The crisp cold, the lights, the smell of hot chocolate, mulled wine, salted caramelised nut selection, decorations and Christmas music everywhere you go. When the festive period is among us, these are the things that change the air and everything becomes more magical. Since the pandemic, Christmas for me has changed a lot. The festive season is always the best part of the year. It feels like yesterday that we welcomed 2022 and we’re now only 31 days away to welcome the new year.
In Italy, the festive season always feels very magical, every town, city and village fills itself with decorations, stands where you can buy cones of chestnuts while walking through the lights. I remember when I was a child, we would go to the historic city center in Rome, where you could find the Christmas markets with the small business stands, food stalls, festive music and lights that in the eyes of a child seemed like a whole new world. I remember the excitement of waking up on the 25th in the morning and my mum would have laid out sweets and chocolate from our bedroom all the way to the Christmas tree creating a trail to follow. Of course as a child I thought it was Santa walking around the house and the sweets falling out of his pockets. We would then open our presents, exchange the chocolates and sweets while our mum would get ready for the Christmas lunch of course helped by my grandma. My granddad instead was in charge of the chimney and making sure the living room full of greens,reds and golds would be warm enough for all of us. I can still hear the crackling of the wood in the fire.
The rest of our family would arrive, which involved grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. After the amazing food, we’d all play cards around the table, games that we would only play during this time of the year whilst listening to music, eating Panettone and drinking hot chocolate or wine.I miss those Christmas holidays, the people, the catching up, the cousins that you wouldn’t usually see. Everyone always made an effort at Christmas time.
Moving to the UK made it harder to gather the whole family around like we used to. We are all so busy and some of those close to us have sadly passed away. For them, I have a special candle that is always on during this period because I know they’re always with us.The years pass so quickly, and I’m now an adult. I’m a mum now, and like my mum did for us, I do try my best to make the Festive season a magical time of the year for my children. Seeing the excitement in their eyes, seeing how much they believe in Santa, is something that really warms my heart.
Experiencing Christmas as a parent, it can be stressful, there are so many expectations to fill in, so much to do, that sometimes it feels more like a chore rather than a time of the year that you can spend with your loved ones. But there are those special moments. Moments where I can see the magic happening in my children's eyes, that makes it all worth it. I still live that magical period through their eyes and that, I’m truly grateful for.
Here, on the Community, we’ll be celebrating the festive period with all of you, and we really hope that you’ll join us!We’re such a big and diverse community, that I am sure that you all have a specific memory that when you think about it nowadays, it still makes you smile. Whether you celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah or any other celebration, we’d love to hear from you!
Fill the comments with these special memories and let’s start to feel the festive spirit. 🎄🌟🎁
In Italy, the festive season always feels very magical, every town, city and village fills itself with decorations, stands where you can buy cones of chestnuts while walking through the lights. I remember when I was a child, we would go to the historic city center in Rome, where you could find the Christmas markets with the small business stands, food stalls, festive music and lights that in the eyes of a child seemed like a whole new world. I remember the excitement of waking up on the 25th in the morning and my mum would have laid out sweets and chocolate from our bedroom all the way to the Christmas tree creating a trail to follow. Of course as a child I thought it was Santa walking around the house and the sweets falling out of his pockets. We would then open our presents, exchange the chocolates and sweets while our mum would get ready for the Christmas lunch of course helped by my grandma. My granddad instead was in charge of the chimney and making sure the living room full of greens,reds and golds would be warm enough for all of us. I can still hear the crackling of the wood in the fire.
The rest of our family would arrive, which involved grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. After the amazing food, we’d all play cards around the table, games that we would only play during this time of the year whilst listening to music, eating Panettone and drinking hot chocolate or wine.I miss those Christmas holidays, the people, the catching up, the cousins that you wouldn’t usually see. Everyone always made an effort at Christmas time.
Moving to the UK made it harder to gather the whole family around like we used to. We are all so busy and some of those close to us have sadly passed away. For them, I have a special candle that is always on during this period because I know they’re always with us.The years pass so quickly, and I’m now an adult. I’m a mum now, and like my mum did for us, I do try my best to make the Festive season a magical time of the year for my children. Seeing the excitement in their eyes, seeing how much they believe in Santa, is something that really warms my heart.
Experiencing Christmas as a parent, it can be stressful, there are so many expectations to fill in, so much to do, that sometimes it feels more like a chore rather than a time of the year that you can spend with your loved ones. But there are those special moments. Moments where I can see the magic happening in my children's eyes, that makes it all worth it. I still live that magical period through their eyes and that, I’m truly grateful for.
Here, on the Community, we’ll be celebrating the festive period with all of you, and we really hope that you’ll join us!We’re such a big and diverse community, that I am sure that you all have a specific memory that when you think about it nowadays, it still makes you smile. Whether you celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah or any other celebration, we’d love to hear from you!
Fill the comments with these special memories and let’s start to feel the festive spirit. 🎄🌟🎁
Last edited by Bennie_R97; 02-12-22 at 12:43.
