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| Decorations at the Christmas market in Bassano del Grappa |
I love this season. I love the candles, the smell of oranges and clementines, the hustle and bustle of people looking for just the right present for someone important. I don't of course love the bad weather - and it is bad weather since there is still no sign of snow! - but I'm willing to ignore the damp, miserable darkness outside because it is what makes all the warmth and light inside look so much nicer. It's funny how this silly little city that I really didn't like in the beginning (and now I can say it!) is starting to feel like home. It's growing on me. At least on some days!
I'm excited about going home to Finland on Monday. I will have a stop over in Rome for one night before flying to Helsinki. I have had very little work this week and but I still haven't managed to do much shopping for presents, but that's mostly because I'm really fussy and I would like to spend far too much money on the presents for the family. Unfortunately with the current work situation I've had to slightly control that urge. It might just be that this Christmas the presents will be Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin oil and Panettone for the whole lot...
The news papers are writing about schools turning Christmas celebrations into Winter celebrations and banning things that are in any way related to the true reason of why we celebrate Christmas. The other day I called a call centre in the UK for something or another, and at the end of the call I found myself searching for the politically correct way to wish the very helpful young man at the other end a peaceful Christmas. I ended up wishing him happy holidays, but somehow it's just not the same. I want to wish people happy Christmas, because it is Christmas. At another time of the year I have no problem with my friends wishing me a happy Eid or Hanukkah or whatever celebration is important to them. We also wish each other Happy Halloween, which is essentially a pagan celebration, although having written my dissertation partly on the topic, I know probably better than a lot of people how complex the history of that particular holiday is.. Well, leaving that can of worms unopened for now, the point is that throughout the year we send wishes to our loved ones and friends for all sorts of reasons and events, whether they are culturally, religiously, or historically "ours".
Christmas belongs to everyone and even if you are not a Christian, I would still like to send you my best Christmas wishes, since there is never too much love in our lives.
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| A guy making personalised baubles and other glass decorations in Bassano |
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