A few years ago, in a different country.....

Growing up, preparing for Christmas was much more then decorations and gifts. My mother would wash the entire house, walls, windows and ceilings, even the attic would be scrubbed, and Christmas curtains would be hung. She told me once that in her home, when she was a little girl, they would actually scrub the wooden floors with sand to get them ready for Christmas. I remember me and my siblings, all with little aprons, helping her baking cookies. It was a mess, and it had to be at least 7 different kinds, don't ask me why, it was tradition. Off course I still try to make at least 7 kinds.
She would also make all these specially spiced sausages, and off course home made marzipan figures. I loved those and remember sneaking one when she wasn't around.
When all the special food was prepared, she scrubbed down the kitchen. Then the decoration could start. It would be her embroidered Christmas table clothes, red candles, some angels and Santa's (nisse), and table decorations made with pine branches, cut offs from the Christmas tree. The tree would come in "little Christmas Eve", the 23rd, so that when we woke up the next morning, it had been decorated in all its glory. With candles, strings of home made paper garland, flags, and paper heart baskets. The more fancy and breakable balls would be hung towards the top, together with the angels. I remember how exiting it was to come downstairs, it was dark, the only light on was the one on the tree. I would just sit there in the dark and admire it......