--- title: 8 Ways to Integrate Your Exchange Student's Culture into Holiday Celebrations description: Learn how to create an inclusive holiday experience by integrating your exchange student's cultural traditions into your celebrations. Discover meaningful ways to bond and celebrate together. image: https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text.png --- [![ices@2x](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png?width=77&name=ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png)](https://www.icesusa.org/)   - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org) [Let's Talk](https://blog.icesusa.org/contact)subscribe ### I’d like to learn more about Campaign Creators! read # 8 Ways to Integrate Your Exchange Student's Culture into Holiday Celebrations By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text.png) One of the best parts of hosting an exchange student (and yes, we know there are many) is sharing your culture and learning about theirs. But why not take it a step further and incorporate some of their cultural traditions into your holiday celebrations? Make this season extra special for you and your exchange student by sharing your holiday traditions.   ## Learn about Their Holiday Traditions ![snow-covered tree with Eiffel Tower in background](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Dec-05-2024-01-39-20-5900-PM.png?width=751&height=492&name=image-png-Dec-05-2024-01-39-20-5900-PM.png) Ask your exchange student about the holidays they celebrate back home. What is the history of that holiday? What stories do they tell around it? Do they have a holiday greeting in their language, the way we say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas"? Learning about your exchange student's holiday traditions will help you incorporate them into your celebrations!   ## Celebrate Their Holiday ![Chinese red envelopes](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text%20(9).png?width=770&height=516&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(9).png) Participate in your exchange student's home holiday traditions by celebrating them together. If their culture celebrates a holiday during the holiday season, consider incorporating some of their traditions into your celebrations. If they celebrate holidays not commonly observed in the U.S., recognize those as well! You could cook a special dinner together, participate in a cultural activity, or simply learn about the holiday's significance.   ## Cook Traditional Dishes ![variety of dishes on table](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text%20(2).png?width=770&height=516&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(2).png) The holidays are the perfect time to explore the flavors and culinary traditions of your exchange student's culture! Ask them about the foods they associate with holiday celebrations back home. What dishes are a must-have? Bond with them by cooking some of these together. Bonus: you'll learn how to cook a new dish, and they'll feel more at home during the holidays!   ## Decorate with Cultural Elements ![colorful hanging lanterns](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text%20(3).png?width=770&height=516&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(3).png) Incorporate decorations that reflect your exchange student's culture. If there is a specific color or symbol related to their holiday, add it to your holiday decor. For example, consider adding some diyas (small oil lamps) if they celebrate Diwali. If they are from Japan, a simple, elegant touch like origami ornaments can make them feel at home. Another fun activity is making handmade decorations together that represent your student's culture.   ## Create a Custom Tradition Together ![gingerbread houses](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text%20(4).png?width=770&height=516&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(4).png) Invent a new tradition that blends both cultures. You could create a DIY craft project like handmade decorations representing both traditions or create an entirely new holiday dish combining your favorite traditional foods. Try hosting a multicultural cookie decorating night where you decorate cookies with symbols and colors representing your and your exchange student's holidays.   ## Attend Cultural Events ![Chinese dragons](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text%20(10).png?width=770&height=516&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(10).png) Look for local events or festivals that celebrate your exchange student's culture. Some examples include workshops, such as crafting lanterns for the Lunar New Year or baking traditional European cookies, concerts or dance performances featuring a theme from your student's culture, or religious or spiritual observances, such as a Hannukah lighting or visiting a temple. Attending these events together can help them feel a sense of community and belonging. And you'll have fun experiencing something new with your family!    ## Exchange Stories about Traditions ![family laughing around the table](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text%20(7).png?width=770&height=516&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(7).png) Invite your exchange student to share stories about how they celebrate the holidays back home. This is sure to spark fun conversations about holiday family traditions and what makes them so special. Encourage your exchange student to share specific memories of how they celebrate the holidays with their family and friends back home. Consider asking questions like "Are there any special foods or drinks your family always prepares for the holidays?" or "Is there a story or legend tied to your holiday traditions?" Sharing personal stories about why your family follows certain customs will help you feel more connected with your exchange student.   ## Play Holiday Games Together ![wooden game](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text%20(8).png?width=770&height=516&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(8).png) Ask your exchange student to share holiday games from their culture. If they don't know any, you can learn some together! Share some of your favorite holiday games or activities with them as well. You can build multiculturally-themed gingerbread houses together or show them how to play holiday games (for example, the dreidel game if you celebrate Hannukah).    --- Make your exchange student feel like part of your family this holiday season by integrating their culture into your celebrations. Combining your traditions with theirs will create a meaningful and inclusive holiday experience that honors cultural differences. Happy celebrating! Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [Christmas](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/christmas) ### Related Articles ## [Mid-Year Check: Make Your Year Great!](https://blog.icesusa.org/mid-year-check-make-your-year-great) *( read )* Topics: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [Christmas](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/christmas) ## [Why January Is the Best Time to Say Yes to Hosting](https://blog.icesusa.org/why-january-is-the-best-time-to-say-yes-to-hosting) *( read )* Topics: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [Christmas](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/christmas) ## [How Different Cultures Celebrate the New Year](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-different-cultures-celebrate-the-new-year) *( read )* Topics: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [Christmas](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/christmas) ### Subscribe to The Chronicles of Marketing Newsletter ### Posts by Tag - [Cultural Exchange (141)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange) - [Exchange Student (106)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student) - [Host Families (97)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families) - [Host an exchange student (78)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) - [Youth Exchange (68)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange) ## Subscribe to Our Blog Today! ![Boris_ICES_Ads](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Boris_ICES_Ads.png?width=749&height=698&name=Boris_ICES_Ads.png) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Lily Vesel", "url" : "https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-21T11:52:55.137Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-21T11:52:54.000Z", "headline" : "8 Ways to Integrate Your Exchange Student's Culture into Holiday Celebrations", "image" : [ "https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Your%20paragraph%20text.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.icesusa.org/8-ways-to-integrate-your-exchange-students-culture-into-holiday-celebrations", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "International Cultural Exchange Services" } } ```