That’s because during that time, whether you celebrate it or not, everybody is together. Getting together, traveling together, playing together, giving presents together… Already two weeks before (maybe even a month before) young and old is pretty much relaxed and dreaming about huge tables filled with fancy foods and drinks. Home. Christmas trees. Shiny wrapping paper. Glowing city. Christmas carols and songs.

If you have never celebrated Christmas you need one year to hate it or (at least) one year to feel the spirit.

I will tell you a story of one Persian girl, who never met Christmas before. She was so confused when the end of November was suddenly decorated with glitter and lights. Later she saw how people around her started to look for the special presents they want to buy/make for dear specials and loved ones. How her foreign friends were worried about plane tickets home and upcoming snow; and whether the Dutch railways  and airports will not screw up again and let them fly. Leave. Go home to their families. Families.
The annoying fakeness in the shops and all the retail business is not the spirit of Christmas, she figured. But the family and friends – yes, it’s Christmas spirit. They all are the spirits of some unknown and unfamiliar magical period. The Persian girl turned blue. And her big brown eyes got glassy and watery. She had no ticket home, and she didn’t yet fully understand, what this fuzz is all about. However, she knew that she will feel terribly alone and sad.. as soon as this strange holiday come. I guess, that feeling might be familiar to some people here around Eindhoven area. Some foreigners who have never met Christmas and the others who have no tickets home.

Luckily, the Persian girl used her Persian carpet to fly up north and meet Christmas with her close friends and second, northern, family. Bathing in the cold snow and sunshine. Running with dogs in the woods and then warming up in front of the fireplace with home baked pies and warm raspberry tea. She shared presents and joy. She met the Christmas spirit. After two years, now, she’s gonna go back and do this all over again.

The Persian Girl’s story tells us that we all have second families here. Maybe just one friend, but that friend is the person who can take you by the hand and make the winter holiday something special. So, either hold on that friend or BE the one for someone next to you who’s alone and blue.