"It's begining to look a lot like Christmas..."

Christmas cards for Swiss exchange students that we made at a YFU get-together.

This is a traditional St-Nicolas cookie called biscôme! My host mother and I made some with gluten free flower, and then Elise and I decorated our cookies together. Traditionally they are rectangles or large hearts decorated in detail with a hard, white, frosting or have attached a picture of St-Nicolas. See below my egotistical, Lily themed biscôme!

Above: Santas at the train station in Fribourg playing an organ and giving choclate to everyone.

To the left is a surprise dinner provided to us after choir practice! There were oranges, sub sandwiches, cookies, cinnamon tea, chocolate, and more goodies including a gluten free sandwich just for me!

Left: Christmas tree in the cafeteria, decorated by an art class during my lunch break.
Right: Arch of evergreen branches, ribbons, and lights at entry to a building at my school. The process was dangerous during passing period...

Below: During the holiday season, my host mother makes amazing amounts of different, homemade Christmas cookies and chocolates which are great gifts for family, friends, and teachers. Luckily she has enough boxes for them all! There are also some kinds of traditional cookies that I can eat because they are made without flower. Too delicious! Elise is filling up a bag to give to someone, and then Monika will tie it off with some pretty ribbon.

I got two giant packages in the mail! The Grinch's epiphany was that Christmas doesn't come in a box, but for the sake of time, I am going to say that's pretty much what happened! There are stockings for all the family on my coat rack, Santa in his sleigh on the window, presents from home, presents from St-Michel friends, the presents I wrapped, the presents Anaïs wrapped, my little Christmas tree all covered in candy canes, my little poinsettia, my phone playing Christmas music, and whenever possible, Elise pondering it all and anticipating Christmas morning. Now it just needs to snow...

I made Christmas cookies this afternoon! They are called "Etoiles à la cannelle" and require no flower! They are made with egg whites, salt, lots of cinnamon, powdered sugar, crushed almonds, and kirsch. If anyone wants the recipe, I have it in French and will try my hand at translation...

This is a type of Christmas tea that you can find at any Fribourgian, holiday get-together. It is the bessstttt!!! My host mother used this recipe, and it tastes a little different, but still delicious. Normally we call it "thé à la cannelle" because its main ingredient is cinnamon. Before Christmas break, the cafeteria sold it for a franc per glace. They also served it at at the St-Nicolas market, on the last day before break, after the Christmas concerts, etc. Mmmmm... Bien chaud!