1/12- Advent- Vorfruede

Fantasy

There is a word in German which I want to tell you about: Vorfruede. It’s one of those ‘untranslatable’ words, which encapsulates the “joy on anticipation”. It literally means before (vor) joy (fruede). I think you can tell where this is going.

Throughout the month of December, I hope we’ll bring about Vorfruede, by exploring the meanings of Christmas one at a time, from the 1st to the 25th of December.

Now, I have to go through some of the maintenance before we can continue to the first story. I don’t want to bore you here, so there is a link to this information easily visit it at any time, along with a list of all the Christmas stories. There will be a link at the bottom of every Christmas story.

That being said, Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy the Vorfuede we’re going to share.

*

It’s like waiting for paint to dry. Or waiting for the clock to keep ticking, until it ticks past the hour you can leave and go home. Many find insult in celebrating Christmas before December, which Miss Parton never understood, but nodded when others explained, saying it was essential to wait until Advent. So every year, she would count down the days, not only to Christmas Day, but also to Advent.

Finally, the metaphorical paint had dried, and the clock had ticked: it was December 1st.

Oh! She had waited so long for this. The pixies could testify to that. She had been complaining for so long, despite her claim that she appreciates people who don’t celebrate early. But now she could prepare her heart away, shopping, tidying, and decorating.

Miss Parton’s day started at 7:00, with writing a list of everything she wanted to do. The list may or may not have spanned more than two pages of her notebook, but she’ll never tell. Secondly, she took a little chocolate from her advent calendar before snuggling up to read the first few pages of a Christmas romance novel she wants to finish by the Eve.

She sat in her bed, pulling her blanket right up to her chin, a simple spell allowing the book to stay suspended midair so she can hide her arms in her cozy cocoon. Her room was still bland without her Christmas decorations up yet, and despite the fact nagging at her, she managed to stay focused on her book up until page 15, where she decided to stop for the day.

Refreshed, she changed from her simple pyjamas to a red jumper with a white fur trim, along with a skirt and red tights, the thought of wearing Christmas pyjamas tomorrow flooding her until a smile spills out. Merry Christmas. She thought to herself, meanwhile, magicing her room to be filled with fairy lights and a little Christmas tree in the corner. Ok, maybe it wasn’t that little. It stood taller than her, and she whispered “Bombka viaja” to make it burst with even more colour and lights.

Downstairs, where all the pixies gathered to tie up her hair, she sipped on hot cocoa and bit down into the sweetest waffle that had ever existed, flavour warming her heart.

The details of her shopping trip were, to be perfectly honest, completely boring. She was shopping among regular humans, so she had to dull her magical spark, so no one would notice her unless absolutely necessary. Their village is the only one with magic, so her house is filled with ‘mythical’ creatures of all sorts. To her, the only consequence is a positive one: her house is fun and bright, and she can tidy it up with a flick of her wrist.

She layed out all her shopping, most of them being gifts for friends, because while she can conjure anything for herself, non-magicals can’t experience it. Meaning, she has to do the boring human act of shopping. Not the worst thing she has to do, but it isn’t the best either. There were seventeen people on her Gift List, but she bought gifts for an extra five.

“Nobody should know this many people!” She exclaimed, rubbing the neck of Alexandra the unicorn. “I don’t even want to think about how much I just spent.” But she checked. And thought about it for far too long. The job of wrapping the gifts was much more enjoyable, though. Miss Parton could have done it in a minute, but where would the fun be in that?

It was almost like she was a Disney princess as she had the creatures help her, and she hummed to her favourite Christmas songs, practically skipping. And when she was done, she had 22 gifts ready and lying neatly on her kitchen table, ready to give on Christmas Eve.

Then she plopped down on her sofa and turned on a Christmas movie, drinking yet another cup of hot chocolate. A classic which she’s seen probably a dozen times before. Little snores emanating from the living room, according to her, belonged to Alexandra as the movie played. Miss Parton stood maybe twenty times during the movie, first checking her mail, then finding a candy cane, and more. 

Her smile faded throughout the duration of the movie. Her eyes drooped, but she still convinced herself she was as happy as can be. But she wasn’t. She loved doing all the Christmassy things, but now she had nothing to do. Other than watch movies she has practically memorised.

She kicked herself (metaphorically), realising she has 23 more days to go until she will give her friends their gifts. More than three weeks. Her boredom even drove her to play on the piano, which stands there unused because she ‘never has time to practice’. 

Refusing to believe she was out of things to do, she even baked. An activity that has never come to her naturally. She pushed off the idea that she had rushed Christmas preparations, because in her mind, that was impossible. How could you get enough of Christmas?

But then she checked the time and it was only six o’clock. How is that possible? It feels like it has been three days!

*

On the thirteenth of December, she was still stuck. “Why am I bored?” Miss Parton asked the creatures frowning at her in concern. She was usually lively, and for some reason, her joy had dulled at her favourite time of year. “I’m ready for Christmas, but I’m just not that excited. I mean, I’m excited, but not that much. It’s so weird.”

Most of the creatures couldn’t communicate with her. So they just shook their heads, because they had seen this happen to her before. Her excitement would flood her until she used it all up, and she wouldn’t have anything else to do for the next days. Well, she did read her Christmas novel, and eat her chocolates, and talk to her work friends about Christmas plans, but there wasn’t that spark.

As afore mentioned, the creatures couldn’t speak to her. So they could only hope she would wake up one day, and her problem would be clear as day to herself. A problem too many take part in.

Isn’t it better to enjoy the journey?

*

The question echoed in her head as she awoke from an unmemorable dream. Not that it wasn’t cool; it slipped out of her mind the second her head left the pillow. Her mind was spinning, but everything was the same, with peppermint coffee filling her nose from the cafe next door. The bed looked the same, with red-and-green plaid covers, but they were more cozy this morning.  And yet she wanted to leap out of bed and hug everyone.

She was a hugger, but she never woke up with that urge. But this morning, she did. Because it was almost Christmas.

“Christmas.” She whispered to the beautifully adorned, yet empty room, a soft smile lighting her lips.

Thank you for reading. I hope you got a little Christmas joy from this story. Here, for anyone who wants it, is the maintenance.

If you enjoyed this story, please, please, please (I can add a cherry if necessary) like, comment, rate and share. It really helps me out and allows others to see these (hopefully decent) stories. Thank you, and Merry Christmas.