Here in Sweden, the day known as Boxing Day in English is called Annandag Jul, which means the 2nd day - or "another day" - of Christmas. It's a bank holiday, but less loaded with traditions compared to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (I suppose that varies a bit from one family to another, though.) Probably quite a few shops are also kept open on this day nowadays. I haven't been into town to check, though!
Christmas Day was rainy and windy (mixed with a bit of wet snow from time to time) and I stayed in - mostly watching TV (or streaming services etc). This morning, looking out of my windows + checking with the thermometer, I got the impression that it was wet outside rather than icy. That impression changed as soon as I set foot outdoors, though. The ground is frozen hard and covered with invisible ice, so very slippery. I had my trekking poles and studded booths though, and thought it would be better on the gravel paths in the old cemetery. But even there it was icy. So I ended up cutting the walk shorter than intended.
I think I already mentioned this in an earlier post, but one thing slipperiness seems to do here is to make people a lot more inclined to chat with complete strangers - even if only to state the obvious (i.e. how slippery it is). In the cemetery, I met another senior lady with trekking poles; and after exchanging a glance and a smile (recognising each other's struggle), we also stopped to verbally confirm to each other how very icy it was... Then on my way back across the footbridge over the railway (an especially tricky spot in winter), I also met a somewhat younger lady, without poles to support her - and obviously hesitating how best to proceed. Body language easy enough to interpret just now! but she too also started a verbal chat... Something which rarely happens the rest of the year, between strangers just passing each other going in opposite directions.
For my own part, I got home safely, and can only hope the other two reached their destinations in one piece as well.
Tomorrow is laundry day for me; a good enough excuse to just stay in again.
I have been enjoying milder Christmas temperatures here in Italy but am dreading the journey back home on Thursday through yet another storm front. Perhaps icy conditions would be better!
ReplyDeleteI hope your journey will go well, JC!
Deleteso glad you made it back home safely and i agree with you it is a good idea to do laundry and leave the ice to others. Inger who is from Sweden tells me strangers where you are do not talk like we Americans who chat with any and all. maybe it will start there. try it next time the sun is shining. i have had really fun conversations by stating the obvouis about the weather, like isn't this sunshine gorgeous?
ReplyDeleteSandra, the weather is usually the main topic in any spontaneous conversation here between people who don't know one another well. I think an extra component added by slippery streets is that it slows us down, though - making it almost impossible to just hurry on... ;-)
DeleteHere in Germany, the 2. Weihnachsttag is similar to yours, less traditional than the 24th and 25th.
ReplyDeleteWe had a high of about 10C, so no ice at all. The wind made it seem colder than it was, and we did not have time for a walk anyway, as we were at O.K.‘s sister in the next village for a festive family lunch. Very nice and cosy on a largely grey and windy day!
Glad you had a good day in spite of dull weather, Meike. For my own part, I was quite content with a "low key" and restful Christmas - just glad to neither be travelling myself nor have worry about anyone else (in particular) in the slippery road conditions.
DeleteThe 26th is just a normal day here, shops open and people back to work. The big celebration is January 6th, 12th Night, when the children have their presents from St. Nicholas. Well it used to be, but now the children want gifts on the 24th too!
ReplyDeleteWe've had very low temperatures for the last few nights, even down to 4ºC one night, but during the day it has been reasonably warm and sunny, with blue skies. Thank goodness we haven't had the storms or snow and ice that much of northern Europe have had.
Take care if you venture out while it's still icy.
Carol, January 6th is a holiday here, too, but not usually celebrated with gifts. It's regarded as the end of the Christmas holidays, before schools etc open again. Tradition gives us another week after that until it's time to throw out the Christmas tree and other decorations, though (Jan 20th). (Nowadays that varies a lot, though.) - We're back and forth between snow, rain and ice here all the time at the moment... Luckily I can usually choose when to venture out vs just stay in.
DeleteBy the way, the Amaryllis flower is beautiful.
ReplyDelete