ease the rules over the festive period.

Howard believes it was right to extend the shutdown, but she's concerned about people travelling.

"I shudder to think of people travelling everywhere in higher numbers, especially in this cold weather, and how that will significantly amplify the spread," she said.

"It feels somewhat irresponsible to travel right now. I think we need to do our best to navigate through this time within certain constraints and support everyone as best as we can, but I would prefer to see current measures left in place, perhaps with a stricter travel ban."

Nevertheless she's keeping up the Christmas spirit with a pre-order of a festive dinner delivery.

"I've already put up some decorations and placed an online order for a crate of wine to gift to friends throughout December," she said.

A Christmas tree in Hanover, Lower Saxony. Photo: DPA

"There will be the viewing of cute Christmas movies, listening to carols, and making some cookies. Then the day of (Christmas), getting outside for a long walk somewhere through Berlin."

READ ALSO:

• Germany introduces new quarantine rules for travel
• Where and when will it be possible to go skiing in Europe this winter?

'I've booked a flight'

For some foreign residents, the plan is to see how the coronavirus situation develops and only travel abroad if they believe it's safe.

Galina in Berlin said she is "still considering" travelling abroad to see family "depending on the situation".

Beth Davies in Berlin has booked a flight for €60 return but may not use it if the situation doesn't improve.

"I have half my family in England (my parents and one sister), and half in Switzerland (my other sister her husband and two kids). We made a decision a couple of months ago to all be in Switzerland, in the hopes it could be possible."

Monica Sprague in Bruchmühlbach-Miesau said she can't have family over from the States, and it doesn't look she will travel.

However she will attend midnight Christmas Eve service at the chapel in the military base she's part of and plans to increase her Christmas spirit by watching more holiday movies and listening to festive tunes.

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Thanks to everyone who shared their experience with us. Although we weren't able to include all the submissions, we read each of them and we are truly sympathetic to the challenges everyone is facing right now during this pandemic.