The REAL meaning of Christmas

Flight FR1591 landed in Cologne, Germany, just as the first few flakes of the evenings snow flurry began to fall. Excited holiday makers filtered out of the airport, wrapped in newly adorned scarfs and hats, snowflakes fluttering in their eyelashes. The chilly streets were shadowed below one immense cathedral, too big for a camera frame. Scattered across the breadth of the city, twinkling wooden huts sold antique trinkets, delicately hand-crafted souvenirs and traditional German cuisines.

Spending a snatched weekend in Cologne during the build-up to Christmas was magical. With every stall selling something unique, and each of the seven markets individually themed, we were never once lost for new parts of the city to discover or left without new wonders to behold. Full on bratwurst, Amaretto hot chocolate and Christmas spirit, we wandered, shopped, danced and loved our way through the weekend.

Cologne was indescribable. I would consider myself rather fluent with words but this beautiful city we had discovered left me speechless. Lost in thought, Cologne also gave me time to reflect on another important meaning to the festive season. It is easy to get engulfed in Christmas; distracted by its colour, charm and infectious nature. Life is, however, not always quite as jovial.

It is no hidden secret that for some, Christmas can be lonely, stressful or saddening. Christmas adverts festooned with absurd luxuries are an inaccurate representation of real life. Christmas is a time for families and friends to come together, accepting that their lives may not be like that shown in the Christmas movies, but enjoying and cherishing one another’s company all the same. It is about this laughter, memory making and generosity that makes Christmas so special for me.

It is for this reason, reaching over the counter of a small wooden stall ran by an aged German woman, that I smiled to myself as I bought a slice of Stollen for my grandfather; happy in the thought that he would appreciate this German cake and the memories that it would trigger far more than any expensive gift.

I will watch him, alongside the rest of my family, open their presents on Christmas Day and will spare a thought for our Christmas’ past and present, for those who do not have family to celebrate with at Christmas, and for the fairy-tale weekend that I spent in Cologne.