St Nicholas, the Savior of Lorraine

This weekend, here in the Lorraine region of France (also in Alsace and in Germany), St. Nicholas came.

Once upon a time, there were three children who were out collecting wheat. They lost track of time and soon realized that it had gotten dark. They started back but realized that they had become lost in the darkness. They came upon a house and knocked on the door. A butcher came to the door and let them come inside out of the cold. Variations of this legend have the butcher either chopping up the children and either salting them or baking them into a bread. In any case,something creepy, dark and scary happens to them and they are kept in a vat of salt for 7 years until one fateful day that the hero and savior of all of Lorraine, St Nicholas arrives on the scene, saves/resurrects them and chases the evil butcher away forever.

In this corner of the world, St Nicholas is a very important figure for everyone. While having a similar appearance to Santa, they are by no means the same person. While slightly commercialized with pain d'épices (spice cakes) being sold by everyone everywhere,  6th of December represents more than ist some red and green or some gifts wrapped in big bows. It's a day where everyone comes togetherand celebrates life, blessings and love in a very convivial, family way. It's a day of community that leaves everyone with warm feelings and a real sense of prideful be of the region (a feeling that I agree with wholeheartedly even if I can only claim to be of the region for such a short moment).

Saturday night, in La Place Stanislas, the mot beautiful white marble-ish square in the entire world,over 30,000, yes, that's thirty THOUSAND, of my closest French friends and I wheezed into the squareto listen to the legend of St Nicholas beautifully displayed with a light show projected onto the buildings full of beautiful music and amazing choreographed fireworks displays that entered right into the rhythm of the story. The perfect timing of wonderful bursts of gorgeous fireworks that literally took my breath away  at the most suspenseful moments left me speechlessly awed at the end. I've never seen such a powerful, beautiful splay in my entire life. At one point, there was a sea of golden sparkling  waves of shimmering fireworks that framed the square and the sheer joy that was radiating from everyone's eyeswas a sight that not only reminded me how lucky I am to be here, but also warmed my heart.

Being Thankful

I'm thankful for...

The opportunity to live in a place so rich in history and in beauty.

My parents-always supportive and always willing to listen at any hour of the day.

My sister who I will always do anything for and who I know will always do anything for me.

Having such a wonderful support system surrounding and lifting me up.

Friends all around the world that love me and who put up with me.

New ties that bring a whole new and beautiful meaning to family.

A "working" internet connection that is allowing me to listen to the 40 second previews of Julie Andrews Christmas songs since I am a little too poor to actually buy the 3 cd's.

Relatively good health (other than a pesky staph infection in my eye).

Having been raised in such a glorious and wonderful place (nothing could ever make me stop loving Ohio).

A sense of humor.

Being free.

This weekend has been one so fulfilling that I don't know if I will be able to accurately and adequately  capture it within words. Every so often in my life, I find that there are certain feelings of fullness that leave me so satisfied and content that I am unable to express them to the outside world. It's natural that around Thanksgiving, one becomes aware things that they are thankful for in their life but, I try my hardest to stay thankful and grateful all year long.

A wise person once told me that fellowship is best grown around a table; Last week, that's exactly what we accomplished. While not setting out to grow fellowship, the Thanksgiving dinner that I had the wonderful opportunity to share with my fellow language assistants was one that definitely embodied everything that fellowship stands for. Being surrounded by others who were living far from home and who understand how the small things in life are actually the big things when you're abroad is a welcome part of living so close to the others in my program. Spending this Thanksgiving with 15 Irish, English, American, Canadian, and German girls (and 1 boy) eating all of the typical Thanksgiving delicacies (plus yorkshire pudding!), skyping with my family at 5:45 AM their time because I was unable to contain my excitement and sharing pumpking (working on the pronunciation of that) pie with my 6 year olds who unfortunately thought that it was one of the most disgusting things that they've ever eaten was the perfect Thanksgiving for me for this year.

During an interview on a radio station this evening, I was asked to explain Thanksgiving. It's difficult to put into words how much this one day means to not only me but also to everyone else out there in the States who celebrate this day. I was then asked if there were any special songs for Thanksgiving and how did one celebrate it. After reflecting for a moment, I realized that even with the traditions of turkey, football and getting overly excited to see Santa end the Parade, Thanksgiving isn't defined by these things. While they make up some of the things that happen on the day, in the end, it's all about family and being thankful for the things in your life that you don't deserve.