Christmas always makes us think of family, warm home full of bright decorations, and a dining table that you get to share with those closest to you. But what if none of your dear people actually happen to be around for this holiday season?

That's It, Christmas Is Canceled!

Hang on, no need to be overdramatic. Of course, it's not nice being away from friends and family at this time of year. However, that's not a reason to deprive yourself of Christmas cheer, joy, and other magical stuff. It's not like the rest of the world will stop celebrating just because you're suddenly on your own.

Besides, if exchange students and nomads all over the world do this year after year, then so can you.

Time to Create New Traditions

Now that we've established you're not the first one to face the problem of not being around your dearest ones, let's look for solutions. Sure, buying a flight home is one. Or if you're short on finances, you could hitchhike. Unless there's an ocean between your hometown and where you're based. Might be a little tricky then.

Joking aside, there's an easier way to solve your problem. We're here to show you how you can use the power of technology and internet to not only find someone to spend Christmas with, but also find a whole lot of something to do over the holiday season.

1. Find Yourself a Christmas Date on Tinder

A perfect cure for feeling lonely and out of place on Christmas is falling in love. Imagine how much better exploring Christmas markets and watching holiday movies would be together with your love interest.

Of course, like with all dating apps, finding your Christmas date on Tinder is a bit of a lottery. It's best to not get your hopes too high and have a backup plan in case Tinder doesn't meet your expectations. But even if you don't find the love of your life, you might meet a cool friend this way.

2. Check Out Alternative Dating Apps

Speaking of finding friends on dating apps. If you're not buying the whole "making Christmas romantic" concept, you can still use dating apps to find like-minded people to spend the holiday with.

We covered this topic before and compared a number of unusual dating apps perfect for finding friends online. From Tinder rival Bumble (and its BFF mode) to an app for dog lovers that will connect you to people with similar interests to yours.

3. Set Up a Meeting on Couchsurfing or Meetup

If your idea of the perfect Christmas is spending it in a big noisy company of friends, head to Couchsurfing and/or Meetup in search of the right group for yourself.

Both platforms are great for making new friends online. In fact, most likely, there will already be groups and discussions about Christmas celebrations set up by other people in your city.

Not sure which one is the right website for you? Normally, Couchsurfing tends to attract more of an international crowd (travel enthusiasts and people new to the city), when Meetup has a reputation of an all-time favorite for locals. However, that might differ depending on your region.

4. Book a Last-Minute Trip

Has all this talk of traveling made you think of going on a trip yourself? Another great way to escape seasonal depression and loneliness is to go on a spontaneous Christmas trip.

Not sure if you can afford a big trip abroad? Make it a local visit and go somewhere you've never been, maybe a nearby city or town that you were always curious about. Combine that with finding a host on Couchsurfing and you've got yourself a few days long Christmas discovery adventure.

If a local trip isn't enough for you, and you're willing to spend money just to get away from all this Christmas cheesiness. Check out these websites that offer great last-minute deals for your buck. After all, you can't be too sad when lying on a beach surrounded by palm trees.

5. Browse a Local Events Calendar

Approaching strangers about spending Christmas together might be rather difficult, even when you do it online. A safer way to casually meet someone is to attend Christmas events that are already set up and scheduled.

Browse your Facebook events calendar to see what's happening in your hometown this month. You might already be invited to some Christmas-themed events on Facebook. They can be easy to miss if you're not one to check your calendar often.

Take advantage of sources like Eventbrite and Eventful to discover more local events this Christmas. And don't forget to have a look at the calendars of your favorite venues or ticket offices.

6. Reddit User? Find Someone Within the Community

Reddit fans will agree that the platform is perfect for finding cool new content and discussing issues and news of the day with people from all over the world. But Reddit has outgrown its original purposes long ago and is now full of awesome things like philanthropic subreddits and Secret Santa-style gift exchanges. If you already love the community, why not look for Christmas buddies there?

Reach out on Reddit to try and find a person, a group of people, or maybe even a whole family, to spend Christmas with.

7. Post a Digital "Cry for Help" on Facebook

If everything else fails (and you're not afraid to look too desperate), shoot a last-minute Facebook status and see if any of your Facebook friends around for Christmas. That way you won't be betting on a complete stranger whom you've never seen before to have something in common with you.

Christmas on Your Own? Not a Problem

If, after all, you end up spending Christmas on your own, it's not a reason to stay in pajamas all day watching TV (although that's actually not a bad way to spend Christmas at all).

For those of you looking for something to do on the actual Christmas day, consider the following options.

Catch Up on Life Admin

Being on your own on this day has its advantages. It'll probably be a distraction-free day when you can focus on sorting out your personal tasks. When others wake up with a (food or alcohol) hangover on December 26, you'll wake up one step ahead of them.

Let Your Creativity Loose

Make use of the empty streets, go out and shoot some amazing photos and videos of your city. Perfect opportunity to leave your camera on self-timer without constantly looking over your shoulder. No need to worry about your camera getting stolen.

Marathon Anti-Christmas Movies

Buy some popcorn and comfort food in advance, pull down the curtains, and turn your living room into a private cinema. What's on? Your all-time favorite films, geeky marathons, or maybe a bunch of horror movies. Choose your own antidote for the Christmas cheese.

Spend a Guilt-free Day Online

Christmas is probably one day that you won't feel guilty wasting on the internet. The rest of the world is pretty much frozen, so why not enjoy some random conversations in chat rooms, play a video game, or waste a couple of hours on YouTube?

What Are You Doing This Christmas?

Whether you go for a more traditional way to spend Christmas or opt for something different this year, the most important thing is that whatever you choose to do makes you happy.

How are you planning to spend Christmas? Are you having a family dinner, or going to a big party with friends? Maybe neither? What's your idea of a perfect Christmas day? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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