Advent/Solstice/Christmas

 

1 December

This is our family Advent/Solstice/Christmas Calendar bought from Auer Chocolate in Geneva many years ago.

The first time and some years after I've stood at the counter to select 24 different chocolate noir candies to put in the boxes one by one.

Some are filled with chocolate, some with caramel, some with fruit or nuts. They are different shapes. A few are gold flaked. Others have designs.

The sales person put one in each of the little box. Every day, we were able to nibble one to make it last as long as possible. There is the excitement of wondering what it will be before we pop it into our mouths.

Most years we've refilled the box. Some days we invited guests to open the box. Last year we went to Boston so we had left the boxes filled. The candy didn't go to waste (heaven forbid) but it wasn't quite the same anticipation.

 

This year we are in lockdown in Argelès. We went down the street to Mille et Un, the tea room, chocolate shop, for the 24 chocolate noir pieces. We are allowed out for necessary errands, and filling the calendar, to me is necessary. Arnaud, the owner, carefully selected 24 pieces, which I lovingly carried home to put in each box.

Today is the first day to open a box. Rick carefully manipulated seal to remove the candy.

He bit into half and gave me the other half.

He did point out that we celebrate the solstice as much as Christmas. That would leave three boxes unopened if we stopped opening the boxes on the 21st of December.

I don't see a problem. For the last three days, the calendar will be more Christmas Calendar and less Solstice calendar. And the chocolate will be something to look forward to every morning.

Happy holidays. Happy Chocolate.