Christmas hasn't felt like Christmas since 2011.
Perhaps it was the change in traditions, lack of relatives living in the same country, or just simply growing older and getting over the big excitement I felt as a child. Or all of the above.
How is it even possible to preserve all traditions when everything else has changed? Surely, we celebrate a Finnish Christmas. There shall never be a time when I wait until Christmas Day morning to open the presents. Why? It is the exact same response I give to everyone whenever they question something I do;
I'm from Finland.
Even if someday (hopefully) I'll legally become American, I will never be American. I am a Finnish person. (And very proud of it, if it's not too obvious...)
So there are traditions that I refuse to let go of. Some that I do not want to let go of but I really do not get to choose.What
do you mean I can't just teleport myself to Finland for Christmas???
Maybe it's all about making new traditions. But even those don't always work out. So what then?
Live in the moment?
For someone like me, going by that statement is extremely hard. There is always something to look forward to. Always something that I need to work hard for. Always.
In middle school, I had planned out which high school I wanted to go to; (Note to my American friends reading this: in Finland, you get to choose which high school you want to go to. But it requires an application and getting in. And no, the process is nothing like college applications in the States.) I did not end up going to that high school. During the first two and half years of high school, I had planned out which university I wanted to go to; I will not be going to that university. This makes it two times that I've had to revise my vision regarding to my future.
Having had to think my life and future over and over again a few times in the past, you'd think that I would have learned to not worry about the future. It is always going to change, so why think about it so much? What I am doing right now is more important.
But even if I still can't fully live in the moment - which I totally cannot - I can appreciate and be happy about what I currently have. This means that I do have to make some adjustments when it comes to traditions. An open mind is needed - but that is good to have with you in general. Changes are always going to happen, and now I can only wait for what next year will have waiting for me - not just holiday-wise but... college.
Right now, I am happy and thankful for the great Christmas we had! It was not completely traditional - is that even possible anymore? - but it was a Finnish Christmas. With Finnish friends. Speaking Finnish. In America.
I also cannot not admire a friendship still going strong after 40 years. I hope my friendships will last as long! Yet I won't be that person who only invites her best friend to her wedding... Yes, mom, I'm looking at you. May I mention, this wedding was also pushed back a few days because of this said best friend? ... Next week, it's going to be 21 years since all of this happened... Congrats, parents, you've made it over 20 years!
Conclusion: It's the Finnish people that make Christmas feel like Christmas.
I wanted to try something new. My hands are so shaky...
Sidenote: What do you mean it's confusing to speak two languages? Usually I struggle with writing in Finnish but right now - after speaking ONLY Finnish for a week - my English grammar is all over the place.
Perhaps it was the change in traditions, lack of relatives living in the same country, or just simply growing older and getting over the big excitement I felt as a child. Or all of the above.
How is it even possible to preserve all traditions when everything else has changed? Surely, we celebrate a Finnish Christmas. There shall never be a time when I wait until Christmas Day morning to open the presents. Why? It is the exact same response I give to everyone whenever they question something I do;
I'm from Finland.
Even if someday (hopefully) I'll legally become American, I will never be American. I am a Finnish person. (And very proud of it, if it's not too obvious...)
So there are traditions that I refuse to let go of. Some that I do not want to let go of but I really do not get to choose.
Maybe it's all about making new traditions. But even those don't always work out. So what then?
Live in the moment?
For someone like me, going by that statement is extremely hard. There is always something to look forward to. Always something that I need to work hard for. Always.
In middle school, I had planned out which high school I wanted to go to; (Note to my American friends reading this: in Finland, you get to choose which high school you want to go to. But it requires an application and getting in. And no, the process is nothing like college applications in the States.) I did not end up going to that high school. During the first two and half years of high school, I had planned out which university I wanted to go to; I will not be going to that university. This makes it two times that I've had to revise my vision regarding to my future.
Having had to think my life and future over and over again a few times in the past, you'd think that I would have learned to not worry about the future. It is always going to change, so why think about it so much? What I am doing right now is more important.
But even if I still can't fully live in the moment - which I totally cannot - I can appreciate and be happy about what I currently have. This means that I do have to make some adjustments when it comes to traditions. An open mind is needed - but that is good to have with you in general. Changes are always going to happen, and now I can only wait for what next year will have waiting for me - not just holiday-wise but... college.
Right now, I am happy and thankful for the great Christmas we had! It was not completely traditional - is that even possible anymore? - but it was a Finnish Christmas. With Finnish friends. Speaking Finnish. In America.
I also cannot not admire a friendship still going strong after 40 years. I hope my friendships will last as long! Yet I won't be that person who only invites her best friend to her wedding... Yes, mom, I'm looking at you. May I mention, this wedding was also pushed back a few days because of this said best friend? ... Next week, it's going to be 21 years since all of this happened... Congrats, parents, you've made it over 20 years!
Conclusion: It's the Finnish people that make Christmas feel like Christmas.
I wanted to try something new. My hands are so shaky...
Sidenote: What do you mean it's confusing to speak two languages? Usually I struggle with writing in Finnish but right now - after speaking ONLY Finnish for a week - my English grammar is all over the place.
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