Christmas is an extra busy time here in the Irish Times Abroad section, and we've loads of great stories for you this week about emigrants flying home or staying abroad for the festive season.

Ellen O'Riordan was up at the crack of dawn this morning to chat to people in the arrivals hall in Dublin Airport, where the reunions were a little emotional, to say the least. Peter McGuire takes a lighthearted look at Irish Christmas traditions and how you can recreate them no matter where you are in the world. Yvonne Watterson writes about the beautiful doll's crib her da made for her for Christmas as a kid, and how she's feeling the distance between them at this time of year.

If you've had your fill of festive fayre, there are some articles that don't even mention the word Christmas, too: Suzanne Lynch paid a visit to "the most Irish town in America", Scituate in Massacheusetts; while she also brings us some bad news about the proposed E-3 visa deal for Irish immigrants to America, which unfortunately looks set for defeat.

Have a great Christmas everyone, wherever you are in the world, and thank you for reading and contributing to Irish Times Abroad in 2018.