Through all the years of celebrating Xmas abroad I have always done my best to achieve the Swedish Juletide feeling that is so special and totally inrooted in me from Sweden. I always have to have a Christmas tree of sorts, not always being able to find the fir variation I have dressed Palmtrees and Christmas flower trees (which you find as trees in certain warm countries) to the best of my ability. Now today here in Amsterdam I am going outside to my garden storage to collect 'The Christmas box', the same box that has travelled with me through the years. It is time to look through the box for some Pre - Christmas requisite. We have today a clear blue sky and a little bit of snow scattered on the ground. It is a good day to start with the Star in the window and the lighting and my usually light colored house will have to have reds and greens to add the feeling of warmth. My sister is coming to visit from Sweden on Sunday for a few days on her way to Utrecht Uni for work. I feel as if this is part of the Xmas 'gezellligheit', as the Dutch calls it. And (thanks to Ikea) we will be able to have our herrings and some of the special food we associate with this time of year. Only Lucia, on the 13th of December is not really a special day anywhere else. I nearly frightened the life out of my husband once trying to live up to my nostalgic traditions.
So, off I go - Christmas Box, here I come!
