Reader stories: Separated from family over the holidays and a very first Christmas in Prague

2020 has not been the year that many people envisioned. The COVID pandemic has hit us all hard in one way or another and at Christmas time--a time for family--this continues to be the case.

For many the dream of flying home for the holidays has been limited or cancelled, with various restrictions in place across the globe and a number of flights cancelled or reduced in numbers.

Many have made the decision to stay put, to spend Christmas in Prague with their Czech family, friends, colleagues or a a small group of family members.

Marc, 38, from Britain has been living in Prague for over six years. He was planning to visit his mother along with his wife and his one-year-old child, but given the current climate decided it was too much a risk.

The decision was particularly hard for Marc, with his mother having to spend Christmas without family this year, however, she will still be able to meet with friends over the festive period.

This year is going to be the first Christmas abroad for another expat living in the Czech Republic, with Danni, spending her first Czech Christmas in Prague.

The 22-year-old is from the UK but has lived in New Zealand and had planned to spend her holidays on the beach.

"I think it's definitely making me feel a bit homesick that I won't be able to spend Christmas with family, it's normally a big celebration for me. Even in New Zealand we do a big traditional British Christmas with all friends and family. Last year I spent it in the UK with my family, so I think it's going to be very different. I don't think it will be as much of a celebration as it normally is. I think it should still be quite fun, a different sort of family is a good way to put it. Christmas, for me, is a very family-orientated time, so I think this will be quite a big change.”

Danni says she was looking forward to spending this year in the Czech Republic, but hasn’t really been able to enjoy the typical Prague Christmas experience given the limitations on Christmas markets and restrictions on gatherings over the last few months.

Someone else impacted by a COVID-hit Christmas is Tom, who has been living in the Czech Republic for four years but usually goes home to see family at this time of year.

He will be spending it with some friends and one of their families and says he made the decision early on.

Tom says while he won’t be able to go back to the UK this year, he will still be able to pick up some of his home comforts, with shops and supermarkets remaining open in the days leading up to Christmas.

“Luckily, my friend is Indian so she's quite fussy with the food as well as me. I'm a kind of vegetarian so I'd usually go home and have some vegetarian food back in the UK. So, no turkeys or things like that anyway. I think it will be eating a lot of potato salad and this kind of stuff. It's going to be ok as well because his family are going to prepare some special food and we've still got all the British supermarkets over here so we can still get our Christmas pudding and mince pies!”

While many people are disappointed that their plans later this week have had to change, it seems that many have adapted and are still looking forward to their merry little Christmas this year.