T'is the Season to Be Jolly

T’is the season to be jolly. And busy. So here is what we did this weekend. Nothing adventurous, just household stuff.

The Christmas Starred Cookies

We baked Christmas cookies. Hana wanted them star-shaped, and so star-shaped they are. I did notice that they slightly resemble the national symbol of our southern neighbors. These things are always a bit sensitive here, and it is amazing how self-censorship works, but I think we can pass them for Christmas stars.

Girls waiting to get on stage for the performance

Then we attended a childrens’ school choir on Saturday evening at the Assembly Hall at AUB. They gave a Christmas concert and my claim to fame here is that several of my daughter’s classmates sing in it. I thought it was quite impressive. Why is Hana not singing in it, you wonder? “Too many words to remember,” she replied. Well, can’t argue with that one.

Here's a small clip of the concert. It really was quite impressive.

We tried to buy a Christmas tree, but with prices started at 195,000 LBP, and 285,000 LBP for the one I had in mind, we dug out the old artificial one from the attic. We set it up, put the lights in, hung the ornaments, and when we plugged it in; nothing. So all the ornaments out again, lights out, a quick run to the supermarket for some new light strings, and here’s the result.

The tree

The manger was quickly transformed into a dog kennel, and Josef is now the head trainer. Josef shouldn’t complain; at least he’s back in het manger. I remember playing for hours whenever we would put the manger under the tree back home.

And then of course there was Saint Nicolas. The real one, not that face fat guy in the red suit. No, Saint Nicolas is the bishop of Myra, and once a year, on December 5th, he hands out presents to all the (Dutch) children. . Her belief is shaking, after she was called a geek at school for still thinking it was actually Santa Claus who has put those little gifts in her stockings this week. “It’s your parents, you idiot,” she was told by a classmate.

Sinterklaas handing out his gifts

It didn’t help much when she recognized one of the Black Pete’s as the older sister of a friend of hers. But she explained that one as “he’s hiring local people; it is too difficult to take everyone to Lebanon.” Quite right. I've reconvinced her, with this obvious real Sinterklaas, but I do think this is her last year she’s a ‘believer’. She celebrated her 8th birthday this week; that's the cut-off point when it comes to believing in Santa.

We'll be unwrapping presents all the way till Christmas. And this is how we celebrate our way through December. One week gone, three more to go. And no rain yet.