Advent - the french way?

So folks, Christmas is upon us again. It's everywhere, you can't avoid it! And for the fourth time in my life - which is really not such a bad number considering - I won't be preparing house in that ol' traditional way. You know, even though you are completely aware of the fact that the whole world doesn't do it 'the norwegian' style, it always manages to surprise you. So here I am, listening to norwegian christmas carols, lighting the first candle of four, because it is in fact the first sunday of advent, and ya'll don't even know what it is!! What to do??? I guess the French has their traditions, but when I was rushing to get to the city center tonight to look at the lighted christmas tree...!! And then.... no. Nothing. It was there, but still dark and gloomy. My friend gave me this look. Aww Trine, it'll happend soon...omg, good thing I just turned 28, right? Somebody told me however that they light all the christmas lights on the second of december. WHAT? That makes no sense what so ever! Maybe it's because it on a Friday, I don't know. But ok peoples, so these are some the things I miss about advent : 

1. The lighting of the tree - so consdering that I'm from a smaaaaaaall town, we all gather up at the community center or what the h... you call it in English. And at 18, everybody meets outside where it's pitch black with only the snow to light up the street. There we light the Christmas tree with all the children surrounding it singing stupid, playfull and wondrefully traditional christmas carols. And when everybody is cold enough, we gather up inside where we have pepperkaker and gløgg and a Julenisse (look that up!) that hands out small gifts to all the kids. 

2. The fact that it feels and smells like winter. I'm really just not getting use being outside with the sun shining, where palm-trees are decorated with cotton to look like snow, and people walking around in t-shirts.  (ehm yeah, not really complaining about the sun part though...)  

3. JULESTJERNA - the Christmas star. Ever since I was a little girl, I always looked forward to the day when my mother placed the star in my window. I had trouble sleeping for days, I hated the fact that is was a light, but don't think I ever asked her to turn it off. It's a symbol you know? But ok, enough of the mooshy-mooshy, so they don't have the stars here, tant pis as the French say, I made my own! 

But to be quite honest, yes, I miss our traditions and how we do things, but I seriously love that fact that I'm here experiencing all the crazy the French are doing here too. They've got some cool stuff going, but I'm still coming home for Christmas. Oh yeah, and isn't it great, it's not even the 1st of december...

Eighter way, now I got my star, and my mum just sent me a chocolate calender(!) - I'm gonna be just fine ;) Miss moody, out!

triNe