Living in Russia there was no such thing as Christmas. It became a New Year and Christmas Tree became New Year's Tree...and still you couldn't take away a spirit of Christmas...although most decorations on our tree were homemade, like walnuts wrapped in foil instead of Christmas tree balls. I have never noticed how poor our tree always looked...always seemed festive to me...only looking back I realize how it really must have looked...
In America people go crazy decorating their houses on the outside as well as inside...
Christmas lights, flying raindeers, blown up snowmen are everywhere...
Most of it is tasteless and garish although once in a while you will see something truly artistic...or as artistic as this kind of thing can be...
This is when I start feeling like Christmas...when I see it all around me...festive house decorations, streets aglow with lights and malls full of people with shopping bags...
Christmas for me is the time to finally get all the people I love often useless presents that they would love to have but would think it's a waste to spend money on.
And most of all...Christmas for me is the time right before the New Year...the time when you're looking into the future, reminisce about the past and hoping for a better New Year...
Merry Christmas, everybody!
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