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Published: December 3rd 2006
Seasons Greeting everyone!
Well, Christmas is nearly upon us, so I'm sure many of you back home are knee deep in reciepts and wrapping paper. Here in Ljubljana, while the commercial aspect of Christmas is slowly creeping in, I'm glad to say that Christmas here seems to be about something much different than over-wrapped yet pretty boxes under a plasic tree and a good self-stuffing of turkey with the fam.
Tonight I went to the center square to watch the lighting of the downtown area with over 200 million christmas lights. Honorine, Elise and I arrived in an already packed center to see a choir of about 30 girls just setting up around the base of the statue of Preseren. We found out quickly that as well as the official beginning of the month-long Christmas festival in Ljubljana, today is also the birthday of France Preseren, Ljubljana's famous poet. (You can tell how much of a city full of culture I am living in! Their hero and main statue isn't of a political figure or a war hero, no no, its a poet!). We listened to the choir sing, and then a story was told (I couldn't get the
gist of it but it was either a Christmas story or the story of the life of Preseren), and finally a short poem by Preseren was read. Then, there was a flurry of excitement, and the countdown began to the lighting of the city... "PET, STIRI, TRI, DVE, ENA..."
And the WHOLE CITY came alive with blues and whites... three huge Christmas trees covered in white, willows along the river draped in flowing twinkling white and blue, above us constellations and shooting stars appeared as though suddenly the universe became closer... to the East an entire hill covered in white lights and topped with a castle colored a wintery shade of blue... and all of this to the soundtrack of thousands of Slovenians' cheers and shouts of joy. So amazing!
Suddenly the throngs of people began moving across the bridge into the old town to see the lights along the streets and up castle hill. There, many of the shops normally closed on Sunday nights stayed open for for the curious, early shoppers, and chocolate cravers. And of course coffee shops and restaurants filled quickly with those looking to ease their appetite or caffein cravings after the big
show.
We wandered the river and the center for a bit, taking in a gallery along the way, and running into a few other Erasmus students down for the show. All around us were stands selling delicious homemade chocolates, roasted chestnuts (i finally understand the christmas song that starts "chestnuts on an open fire.."), christmas ornaments and doo-dads, hot sweet wine, and tons of other delicious and beautiful things. Really just a beautiful night, and an amazing and beautiful way to start the Christmas season!
Alright, well I wish you all the best of blessings over the season... I'm sure I will do an update before Christmas actually hits. But in case I don't I wish a VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone... and I do hope everyone can get beyond the commercialism that has so gripped "western" society and find other things to delight in this Christmas!
Love you all very much,
Mel.
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Mom
non-member comment
Month Long Festival!!
Wow! They really like to celebrate don't they. You will have an interesting month ahead experiencing a different Christmas culture. Enjoy it all. Love you, Mom.