Blended Roots Across Continents
For this chapter of Rooted, I’m excited to share the story of Yenling, Christian, and their sons, Kai and Ryan. Their family is a beautiful mix of Dutch, Swiss, and Chinese roots, and for the past decades, Spain has been their home. Visiting them, I felt instantly the warmth and energy of a family that thrives on celebrations and exploring new things together. And their chickens Sieglinde and Gertrude made my visit even more enjoyable!
For me, photographing the Yenling-Christian family was a beautiful reminder that our roots live in the people we feel good with, the traditions we celebrate, and the stories we keep telling. They showed me how a family can blend cultures and traditions to create something entirely unique and full of life.
Yenling grew up in the Netherlands with Chinese heritage, while Christian comes from Switzerland, raised in the Italian-speaking part of Ticino with Swiss-German roots. Both have lived in Spain for decades, and now Moraira is their home base. Yet, their roots stretch across continents, and their blended heritage shapes everything about how they live, love, and celebrate as a family.
“We take the best of each culture and make our own”
Yenling
United, Multicultural, Explorers: Life as a Family
Three words they chose to describe themselves say it all: United, Multicultural, Explorers. And that really shows in how they live together. Whether it’s a quiet evening playing cards, cooking, or drawing, or heading out to explore new places, travel is always part of their story, but so is just being together, and making ordinary days meaningful.
Family Traditions That Span the Globe
What makes their story even richer is how they carry traditions from all corners of their heritage. Every birthday begins with homemade Gugelhupf for breakfast, a Merk family tradition passed down through generations.
They celebrate Sinterklaas and Samichlaus on December 6th, and Christmas is a joyful mix: a Swiss-Spanish fusion dinner with family sing-alongs on the 24th, an English-style turkey dinner on the 25th with their brother-in-law, and New Year’s Eve hotpot and raclette followed by 12 grapes and fireworks. They honor Three Kings Day in Spain, Easter with Oma’s rabbit-shaped bread and egg hunts, and for Chinese New Year, hotpot, long-life noodles, and red envelopes for the kids.
They are now incorporating more Chinese festivities throughout the year, including mooncakes, glutinous balls, and Dragon Boat Festival traditions. For them, food and celebration are central to family life.
Blending Roots, Creating Something New
What inspired me most is how naturally their roots come together. Differences aren’t obstacles, they are opportunities to create something new. Their life isn’t about choosing one culture over the other; it’s about mixing traditions, learning from each other, and creating a shared story that belongs to them. “We take the best of each culture and make our own,” they said.
What I Took Away
For me, capturing this family felt deeply personal. Their story is a reminder that family is about love, presence and creating a shared story that belongs to you. Heritage isn’t just remembering, it’s living. And when roots blend, they can grow into something entirely new, something that’s yours, something joyful, something worth celebrating every single day.
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