I don’t know about you but the older I get the more selective I get. I mean, I am really becoming ‘picky’ on a lot of things. Just to mention one thing: as I care about what I eat, thanks to Walter I spend now more time reading package labels than reading a newspaper (!). I also tend to be more selective on people too (please don’t misunderstand me: it’s just that relations and friendships mean so much to me that I don’t want to allow any ‘unhealthy’ relationship to interfere with my life anymore). And, at this time of the year, with Christmas approaching, I’m becoming very picky on Christmas markets too!
It may sound silly. However, I don’t know how many Christmas markets there are where you live but in Italy each little medieval village, each town, each neighbourhood (!) must have its own Christmas market (we also have open air live nativity scenes, all kinds of crib exhibitions, not to mention the numberless Christmas food events!). I don’t have anything against Christmas decorations made-in-China, but they are just so depressing. This is why when my sister Cristina asked me to help her out with LaDirce project in Candelara last week-end, I was happy to say ‘YAY!’
First of all my favourite church in the surroundings of Pesaro, the beautiful Pieve di Santo Stefano dating back to the 6th/7th century (where our daughter was baptized) is in Candelara. Second, the little village (Candelara is very little indeed) is very typical, as the ‘castello’ is surrounded by medieval walls. Needless to say that the sunset from the village walls, facing the hilly landscape towards the hinterland, is a breathtaking view both in the lazy reddish Summer light and on Fall foggy days as today.
Going back to Christmas markets (I always get a little bit carried away when it comes to describe ‘this magic corner of Italy’), the one taking place in Candelara during the event ‘Candles in Candelara’ is one of my favourite. First of all, you mainly find candles (which I adore): beeswax candles, scented candles (LaDirce introduced caramel and cappuccino-scented candles at the event), lavender candles, Christmas candles (Santa Claus or snow-man shaped), candles made with pressed flowers or fruit (mostly oranges) and any kind of candles you can think of.
What about you? Which is your favourite Christmas market?
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The Christmas markets are all beautiful to me. I haven’t seen any Nativity scenes this year, not even outside of churches. It seems like here people are afraid to display their Christianity as they might offend others who are not Christians. I don’t know, it seems like that to me. As far as reading labels and relationships, well, you should read the labels and take the time to read them very well. Relationships with others can be beneficial as well as harmful and you should avoid the harmful ones. I am concerned that I may have been a harmful relationship for you as I struggle to think of any benefit you may have gotten from your relationship with me. I, on the other hand, have benefited greatly from my relationship with you. Your patience and kindness were extraordinary concerning me, which was, among other things, what made you wonderful in my eyes. I grew up working on a farm, and farmers have a saying which says: you can put a dress on a pig but you can’t teach it to dance. You nearly succeeded with me as I learned so much from you. I feel as if I am in your debt, as I can’t think of anyway in which I could have been a beneficial influence on you. And for that, I am truly sorry. It gives me great joy to learn that you have a daughter and a family. There would be too much injustice in this world if it were not so. May God bless you and yours always. George.
[…] already wrote last year about the lovely Christmas Market taking place in central Italy (Candelara), mostly known for the many candles […]