*Yes, my blog did go on vacation, and we're back up and running now. Thanks for the wake-up call Christl ;) Also, I should mention that there are a LOT more things going through my mind that are not included here. The main point is that it was a lovely and thought-provoking Christmas for me. Now, you can read all the details if you'd like.*
Home is where the heart is. Traditions are created with intention, for a purpose. Normal is what is characterized by the majority.
These are three statements that I've been thinking about a lot this Christmas. I've been asked "what's normal over there?" I don't actually know what is normal for Christmas over here. What's normal for Christmas in Canada? I'm really not sure that I know that either! I know what I have experienced, and I know how my Canadian family and Martin's Dutch family celebrates Christmas, but the reality is that each and every family celebrates in different ways. "Christmas" means different things to each of us.
Yes, I did miss my family this Christmas. I missed staying up late on Christmas Eve to wrap Carrie's presents, I missed playing at our Christmas Eve service with Carrie, Joel and Mom with little-to-no practise, I missed watching Dad make stuffing, and cook the turkey, I missed playing endless games of Settlers, in our PJ's, I missed preparing a walk-way of candles with pop bottles, I missed the midnight walk, I missed the late-night kraft dinner, I missed the Christmas tree falling over, I missed spending time with my family... but things change. I don't feel like I missed out on these things, but it's more that I look back and remember those moments with fond memories. Those were the things that meant "Christmas time" to me. Life changes. Our circumstances change, and I was so glad to be here, celebrating Christmas with Martin. We did not exchange any gifts, but it felt like a gift just to spend time with him. I don't feel like I've missed out on anything by not exchanging gifts.
I realized this year that a lot of my family's Christmas traditions, and Canada's Christmas traditions are especially nice for kids. And since Martin and I are "grown up", we wouldn't get the same excitement out of an advent calendar, or gingerbread house, as I certainly used to!
Even though I don't want to seem to know what's "normal" for Christmas anywhere, here are some differences I noticed:
- turkey: there's nothing special about turkey here. In fact, when we went to the grocery store on Christmas Eve day, we had to ask the boy in the meat department if they had any turkeys. He looked at us as if to say "now, why would you be looking for a turkey?" He went to the back, and found one. $26 Euros for a 5-pound bird. We settled for chicken... which I stuffed. Ha!
- gingerbread houses: I didn't see one over here!
- stockings: nope! I think they do the shoes-at-the-door here, during Sinterklaas, but no stockings at Christmas.
- candy canes: didn't see any of these either. Now, I wasn't looking hard, but I didn't just happen to see any, anywhere! This includes candy cane ice cream.... I definitely missed that!
- stars: are hung upside-down... at least I saw a lot of them hanging like the photo below. Can a star be upside down?
- stars: are hung upside-down... at least I saw a lot of them hanging like the photo below. Can a star be upside down?
In a previous post, I mentioned that the Dutch have two Christmas days. On each of these days, we spent time with family. We went out to two very fancy restaurants (one with Martin's Dad's side of the family, and one with Martin's Mom's side of the family)- and everyone dresses up. I'd say this is different from Canada, where we normally spend a good portion of the morning (or day) in our PJ's.
Gifts are not really exchanged here. The fancy meal out and time with family is the gift. And it was so nice! It was really nice to not have the pressure of shopping, and choosing the right gifts, and getting it all done on a tight timeline. It was so nice to just enjoy time together!
It was lovely to go to Doorbrekers on Christmas Eve for a 10:30pm service. It was nice to go out for a bike-ride on Christmas day afternoon. I realize that as newlyweds, everything is exciting, and just being together this year was a gift, but I'm excited to plan and create Christmas traditions with Martin in the years to come, and discover what we'd like to make "normal" for us.
Very thought provoking honey. Your first Christmas away from the family you grew up with. Your first Christmas with your new family. We certainly missed you...We didn't have any late night Kraft dinner(macaroni and cheese for those of you who do not know what you are missing!) Carrie's presents did end up under the tree but I missed hearing you both laughing in your room as you did Carrie's last minute wrapping for her. Playing at church Christmas Eve was fine, but it lacked the "sparkle" of your presence. Your dad did a wonderful job of the Christmas stuffing and turkey (as usual), but there wasn't as much laughter around our table. We didn't play Settlers. We didn't stay in our P.J.'s all day. No one felt like playing games until Jess came over and Carrie and Joel taught her Dutch Blitz! We missed you and Lisl ver much. I chose to make it as happy as I could by enjoying family who were here, eating good food, remembering Christ's birth and thinking about the wonderful time we all had together at your wedding.
ReplyDeleteMay you and Martin know the peace of Christ as you seek to remember His birth in your own way each year.