Instead, I will write a bit about Christmas. Christmas for me has always been a time primarily about Christ, family, and tradition. Every Christmas Eve my dad makes potato soup, and then my family goes to Christmas Eve service together. Usually, we open one present on Christmas Eve, and when we were younger, we'd read the Polar Express as we anxiously awaited Santa's arrival.
Christmas morning, "Santa" leaves our stockings at our doors, and then we wake up to see what he brought. As we got older, Santa kinda disappeared and we just opened the presents under the tree. Then, Christmas afternoon, we always go to see a movie together.
It's easy to overlook these traditions or times with family when you do it every year. But because I was away from home for Christmas, I thought a lot more about these things that make Christmas feel like Christmas.
Besides the Christmas traditions I have with my family, these are the things that make me feel the "Christmas spirit."
- Playing/singing Christmas music in band and choir starting in October
- Hearing Christmas Carols playing everywhere starting on Black Friday
- The Christmas decorations that are completely over the top
- The craziness in the stores in December
- The smell of pine and cinnamon
- Baking Christmas cookies
- Elf, A Christmas Story, and the 25 days of Christmas on ABC
- Santa
- Snow/having a white Christmas
- Saint Nicolas-He brings little candies and puts them into the kids' shoes starting in November. Then, on the night of December 5th, he brings candy and presents for the kids like Santa would for us.
- Marché de Noël (Christmas Market)-There are Christmas Markets in most decently size cities, and from my understanding, this is a European thing because there are well known markets in France and Germany as well. There are a ton of tiny wood houses, where they sell food--Belgian specialties, food from around the world, Belgian beer (of course), and handmade crafts and stuff.
- Exams-Here the exams started on December 6th. There is one exam a day for about a week and a half, and you usually have four hours to take the exam. So, that means that you have the whole afternoon off to "study." Essentially, for me, my break started on December 6th, and I don't start school again until January 6th :) I even passed all of my exams except for French, wooh!
- Liègeois Traditions (strictly done in the areas near Liège)
- Making Broquettes on Christmas-Broquettes are kind of like a mix between crepes and pancakes. They are bigger than pancakes, and usually have raisins inside, and are sprinkled with brown sugar on top.
- Another Liègeois tradition is to leave your wallet, a slice of bread, and a cup of water outside on the windowsill on the night of Christmas Eve. This is supposed to give you enough money, food, and drinks to last for the whole year. Then, they let the piece of bread dry, wrap it up in foil, and keep it until the next Christmas Eve. I thought it was a pretty funny tradition :)
Saint Nicolas and Père Fouettard (Father Whipper)--He's the mean one who will apparently come to whip the kids and leave them coal if they are bad.
The tradition of dressing up in a decorated lab coat and begging for money with a beer mug for Saint Nicolas is something unique I'll always remember. They even throw flour at the other students at school who don't give us money. 
My attempt to show part of the Marché, but you really can't tell in the picture what it really looks like.
"It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" by Bing Crosby
Although Christmas was 2 days ago, I think it's okay to add a little extra Christmas spirit to my blog. :)A tantôt les gars,Catherine xoxoxo
