Ho Ho Ho - A Little Bit Of Tradition

It's been ten days since the month of December began and no matter where you go, everything is decorated with Christmas decorations. This week I visited a museum, where there was no one besides me. I asked the lady if there are visitors and how many. She said this time of the year people are in the shops, which is true.

If you go to the malls, you see people with huge shopping bags everywhere. This is actually a good thing as it means they have money to spend on gifts, or at least I hope they have and don't kill themselves with credits.

We always have a real pine as Christmas tree, every single year, since I was a little kid. I know many think plastic is the normal as cutting trees is not healthy, but these are the ones that are trimmed to leave room for the others, so it's not like you go to the nearest pine forest and cut half out to sell it as Christmas trees. This is legally done, organized and there are companies collecting them after Christmas is over, then reusing, repurposing them, which is an excellent thing. Recycling is always good.

The old tradition here is to set up your Christmas tree on Christmas eve and not before. I know, many are going to frown now as at other part of the world celebrating Christmas starts as early as the beginning of November. Well, not here. Obviously no one can stop me from setting up my Christmas tree in November if I like, as this is my house, my rules, but I'm not going to do that. I'm fine with the old traditions.

Till time comes, I'm going to enjoy the decorations in the shops and wherever I go. The city is already decorated, there's Christmas spirit everywhere, Christmas carols can be heard everywhere, so that is enough for me.

Another thing to consider when you have a real pine as Christmas tree is the lifespan of a pine as it won't last you one month on room temperature, that's for sure. I've seen them at the selling points at the hyper market, but it would be a risk to buy one now.

The Christmas tree decorating tradition is different, depending on if the family has kids of kindergarten or elementary school age or not. If they do, then one parent or a grandparent is taking the kids to a walk the afternoon, while the others are decorating the tree. Now we have Christmas buses, all decorated and lit up, so it's a good idea to take the kids to a ride.

When the kids get home, they have to find the presents already under the tree or just the tree and then get them distracted with something, while the others place the present under the tree.

We always opened our gifts on Christmas even and that was also the time to go visit other family member, or receive visits. Christmas is about family, so friends came the next day. Also we used to go to the church on Christmas even and celebrate after. I still do that occasionally, but not every year though.

Every year there's a place in the city, dedicated to the children's city. That is how it's called and basically it's a small area decorated for Christmas, where kids can have fun (ice skating among other things), can buy sweets and food.

This deer is waiting for the kids already, ready with skis but there's no snow yet, unfortunately.

Santa is also ready, with a huge back on his back, full of gifts, but I see him standing on grass so far.

I'm not sure yet, but maybe I'm going to visit the place on one of the evenings and take some photos for you.

I know every country, every nation has it's own Christmas tradition and it's very different, most likely. This is ours.