It’s the most wonderful time of the year and this meeting, Hanna, Fabian and I got to share with each other some of our favourite parts of the holiday season. I think it is safe to say that we are all big Christmas fans. It just brings joy and good vibes.
During this meeting, I introduced them to some Caribbean Christmas jams. They are not what the average European person is accustomed to, I am sure. There was this one song called, Christmas mornin’ in St. Martin and don’t get me started on the “Ruff & Redy” playlist on Youtube. It was such a blast to have them also dance along and have such a hype time. We also listened to the calmer more traditional songs as well, but I think it is safe to say that I won them over with my Caribbean Christmas medley music. LOL.
From them, I learned how they make Christmas butter cookies, German style. This was such a beautiful experience for me. For one, I didn’t know that you take the butter cookies out of the oven before they turn brown and let them cool. I promise you, all my life I thought they needed to be cooked until brown and then removed from the oven. I also learned that the cookies are called Butter Plätzchen. The German word plätz means square or place but it can also mean something when it is the adorable version of its life-sized version. Once again, Hanna adds salt to her butter Plätzchen in addition to flour, sugar and margarine.
To close off our meeting we traded stories about Christmas memories and traditions. I told them about my family-hopping activities and Fabian shared that he usually eats Raclette and sings Christmas songs with his family and get this, he also plays the guitar. Finally, from Fabian I learned that in his family they roll the dice to see who will open Christmas gifts first on Christmas Eve. This was something different for me because in my family we would open the gifts on Christmas day.
Hanna’s story was a bit different because she and her family usually go on Ski trips or holidays during the Christmas vacation. Nevertheless on Christmas day her grandma cooks for the entire family and on the eve of Christmas they would go to church and then eat a not-so-extravagant meal like potato balls a.k.a. klöße.
This meeting was heart warming. I just love Christmas and to hear all of the beautiful traditions was a nice experience. I mean, I love Finland but I am excited to be surrounded by my family and friends again.
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