Christmas —Peaceful Holidays?

Christmas is approaching the speed of light and we are getting ready to the annual Christmas rush. Sometimes, I ask myself if the rush is really inevitable. Since most of us postpone our Christmas shopping until the last minute, one week before Christmas Eve we come to realize that we actually has nothing to put under the Christmas tree and so we are forced to do the shopping totally stressed out in overcrowded shopping malls. The atmosphere full of stress is the thing I hate the most about Christmas. Otherwise, I love everything about it (including pre-Christmas period of preparation), I’m looking forward to Christmas holidays every year (maybe more and more), even though I am not a kid anymore.

What moment for you is a sign that Christmastime is right around the corner? Christmas decorations in your hometown? The day when you see the snow falling from the sky for the first time after a several-month break? As for me, the real Christmas spirit touches me when I set out to the city centre for Christmas markets, drink a cup of mulled wine, and eat a warm chimney cake. This year I decided to go to visit Viennese markets instead of those in Prague. And although I have already known that the city and its atmosphere were going to be beautiful (since a lot of my friends were very pleased with the visit), I was surprised. The omnipresent Christmas mood was charming and breathtaking.

Besides the beautifully illuminated town hall, the city take great pains to unify the decorations of every single small shop situated around the main square. All of them are decorated in the same style — festoons with Christmas ornaments of the same color. On the top of that, there is a skating rink right in front of the Vienna’s town hall! Thanks to an adjacent skate rental, everyone can relish the atmosphere of ice skating during a magical winter day or night and sing traditional Christmas carols with groups of singers and other visitors. In case you would like to buy a souvenir or something to eat, in addition to hand-crafted products, you can choose from a wide range of beverages and food, from mulled wine and punch to chocolate donuts and potatoes field with yogurt dressing and ham.

I must admit that the markets were really overcrowded. For someone who doesn’t like jostling, the Vienna’s markets aren’t the best choice. On the other hand, those who love everything connected to Christmas will be enthused.

Last of all, let me give you a little advice. Let’s slow down a little this year, enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of Christmas and share the moments with the people closest to you. Because on Christmas, nobody should be alone.