Celebrating the Holidays in Space Vs Holidays Here in Houston – Erin Winick Anthony

December 18, 2025
Space Center Houston
Space for Everyone

Two years ago I spent the holidays with about 110 people isolated in the middle of the ocean on a science expedition.

At that moment I felt more like an astronaut than ever before. I specifically felt a connection with the crew of the International Space Station. Sailing on the ocean with nothing around you but water for more than 2 months was a bit isolating. I can only imagine the feeling of spending 6 months to a year in space living in the same 5-bedroom house with the same 6-8 people!

But what makes the holidays special during these times is traditions created by your crew, and celebrating with your new found family that shares the same motivations and desires to explore and discover. From talent shows to great meals to a New Years ball drop at sea, my holidays at sea actually made for one of my most memorable holidays.

This year I am thankful to be home from my science adventures, spending the holidays with my family celebrating at Space Center Houston’s Galaxy Lights.

A movie running here at Galaxy Lights in the Destiny Theater got me thinking once again about the science crews around the world and in space celebrating the holidays away from home this year. The movie showcases Skylab crew members building Christmas trees out of leftover food containers, dreidels being spun in microgravity aboard space shuttles, holiday space feasts, and elf hats being worn on the space station.

You can see some of it make an appearance in last year’s Christmas message from space:

The first ever crew to spend Christmas in space and leave Earth orbit was Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders. They celebrated with a broadcast while circling the Moon in 1968. An estimated one billion people tuned in to watch!

The space station allows for a bit more room to decorate and celebrate the holidays than an Apollo space capsule. Excess weight and large items do still have to be monitored when launching things to the space station, but over the years some holiday decor has made its way to the space station to make things more festive! Their decor might not match the scale of the massive light displays here at Space Center Houston, but little trees and stockings bring a bit of home into Earth orbit for astronauts to enjoy.

In general, astronauts celebrate the holidays just like us! They take a brief moment to pause and celebrate with their newly formed space family in the midst of all of their important scientific work. They enjoy some special meals and maybe even decorate some cookies. Astronauts don’t get to fully take Christmas Eve off though! They’ve been known to keep an eye out for Santa on his journey around the planet, chatting with North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as they track his trip on Christmas Eve.

So this holiday season if you’re celebrating with your family or friends, appreciate your chance to be together. And if you’re separated from your loved ones, know you aren’t alone! Some people orbiting 250 miles out planet are just like you.

Learn more about celebrating the holidays in space and come check out some truly stellar light displays this year at Galaxy Lights, presented by Wellby Financial! You can use my coupon code, ERIN2025, for $5 off up to 6 tickets.