A couple’s decision to spend Christmas apart to be with their families has sparked a conversation on TikTok. Ally and Justin, who have been dating for five years, shared their unique holiday tradition in a recent video, explaining why they choose to celebrate separately.
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Ally explained to PEOPLE that this wasn’t a deliberate decision, but rather a natural evolution of their relationship since college. Both their families reside on the East Coast, while they live in Colorado. This geographical distance makes Christmas a valuable opportunity to reconnect with loved ones.
“We’ve both lived across the country from our families for the last three-ish years — we get to see each other all the time, but only get to see our families a few times a year,” Ally shared. “With parents and grandparents getting older, you have to cherish as much time as you can with family.” This sentiment underscores the importance of family time, especially during the holidays.
Despite celebrating Christmas apart, Ally and Justin have established their own holiday traditions as a couple. This year, they decorated their apartment and celebrated on December 13th, exchanging gifts, making homemade pasta, and enjoying Christmas movies. This demonstrates their commitment to creating special moments together, even amidst their separate family celebrations.
While cherishing their individual family time, they recognize that their current tradition might evolve as their relationship progresses. “I definitely anticipate things changing,” Ally revealed, hinting at potential future adjustments. They’re considering options like hosting a combined family Christmas or alternating between their families’ homes.
This flexibility highlights their willingness to adapt and find new ways to balance their relationship and family commitments as their lives change.
Ally and Justin are also mindful of creating their own unique traditions as a couple, regardless of their future Christmas plans. “Even if we do combine Christmas with our families in the future, I’m sure we’ll want to do things with just the two of us going forward as well,” she added. This emphasis on couple time showcases their dedication to nurturing their relationship alongside their family bonds.
Their story, while unconventional, resonated with many online, highlighting the diverse ways couples navigate the holidays and prioritize their relationships with both their partners and families.
Ally acknowledged that some commenters expressed difficulty with spending the holidays away from their significant others, but she emphasized that this arrangement has always felt natural for them. “It’s just always been how it was and I don’t think either of us or anyone else really ever questioned it,” Ally noted. This reinforces the idea that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to holiday traditions and that each couple should find what works best for them.
