Santa's on his way to Prague

I am so fascinated with the Santa Tracker. He's starting to hit Eastern Europe now and should find his way to Prague soon.

Kept Man and I have been very christmasy this year. We got the tree. We baked the cookies. We listened to carols and we watched tons of movies. I got in my favorites, Scrooged, It's a Wonderful Life and One Magic Christmas. Plus loads of other silly movies while making christmas cookies.

I've also enjoyed experiencing Christmas in Eastern Europe. The traditions are basically the same but just that little bit different. Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve. And Santa basically is celebrated earlier in the month with St. Nicholas Day. It's all a big jumble to me but still all the thoughts and ideas I'm familiar with are mixed up in there and it's interesting to experience a new version.

It's been fun seeing Prague all decked out for Christmas too. First there is the snow. Then there are the Christmas markets with food stalls, spiced wine, candied nuts, traditional/homemade gifts and randomly singers. Every day when I step off the tram in Andel and start walking home someone is singing on the stage set near all the christmas stalls. And it's not Christmas music they sing. Kept Man asked me if it might be Karaoke as it can be that painful. Once I found myself knowing the melody of a song but not being able to recognize it as the words were in Czech. I realized as I walked home that it was a song from the movie Grease. Trippy.

Kept Man and I exchanged one gift this evening, as is our family tradition. I gave him belgian chocolates. I love watching him eat them. He's always so delighted. And he got me an angel for the top of our tree.

I've been saying for weeks that I want an ornament. I like to get one every year to remember the holiday by. You'll notice that our Angel is holding a fish.

It's very traditional in Eastern Europe to eat carp for dinner Christmas Eve. Why I haven't really been able to find out. Something about luck. Carp have been everywhere the last few days.

All of a sudden kiddy pools showed up on street corners full of fish and people buy them and have them butchered right there. On the wholes it's pretty messy. Apparently some people take the fish home alive and put it in the bathtub until Christmas Eve. Although the girls I work with were telling me that they don't even like carp and people apparently have started protesting the carp sales in the street. It's now an animal rights issue. Go figure. So now we have an Angel with a fish to remind us forever more of Prague.

Kept Man and I are now getting ready for bed and for a mellow Christmas tomorrow. We're on our own with plenty of presents to open, monkey bread to eat for breakfast and I'm sure a silly movie to watch during the day. Then I'm going to cook dinner for once. Lamb. I like lamb for Christmas although I don't think it's a traditional dish anywhere for the holiday. Oh well. Here's to our own traditions.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas in Prague

Kept Man and I purchased a Christmas Tree today.  I didn't get one last year (Morocco) or the year before (too lazy) but living in a christian country with temperature appropriate weather for the holidays a tree was mandatory this year.

Only one problem all of my great ornament collection is at home cluttering up mom's closet. So we purchased some generic ones so the tree didn't look naked. And I strung some popcorn and we bought some lights. Not spectacular but it's tree and I'll take it.

And now I will continue to watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer with Kept Man. Next week? Christmas cookies!

Cold Weather

A couple of things that make living in a cold climate ok

1. Gluhwein. How does it keep you warm even when it's freezing out? Kept Man has come up with a pretty good home version which keeps me happy when I come home from work.
2. Christmas markets and all the yummy food. Sausages, gingerbread, warm candied nuts and Trdelnik are worth the cold weather

1. It's picturesque. Walking to work with snow flakes coming down is pretty surreal for this California girl and it distracts me long enough get to work and back.
2. It really feels like Christmas. Screw fake snow and 70 degree weather. (I'll admit I'll probably be ready for the snow to be over after Christmas, but I can revel in it for now)
3. I actually have use for hats, gloves and scarfs. I've never used them so much before. And I look cute. 
4. I have a reason to buy and use leg-warmers. And I don't look like an idiot and no one cat calls, "Hey Flashdance" or anything like that. It's awesome. It's ok. I know you're jealous.

So winter time with snow is pretty much ok. The only downside? Slushy snow. And slipping. I was doing ok until yesterday when I totally bit it and landed on my ass. But I'm ok. The only bruise I have is from running into the corner of our bed. Which basically means it has nothing to do with my falling. I'm nothing if not a klutz. And in case anyone was wondering my foot is all better. I went to a doctor and she pretty much told me that if I had broken it it isn't anymore. And I can wear heels again. Yeah for winter!