Originally Recorded: December 22, 2021

Notes

In this special Holiday Edition, Stephen and Jennie Jones, new staff at Envision Berlin, join Mike to revisit the themes of the Neutral Zone, Culture Stress, and Culture Shock through the lens of holidays - from Halloween to Christmas.

Holidays can be times when the transitions are felt more intensely. The combination of missing events from the US and experiencing familiar and unfamiliar holidays in a new location can trigger strong emotions - both positive and negative.

In this episode, we delve into the nuances of local holiday customs, from Saint Martin's Day to Christmas traditions. We'll explore their moments of confusion and adaptation as they grapple with the unfamiliar traditions of their new home, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of cultural assimilation.

Additionally, we'll reflect on the impact of COVID on past Christmas celebrations and hear about their endeavors to create meaningful experiences for interns during the holiday season. Join us as we unravel the tapestry of celebrating the holidays across cultures on traxcultures, where the beauty of cultural transitions comes to life.

Links:

Here is a history of St Martin at iamexpat.de and here an explanation of the tradition and some videos to the songs the kids sing at berlinforallthefamily.com

Our episodes on The Neutral Zone - Episode 4, Episode 5, and Episode 6

Our Episodes on Culture Shock - Episode 12, Episode 13, and Episode 14

Information on Stephen Jones.

Videos and other traXcultures resources.

Follow Stephen and Jennie on Instagram: @thejonesesinberlin

Visit liminal edges on Instagram: @liminal_edges

Contact Envision Berlin about customizing the Cross-Cultural Transitions Handbook for your cross-cultural ministry organization.

Credits:

Regular Theme music by Mike Picconatto

Unterwegs is recorded and produced by Envision Berlin

Disclaimer

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Transcripts are available for free on Patreon.

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Timestamped Overview:

05:19 Event with kids and lanterns.

08:44 Learning about Saint Nicholas Day traditions from social media.

12:41 Many lights and decorations, but lacking spirit.

14:40 Anticipation of Jesus' return and Christmas countdown.

18:39 German Christmas trees tradition.

22:17 Building community in transition through intentional patterns.

25:07 Post-Christmas shopping, family time, and nostalgia.

27:05 Family support during holidays brings mixed emotions.