From Venezuela To The U.S.—The Culture Shock I Face During The Holidays

December. It’s that time of the year again. 

From a very young age, I always thought of December as one of the most joyful and exciting seasons on the calendar. Every year, I waited impatiently for this month to come. I don’t say this just because my birthday is one week before Christmas Eve or because I was used to receiving lots of presents when I was little. 

I say it because, to me, December was more than just Christmas and New Year’s eve celebrations. 

It meant gathering the entire family at the dinner table and seeing relatives that you hadn’t visited in months. It meant having loads of fun setting off fireworks with my cousins at my grandparent’s house. And it meant receiving a warm hug from the people I love the most.

Now, my holidays look a lot different than they did when I was a kid. 

When I arrived in the United States from Venezuela in 2017, I faced a huge cultural shock. I had to adapt not only to a different lifestyle but also to a wide array of American traditions. Holidays like Thanksgiving or President’s Day were alien to me. 

And surprise—Christmas was not an exception. 

I was not used to seeing inflatable Santa Clauses in every single corner of my neighborhood nor was I expecting to memorize the lyrics of Mariah Carey’s hit song, All I Want For Christmas Is You, in less than a week.

Although we have some things in common—like decorating a Christmas tree or giving gifts to loved ones—Christmas just didn’t feel the same anymore. Maybe it was because half my family, including my dad, still live in Venezuela or because I had grown up and lost that childhood innocence. 

In the beginning, there were many things I couldn’t get used to: the people, music, customs, and especially the food. In Venezuela, it’s common for families to gather at a designated house to prepare typical dishes such as the hallaca, pan de jamón and ensalada de gallina. 

Here, the menu changes a little bit. Typical dishes range from stuffed turkey and ham to mashed potatoes and pecan pie, just to name a few. But I was able to keep some of my native traditions due to the strong Latin heritage in Miami.

I understand that days like Christmas and New Year’s can be overwhelming when you’re away from your roots and your family. However, I think that it’s up to me to decide how I want to feel about the holidays.  

My definition of December has changed a lot but I still receive hugs from people I love. I still set off fireworks with my brother at my aunt’s house, and I still gather with half of my family at the dinner table. 

Even though I can’t have a December like my younger self did, one thing is sure—I’ll keep my Venezuelan traditions alive wherever I go.