“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
Well it’s getting to be that time of year again. I’m going to Munich for Christmas this year ( went to Brussels last year) . So if I’m going to Christmas blog I should start early because I probably won’t feel ambitious after spending the day wandering through Christmas markets and drinking several mugs of…
Did you ever wonder where the tradition of putting tinsel on the tree came from? Even if you didn’t this may be helpful in a future game of trivial pursuit. Do people even play trivial pursuit anymore? Here is another legend regarding Spiders and Christmas. Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was…
It’s not quite wandering the Christmas markets but hanging out in my PJs doing absolutely nothing and watching Christmas movies is another great way to decompress.
Cheers!!
While Speculoos cookies are not specifically a Christmas cookie, they are available and equally yummy year round, the St Nicholas Christmas cookie inspired this post. Speculoos . They are made with brown sugar , cloves and cinnamon. Perfect for the holidays. I was able to purchase mine at Maison Dandoy Grand Palace ( www.maisondandoy.com )…
In the Netherlands, the most important day for children in the holiday season is December 5th. It’s the day that Sinterklaas brings them gifts. Instead of cookies for Santa , the children leave carrots for Sinterklass’s horse. How does Sinterklaas get to The Netherlands? By steamboat of course! There is even a children’s song called…
According to ancient storytellers, there once was a widow living in her cramped, cold hut with her children. One day, a pinecone dropped from the tree outside and took root. The children, excited by the prospect of a tree for Christmas, tended the seedling and made plans about how they would decorate the tree. Poverty…
The Feast of St Nicholas is celebrated in many countries on December 6th ( the day of his death)although celebrations may begin on December 5th. St. Nicholas was a bishop in the 4th century . He was born in Turkey around 270 AD . St Nicholas was born to wealthy parents who died when he…
So who/what/when is Krampus? Krampus is a horned beast who resembles a hairy goat demon. There is no consensus as to where Krampus originated but it believed have stemmed from old Alpine folktales and part of Pagen winter solstice rituals. The name possibly comes from the German word for claw, Krampen . With the spread…
After the cancellation of my South Africa trip I was still hopeful for Christmas in Belgium. In fact I was even more excited. I did my day trips planned out, my mouth was watering for the food and I was trying to decide what to pack. Of course then came the covid surge , changes…