Some people hate this job but I have always loved it – it’s one of the highlights of Christmas for me.
I don’t like the consumerism and I get anxious buying presents for people when I don’t really know what they would like. Christmas dinner with someone else’s family can be awkward for a foreign vegetarian and although I try to stop myself I can still get a bit panicky and buy too much food on Christmas Eve even though I know there will always be shops open the day after.
What I like about Christmas is not easy to find in Catalunya.
- Singing Christmas carols with other people
- Opening Christmas stockings in your dressing gown in the morning
- Celebrating with a delicious vegetarian meal on Christmas day
- Spending a few precious days with good friends, playing games, preparing meals, reading in front of a log fire.
- Being with my dog as it is her Christmas too
- Going for a country or seaside walk on Boxing Day
- Doing nothing much on Boxing Day
- Celebrating something called Boxing Day rather than Sant Esteve and remembering my parents who got married on this day
Last year we came close to this ideal when we went to Sant Nicolau in the Emporda. Just the three of us and Bonnie. It was great for me but the Catalan family were not too pleased that we opted out. So this year it is back to the old routine and family visits every day from the 24th to the 26th.
But nothing and no-one can stop me making and sending Christmas cards. It is not a tradition here so I don’t expect to receive many unless they are sent from the UK. Being abroad also changes your friendship patterns and every year I get fewer cards in the post. But I still continue to send them out to everyone I feel warm towards and want to keep in touch with. I like going through my address book and thinking of each person as I write the card. It gives me a chance to stand back and take a look at my friendships and my family.
What changes are there this year?
Some people have drifted off. Some have sadly died and I can take time to think of them as well. There are people from many different areas of my past – Scotland, London, Cornwall, Barcelona, internet friends, old lovers, tango partners. Some of them are people I hardly ever see any more but they still are woven into the fabric of my life and my heart
This year we made our own cards and for the first time had them printed more professionally at Marc the stationers down the road. They look much better than usual for which I thank Nuria for her wonderful and inspiring painting classes, Pep for helping me with final tweeking on the computer and Marc for doing such a good job with the laser printer.
I wish I had kept copies of past years productions.
But then again, better to live in the present and let go of what has gone before. This year I have written 34 cards, most of them heading off to the UK, a few for friends here in Catalunya and the rest off to Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Canada and the USA. Tomorrow morning I will be at the Correo offices in Granollers before heading off again to Sant Nicolau with Bonnie for some more fresh air and country peace.
Anyone fancy a chocolate caganer?
Seen in a bakers window in Sant Celoni.
(Visited 127 time, 1 visit today)
Have to confess, I don’t love writing Christmas cards, but I am glad there are folks that do.
Your fabulous personal card with fox-dog arrived today in Rotterdam!! I feel very honoured to be on your list and I loved your remark about getting out my pants, or was it paints 😉
As usual, I am very behind and still busy with work, Christmas always seems to sneak up on me so I’m afraid there won’t be many cards going out and they will be late as well, so probably classed more as New Year’s cards. But you never know… xxxx