Our Reinvigorated Holiday Spirits
Christmas is almost here and just like Thanksgiving, we will be spending the holidays away from family and friends. We have accepted that this year will just be different. There is no Christmas tree, lights or decorations in our apartment. The only thing that resembles any holiday decor in our place is our winter gnome from Finland resting by the television and one Christmas card wedged in the frame of a mirror. We keep reminding ourselves that nothing is forever and that we need to savor everything that we have at this moment. It is not everyday you can live in one of the most famous cities in the world!
Honestly with everything going on in the world, it can be difficult to get into the holiday spirit. Turn on the TV now and chances are you will be bombarded by the nonstop coverage of the war in Ukraine, inflation, the number of COVID cases and the high possibility of a recession in these upcoming months. Particularly in Europe, we’ve seen a significant rise in the cost of gas, energy and food prices. In France, the transportation strikes are causing major disruptions in holiday plans. All these negative vibes can certainly dampen the festive mood.
But deep within, somewhere in this chaotic hurricane of negativity is some good. Even with the ongoing energy crisis in Europe, towns and cities are still finding ways to decorate their streets and monuments. During our travels, we spoke to locals in Helsinki, family in Lyon (France), and tourists who have repeatedly returned to Paris for the winter season. Most agree that the decorations, lighting and holiday spectacles this year are not as extravagant as years in the past. Somehow we are astounded by their decked out trees, streets and town squares. Maybe it has to do with our limited experiences going to the small Christmas markets and villages back in America. The magic of the holidays comes to life in Europe when you see artisans proudly displaying their handcrafted ornaments, when vendors are happily serving warm mulled wine and delicious comfort food, and when you hear the laughter of kids enjoying the wintry outdoor activities. All while everyone slowly takes in the beauty of these dazzling and creative “winter wonderlands,” as if they were transported to the North Pole. The holidays abroad is something we recommend to anyone at least once in their life.
Last year, we barely had the chance to enjoy Christmas. Like many, we worked all the way up to the day before Christmas Eve. After you run around like a maniac looking for gifts, attending multiple holiday parties, devouring the festive meal and watching a few Christmas movies, you realize in a blink of an eye, that it is all over. This is one of many reasons why we decided to take a step back and walk away from our full time jobs. Sometimes we can lose sight of what is important in life. From time to time, we forget what is the true meaning of the special moments like the holidays. And of course we can’t fully appreciate the good times without the bad times. We will make the best out of what we have. In France, the festivities are typically celebrated on Christmas Eve versus Christmas Day. People gather with family and friends, they exchange gifts and even children open their presents before midnight. So we will do like the French and celebrate on la Réveillon de Noël!
A few days ago, we stopped at Eataly in the Marais neighborhood and picked up some pecorino, mozzarella cheese, black olives and some Taralli (that bite sized breadstick/pretzel tasting snack found all over Italy) to re-create some of the appetizers we had in Naples. Today we went to the Marché Popincourt, an outdoor market in the 11th arrondissement close to where we stayed our first two months here in France. We ordered some brie with truffle (so so good) and a Chèvre (goat) cheese, as well as, some seafood like langoustine, oysters and scallops. Tomorrow we will do some last minute shopping before preparing our magnificent holiday dinner.
To anyone who is feeling alone during the holidays, we can entirely relate to you and remind you that there are others that truly understand what you are going through. For those of you who are feeling overwhelmed and stressed with the endless tasks of shopping, cooking and preparing for the holidays, just remember that whatever you do is good enough. Take some time to relax and enjoy the “present” moment. As always, thank you again for taking the time to check in with us. We wish you, your family and friends a wonderful holiday season.
