Being away from family during the holidays can be challenging, but it\u2019s also an opportunity to create new traditions, make lasting memories and connect with new friends and housemates. Whether you\u2019re an international student far from home or just can\u2019t visit your family this year, here are some fun and meaningful ways to celebrate the season here in Perth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bring everyone\u2019s traditions to the table… literally! Organise a potluck dinner<\/a> where each housemate or friend contributes a dish from their home country or a holiday meal<\/a> they love. This is a great way to share a piece of your culture, try new foods and bond over stories and laughter. Decorate your space with a mix of festive styles and maybe even create a collaborative holiday playlist to keep the energy going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Who doesn\u2019t love a good holiday flick<\/a>? Gather your friends, grab some snacks and host a movie marathon featuring classic festive films, comedies or even movies showcasing traditions from around the world. Create a cozy space with blankets and fairy lights to give it that warm homely feeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gift-giving is a holiday staple, but it doesn\u2019t have to break the bank. Organise a Secret Santa<\/a> or a DIY gift exchange<\/a> with your housemates or close friends. Set a small budget or challenge each other to make something heartfelt, like handwritten letters, baked goods or personalised crafts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perth comes alive during the holiday season, and there\u2019s plenty to explore: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Can\u2019t find a tradition that fits? Make your own! It could be anything from an annual holiday bake-off<\/a> to themed game nights<\/a> or even writing holiday goals to open next year<\/a>. These unique moments become something you can look forward to and cherish year after year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because you\u2019re far away doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t celebrate with your family. Plan a virtual hangout<\/a> where you can chat, open presents together or even cook the same holiday meal<\/a> while on a video call. It\u2019s not the same as being in-person, but it can still bring a sense of togetherness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Western Australia has no shortage of incredible sights. Plan a group road trip<\/a>, explore iconic spots<\/a>, Rottnest Island<\/a>, the Pinnacles<\/a> or a hike<\/a> in the Perth Hills. It\u2019s a great way to make new memories while soaking in the beauty of WA. Celebrating the holidays away from home can feel different, but it\u2019s also a chance to build a sense of belonging and create your own special moments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By embracing new traditions, exploring Perth and connecting with your new friends, you can turn this holiday season into a meaningful and unforgettable experience. After all, home is where you make it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discover creative ways to celebrate the holidays away from home. Host multicultural feasts, explore Perth\u2019s festive highlights, start new traditions and connect with friends for a season to remember. | Reading time: 3 mins <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4466,"featured_media":26427,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"7734,6096,4938,5450,4807,7737","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_oasis-categories":0,"footnotes":""},"oasis-categories":[146,149],"class_list":["post-27002","oasis-news","type-oasis-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","oasis-categories-student-life","oasis-categories-wellbeing"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"banner":{"image":false}}},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Curtin_Uni_University_Decisions_Pathway_Perth-1000x500.png","author_meta":{"first_name":"Mikaela","last_name":"Zuiderduyn","display_name":"Mikaela Zuiderduyn"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-19 08:30:22","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/27002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oasis-news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/27002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-categories?post=27002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Start a holiday movie marathon<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Plan a secret Santa or DIY gift exchange<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Explore Perth\u2019s festive side<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Create new traditions<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Host a virtual celebration with family<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Take a day trip with friends<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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