The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

Behold the beautiful Christmas tree decorating our living room



Pretty swell huh? All my doing. Well almost all, I had an issue with the tinsel so Uncle Meraldo helped me out. He also put up the tree and the lights. But the bulbs, all me.

(Side note: Tinsel here is different from in Canada, that’s why I had a problem, not because I’m inept or anything. It’s all long strands instead of the short stuff back home, much easier and better I think)

The tree is artificial, apparently that is the norm here since, as my student put it, “Italy isn’t all forest like in Canada.” He then made me feel bad when I told him that it doesn’t feel right without a real tree. It quickly passed though.

Also, let’s take a mini-survey right now. How many people hang apples on their tree (fake apples of course) or use them as decorations of some kind (fake again of course)? Because I know we do at my mom’s house, also my awesome ghetto tree had them glued right on. I found them here as well and I’m pretty sure Nonna uses them too. Now what is this obsession with apples? Is there something about this? I always thought oranges and cranberries were the fruit of the season.

This weekend I’ll start some Christmas baking (start and finish I suppose, this holiday is creeping up on me this year), because quite honestly it’s not feeling very Christmas-y yet, maybe it’s the lack of commercialism or Christmas music on the radio, so I hope that helps. I should probably begin my Christmas shopping as well… this may be the latest I’ve ever left it, but gift ideas are hard and finding what I have in mind is harder since the stores here are way different then Canada (and I need a mall… malls are hard to come by around here).