With Elli

 

Photo by Tamta Manjavidze on Unsplash December is a season of lights, carols, and festive meals—but most of all, it’s a season of connection . Amidst the sparkle, what truly warms us are the shared moments with friends, family, and loved ones. Whether near or far, the heart of Christmas lies in our bonds with one another. 🌟 Ways to Stay Connected During the Holidays Write Letters or Notes: A handwritten card or letter is a gift of presence in words. Imagine writing a letter to a friend or even to your future self, sealing your hopes and gratitude inside. Small Acts of Kindness: Bake cookies for neighbors, donate warm clothing, or simply call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Shared Rituals: Light a candle together, exchange favorite Christmas memories, or sing carols as a family. Connection doesn’t need to be grand—it just needs to be real. 🍷 Greek Family Christmas Traditions In Greece, Christmas is as much about family, food, and meaningful rituals as ...

Photo by Theo Crazzolara on Unsplash As December deepens, the world feels wrapped in a quiet glow. Candles flicker in windows, lights shimmer across darkened streets, and the cold breath of winter invites us to pause and look inward. Christmas, with its rich layering of traditions, is not only a celebration of birth and renewal but also a weaving of ancient rituals into our present lives. 🌌 The Solstice Connection Just days before Christmas, the Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year. Ancient cultures saw this as a threshold: the moment when darkness reaches its depth, and light is reborn. Fires, candles, and evergreen boughs were more than decorations—they were symbols of resilience, carrying the promise of return, of life beyond the cold. Today, when we light our Advent candles or gather around a Christmas tree, we echo these same gestures of hope. What was once ritual beneath starlit skies continues as a quiet thread in our own celebrations. 👉 This beautiful vi...

Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash December is here again — the month of lights, songs, and togetherness. Yet for many of us, Christmas brings not only joy but also a wave of melancholy. I’ve always wondered why this happens — why a season that promises warmth often stirs sadness too. Perhaps it’s because Christmas is so tied to memory. It is not just a holiday — it’s a mirror. A mirror that reflects back our childhoods, our families, our traditions, and sometimes the absences we feel most sharply. The Melancholy of Christmas When I was a child, Christmas was the one time of year I felt safe, loved, and surrounded by warmth. My family house glowed with decorations, the smell of my mama’s food filled the rooms, presents waited under the tree, and for once, everyone came together. Even my dad, who I longed to feel closer to, would be there — and those dinners gave me a rare sense of belonging. It was magical. Mystical. And yes, also capitalist in its rituals of gifts and glitter — bu...