There's no doubt about it: the summer is GONE. The Autumn is taking over, reading its ugly head. That means the only thing - just a couple of sleeps and... what happens? Yes, that's right, Christmas will be here! Yep, you heard (read) me, we are dealing with this as soon as in October. I decided to be reaaaaally nice to you and spare you a lot of wrinkles, bottles of diazepam and even a couple of crowns with my article. No matter whether you're a Grinch or not, Christmas is not something you can avoid, so why not choose to be ready for it? It's gonna be here soon anyway...
I, for instance, used to ignore Christmas for a very long time. The only thing I was interested in were the presents under the tree. But when mom wanted me to help with Christmas cookies, I pretended to be deaf and paralyzed. Then I had something happen a few years ago - I met this totally crazy girl who changed the way I looked at December. She rationally explained to me why we should love the holidays. Internalizing the idea completely changed my life and saved me from all the things I've just described. And so I've loved Christmas for the last couple of years and I look forward to it. In fact, I am anxiously waiting for the first Christmas TV commercial. As soon as the truck with Coca Cola makes an appearance, I run to the store to buy a few bottles, and I start with Christmas baking and listening to Christmas carols (the American ones, sorry not sorry) in the middle of October. Needless to say that at the end of November, I'll have not just purchased, but also wrapped all my presents. I'm excited like a child!
Many people hate me for it, just like I initially hated the friend of mine who was always bugging me about it since September. But I know they envy me, because I have zero stress in December. I can devote the last month of the year to spending time with friends, drinking mulled wine, eating roasted chestnuts, visiting European Christmas markets and taking days off work. About four days before Christmas Eve, we have "fake" Christmas with my parents and then I fly away somewhere warm for two weeks. That's what a perfect Christmas looks like for me. Each year, I thank my friend for showing me this beauty by sending her a postcard from my destination.
Pronájem mezonetu Josefov 2+kk, Praha, Praha 1
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Není nad to hodit si v prosinci nohy na stůl a pít svařák. Source: Pixabay
The Czechs are maniacs
And if you're now tapping on your forehead, thinking I must be a freak, I have a tip for you: look around. According to surveys by various world agencies, I am definitely not the only crazy person around. Czechs actually won the first place among 34 countries when it comes to spending money. We love gifts and we like to buy and give them. Our expenditure is 12 thousand crowns on average.
Not only do we spend a lot of money on gifts, but we start buying them already in September. Some people (by which I mean myself) buy them in the course of the year, because they take advantage of summer discounts and the like. What surprised me, however, is that what we desire the most is electronics. I bet it's all because of the green monster that irritates me at the first scream. I'm sure a lot of people think that if they buy something from him, he'll shut up. But apparently, the second type of goods we most frequently spend on is books, which I found not just surprising, but shocking.
People who leave their shopping for the last minute amount to about 35 %. I pity them. Instead of watching fairy tales at home in peace, binging on sweets and drinking mulled wine, they're mall hopping like crazy, mindlessly buying overpriced stuff...
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Baking cookies is an excellent opportunity to drink wine or other alcohol.Source: Pixabay
Christmas cookies
This is a chapter for itself. For example, my mother has been saying for several years that we would cancel Christmas. My brother and I are both grown ups, so we don't really need presents or Christmas cookies anymore. Well, I, for one, am never going to let that happen!
I admit that some types of Christmas cookies are a bitch to make, especially if you've got two left hands, but on the other hand, you can make it a social event, invite your friends and get drunk together. Just tell your guy that you're off to bake his favorite Linzer with the girls and you're off the hook.
Christmas carols and beeping of cash registers
A quarter of the spending from our Christmas budget goes to food. I recommend buying butter in advance and putting it in the freezer.
It pays off. Anyway, if you happen to work in a grocery store, I'm really sorry for you. During this period, I think most people behind the register are not far from commiting a suicide. Not only because of the constant flood of people, but mainly because of the Christmas carols, spiced with beeping of cash registers! If this and children playgrounds isn't Hell, what then?
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Shopping centers will be full of peopleSource: Pixabay
Dear Santa...
So, even though it may look like you're surrounded by people who hate Christmas, according to surveys this isn't true at all. Plus, know what else is great about the Christmas holidays? We don't have to go to work or school! That's definitely a reason to love December!
Besides, I can already hear the rustling of wrapping paper... The thought of unwrapping gifts alone fills me with bliss. So, dear Santa, this year for Christmas, I'd like... a vacation holiday in Hawaii. And what would you like? I look forward to your comments.
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Copak mi letos Ježíšek asi nadělí. Source: Pixabay
