Oh boy, the holidays are officially here! It’s now time for the Christmas tree, ornaments, lights, and stockings. It’s time to buy and wrap presents, send out our holiday greeting cards, and plan that Christmas day feast!
For me, this is literally the most wonderful time of the year. I love the pine smell, the red, green, and white colors, the family traditions, and that Michigan white Christmas. I look forward to the end of the year holidays, and I thoroughly enjoy spending that time with family and friends.
However, this year, for Christmas 2012, I am away from Michigan, away from the snow, and away from my family. I am celebrating the holidays for the second time in my life away from everything I know and love. I am in Spain, a country who only recently began celebrating Christmas on the 25th – their Christmas (or Reyes as they call it, when the Kings came to see baby Jesus) is celebrated on the 5th of January. I will not see my mother, or my father, or my sister. I was not able to decorate my family Christmas tree, and share in our tradition of watching ‘White Christmas’. I am missing out on a time that is usually so special to me.
However, I can see Rudolph’s red nose at the end of the tunnel. Because though I may not have the regular traditional Christmas I am used to celebrating, I will be surrounded by my boyfriend Sergio, his family, and my cousin and her boyfriend whom are flying out to be with me. So, I am pleased to say that the 2012 holiday season will not be lost!
Here in Pinto, the small town outside of Madrid where my boyfriend and I live, we did manage to bring some Christmas cheer to our small but homey apartment. I had to replace a large yard and rooftop with a small 2nd floor balcony; a real green Christmas tree with a short white fake one; and real cold snow with stick-on snowflakes. It may not be the real thing, but it is our thing.
Traditions will always be there, no matter where in the world you may be. And though this may not be my regular traditional holiday decorating, it’s something new that I will forever be able to cherish. So, for this year, goodbye my regular Michigan Christmas, and hello my unique, once in a lifetime Spanish Christmas!
Happy Holidays Everyone and Happy Decorating!
🙂
Will you be missing out on any usual holiday traditions this year? If so, let us know in the comment section below!