This is a great time of year. It begins when the days get shorter and the light is different, it is almost like someone put a filter on the sun, but it is the beginning. Then Christmas lights start appearing in the neighborhoods, it snows even when the sun is shining. You know it, you can feel it, something magical is coming.
Like anyone, when I was young Christmas was something special, everything seem magnified, time suddenly slowed, it was simply that feeling of anticipation, waiting for Christmas day! I loved Christmas when I was growing up. One of my best memories is not one of parties or presents, but being by myself and feeling the magic of Christmas (the true introvert in me, I guess). I would shut the doors to the living room, turn off all the lights, except the Christmas tree, put Christmas music on the stereo, sing and act out the words to my favorite Christmas songs, including Winter Wonderland: “In the meadow we can build a snowman, then pretend that he is Parson Brown, He'll say: Are you married? We'll say: No man, But you can do the job when you're in town. Later on, we'll conspire, as we dream by the fire, to face unafraid, the plans that we've made, walking in a winter wonderland.” Looking back, I guess I was dreaming of the day I would be old enough to fall in love.
But dreaming aside, Christmas is also about indulging in all the wonderful Christmas candies. What makes this holiday so unique is that there are candies that only appear at this time of the year. Think about it – chocolate is available year round, jelly beans, ditto, candy corn – as I have mentioned seems to appear at all the major holidays, but not Christmas candy, just like santa, it comes only once a year!
My favorite? My all-time favorite? Ribbon Candy! I don’t even remember when I had my first taste of ribbon candy. I suspect it was at one of my grandparent’s house, but oh was I hooked! Candy that looks like glass, thin as can be, with colors different on the outside than the inside. How magical is that? Plus, they come in my favorite flavors, peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, along with lemon and orange. With Christmas just a few weeks away, I finally bought my first box (yes, there will be more than one). I just had to capture the beauty of this delicate candy with this picture so you can appreciate just how truly magical it is, just like this time of year!
Like anyone, when I was young Christmas was something special, everything seem magnified, time suddenly slowed, it was simply that feeling of anticipation, waiting for Christmas day! I loved Christmas when I was growing up. One of my best memories is not one of parties or presents, but being by myself and feeling the magic of Christmas (the true introvert in me, I guess). I would shut the doors to the living room, turn off all the lights, except the Christmas tree, put Christmas music on the stereo, sing and act out the words to my favorite Christmas songs, including Winter Wonderland: “In the meadow we can build a snowman, then pretend that he is Parson Brown, He'll say: Are you married? We'll say: No man, But you can do the job when you're in town. Later on, we'll conspire, as we dream by the fire, to face unafraid, the plans that we've made, walking in a winter wonderland.” Looking back, I guess I was dreaming of the day I would be old enough to fall in love.
But dreaming aside, Christmas is also about indulging in all the wonderful Christmas candies. What makes this holiday so unique is that there are candies that only appear at this time of the year. Think about it – chocolate is available year round, jelly beans, ditto, candy corn – as I have mentioned seems to appear at all the major holidays, but not Christmas candy, just like santa, it comes only once a year!
My favorite? My all-time favorite? Ribbon Candy! I don’t even remember when I had my first taste of ribbon candy. I suspect it was at one of my grandparent’s house, but oh was I hooked! Candy that looks like glass, thin as can be, with colors different on the outside than the inside. How magical is that? Plus, they come in my favorite flavors, peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, along with lemon and orange. With Christmas just a few weeks away, I finally bought my first box (yes, there will be more than one). I just had to capture the beauty of this delicate candy with this picture so you can appreciate just how truly magical it is, just like this time of year!
