It’s the Christmas season now.
I’ve been living in Rome for the past few years. In December, the city lights up. It becomes vibrant and colourful in almost every sense, a happy time for people all over.
Rome in December gets lively, buzzing and aplomb with fervour and flourishes.
Living in Rome, I’ve observed the city, the people, the stores, and the vibes of everything around me during the festival. The mood slowly starts inching up from the beginning of the month, with shops and brands displaying their festive offers inviting customers to celebrate the festival with them in exchange for their money.
About the city of Rome, now what can I, a mere little writer, speak of or describe a city that has been ephemeral for so long? The Baroque-styled buildings, the Christmas lamps lit up through alleys, streets, and piazzas, and the tasty Christmas delicacies of Rome.
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ”
- Norman Vincent Peale
I see people who are naturally beaming with happiness. Everyone’s smiling at each other, enjoying the shopping season and buying gifts for their loved ones. Families planning their Christmas gatherings and making time for each other. Having dinners and walking around the city taking in everything it has to offer.
As you walk by the road on a random morning, you can find a stranger who smiles at you and wishes you ‘Buongiorno’. (Obviously not like Brad Pitt). It is pleasant when you come across people who are so welcoming and warm.
When I asked a friend about what this season meant for her, she said — “Christmas for me is the coming together of the family for an occasion albeit religious, it brings us all to one place, helping each other in the cooking, decorating the Christmas tree, singing carols with friends and neighbours, listening to my grandfather tell us stories of yore and yesteryear. It usually brings smiles to our faces and happiness to our hearts.”
It truly is a time to spread love, forgive people, and do a little something extra for someone.
