A French Christmas Beginning

It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere we go in southern France. Being away from family for travel is difficult, but being away from them during the holiday season is challenging. As we scroll through social media accounts, we watch our friends and family carry on their traditions like it’s any other year. But what about OUR traditions? How will WE celebrate when even the simple routines like washing dishes are disrupted with our travels?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, in the countries we’ve chosen to celebrate Christmas (Nice, France - Prague, Czechia – Budapest, Hungary). Being in Nice, France for the kickoff of Christmas comes with mixed visual input. Blue skies, rocky beaches, and palm trees don’t exactly sing the Christmas spirit unless you grew up in that kind of environment.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland after we squished through the security gates. Everything is glowing and beautiful within the Nice Christmas Market. With the Ferris wheel brightly lighting the backdrop, we wandered amongst the wooden cottages which illuminated chocolates, gifts, and nativity figurines. We sampled Vin Chaud Rouge and Vin Chaud Blanc (Mulled red and mulled white wine), Socca (a chickpea pancake), and Aligot (Cheese with mashed potatoes). Children rode rides as families looked on. Selfies were taken with every little backdrop.

I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You. Sadly, France and several other European countries have a dark past of terrorism on Christmas Markets. Therefore, year after year, security intensifies. The Nice Christmas market has metal poles in the ground too small to let a car pass, crowd control gates, armed police guards welcoming patrons or patrolling, and metal detectors with visual bag checks.

Deck the Halls with boughs of holly, twinkle lights, and nutcrackers. In the month of November, we saw twinkle lights wrapped around the palm trees and large twinkly decorations hung from light poles. Hotels began decorating with garland, nutcrackers, and ornaments. The spirit was beginning to come alive.

Santa Clause is Coming to Town and floating above the people in the streets as the parade slips through the longest street in Nice, France. He waves to everyone as he passes and stirs up happiness and hope in adults while escalating excitement amongst the children. The joy of the season just geared up a notch.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas as 2025 closes and 2026 comes into view. Now is a good time to purge the physical or emotional weights you’ve incumbered all year, kiss them goodbye. Sell them, give them away, find therapy, or actively change directions. Believe in Santa, believe in yourself, and set boundaries with the Grinch. Find light in your heart so your troubles fade away this season. May your wishes come true this season!! Cheers from France, Czechia, Austria, and Hungary this year!!