Decorating Early

Today while I was in town I took this photo of the Christmas decorations in the city center.   Everywhere I turn there are people complaining about Christmas decorations and items being out already, but I honestly couldn’t be happier about it.   I think here in the Netherlands we are slightly early as well because we have Sinterklaas in early December.

I have become completely obsessed with Christmas, I admit it.   The thing is though, as an expat Christmas can be extremely difficult.  For the first few years I found it so hard being away from my family and friends.   When Christmas would come I would be a ball of nerves and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop myself from feeling miserable with homesickness.   I know I did it to myself but it’s hard sometimes, to stop yourself from dwelling on the things you miss on such important occasions.

After a while I realized I had no choice.  I could either keep dwelling and making myself and everyone around me miserable during the holidays, or I could do something about it.   Doing something about it meant creating new traditions and finding a way to create Christmas here in Holland for me and my family… which wasn’t easy since our immediate family here in Holland is basically just the two of us compared to the large family gatherings back home.

We did it though, it’s just on a smaller and more intimate scale.  Now I look forward to buying Christmas presents, filling out my Christmas cards, sitting and enjoying some appelbeignet with hubby, decorating the tree, cooking (and naming) our turkey’s, and decorating our home.  All these things have made Christmas something to look forward to with someone I love, rather than something I dread because I’m missing other people I love.

Last year (and hopefully this year too) we have extended our little family Christmas tradition to include my best friend and her husband.   This year there will be yet another addition, their son Noah!

So, if the cities want to get the Christmas items out in the shops in October, and decorate the streets too, great!  It makes what would otherwise be a wet and dreary month slightly more magical for me.  If people want to complain about it all coming around too early, that’s fine too… just as long as they don’t try to bring me down with them.  While they are bah humbugging I’ll be the one behind them humming ‘Oh Christmas Tree’.