FOR many Sarawakians, Christmas has never been a quiet affair. It is marked by open houses, church gatherings, visits that stretch late into the night, and tables filled with food meant to be shared beyond the immediate family.
The season is as much about community as it is about tradition.
But for Sarawakians who live, study or work overseas, Christmas often arrives in a very different form, shaped by distance, climate and the absence of familiar routines.
For some, it is colder and quieter. For others, it is smaller and more reflective, but still anchored in family and faith.
That has been the case for Ash, 28, a PhD student based in London, who spent his second Christmas away from Sarawak this year.
Although he was not entirely alone and had his sisters and nephews nearby, he said the atmosphere could not compare to home.
“I’m fortunate enough to have family here as well, but the vibe of being in Sarawak for Christmas is entirely different from the vibe in London.
“The cultural differences in how we celebrate are quite stark, despite it being a supposedly Christian country,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Ash described London as slowing almost to a standstill in the days leading up to Christmas, with shops closing and the city feeling subdued.
Celebrations, he said, were largely centred on the immediate family unit. Back home, the experience is very different.
“In Sarawak, and Malaysia more generally, you celebrate with your community, whether it’s your kampung, your church, or your extended friends and family.
“It feels like a real festive holiday. Since it is observed by a minority religion, not everything shuts down, so the cities still feel alive on the day.
“Because of our multiculturalism and visiting practices, people from other religions and cultures are invited to take part in the festivities, which really adds to the community spirit. That’s something I feel is lacking in the West,” he added.
This year, his Christmas in London was marked by a traditional English dinner, complete with crackers and games.
Still, he made an effort to bring a piece of Sarawak with him.
“I also managed to finish my Christmas shopping before central London got too crazy. It may not be the same as the way Christmas is done at home, but we try to bring a bit of home with us in how we celebrate it.
“I saved some ‘tuak’ and ‘langkau’ from my last trip back to Sarawak to share with my sisters, who haven’t been home in a while.
“The scale is smaller than what I’m used to, but it’s still cosy with family,” he said.
For Bryan Ho, 41, an interior designer whose company is based in Perth, Australia, Christmas has become something of a rotation.
One year, he returns to Kuching; the next, he celebrates abroad. Where he is matters less than who he is with.
He said celebrating Christmas in Kuching allows him to spend time not just with immediate family, but also with extended relatives and friends, and, as he put it, enjoy the food that only home can offer.
This year, however, Bryan found himself in Seoul, South Korea, celebrating Christmas amid snowfall and temperatures dipping to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
Despite the unfamiliar setting, he said certain routines remained constant.
“As Catholics, we still attend Mass, sing Christmas songs together, and have Christmas dishes, even in Korea. We still exchange gifts,” he said.
Writer and author Dr Anna Sulan Masing, 44, now based in the United Kingdom, said Christmas has always been closely tied to family dynamics, shared jokes, familiar flavours, and the kind of laughter that only siblings bring.
Being away from her childhood home has made those moments of connection even more important.
“We don’t have any traditions set in stone. Growing up in a hotter climate, with hot Christmases, the traditions were more about being relaxed.
“There’s an openness to Christmas that cold climates don’t really allow for. You’re used to hanging out outside, going to other people’s houses, the beach.
“I think that carries through to how we approach Christmas, with a more relaxed tone,” she said.
Food, unsurprisingly, sits at the centre of her family’s celebrations. Turkey was never essential. What mattered was cooking well and eating together.
“But one thing that has become constant is doing jigsaw puzzles and taking the dog for a walk,” she added.
This year, she planned to spend Christmas at her sister’s home with her nephews.
She said food had been organised, wine accounted for, ‘tuak’ brought along, and Christmas crackers prepared.
The family would stay the night, extending the celebration in their own unhurried way.
Christmas this year was spent offshore for Paulus Maurice, 29, far from Sarawak. The distance made the season quieter and more introspective.
Being away from home, he said, made him realise how deeply Sarawak has shaped him.
He added that Christmas offshore was less about celebration and more about reflection, a reminder of the sacrifices made to support family back home.
“I miss the simple things the most. Being with family, the familiar food, and the feeling of togetherness that you can’t really replace.
“Christmas back home isn’t about big events; it’s about shared moments, laughter, and being present with the people who matter,” he said.
Instead of large gatherings, the day was marked by keeping in touch with loved ones, sharing a meal with colleagues, and taking time to pause.
“It’s very different from being home, where Christmas feels warmer and more personal. Here, it’s more subdued, but the meaning is still there, just expressed differently,” he added.
Across different cities, climates and circumstances, these Sarawakians may be celebrating Christmas far from home.
Yet in each story, the same elements persist: family, food, faith, and the quiet effort to carry home with them, wherever they are.
