Mandarin Pavlova, or a dessert that is served with the first fallen snowflake.

The first snowflake landed on my nose and melted immediately. I closed my eyes to memorise its cold touch on my skin. I love winter. There is nothing more magical than fluffy white flakes falling from the distant sky.

But, to be honest, I wasn’t always such a big fan of it. I hated having cold hands all the time and a frozen nose; I hated putting on so many clothes that I couldn’t even move.

But when I was about 10 years old, I had to spend the winter holidays with my grandmother, as my parents had some business abroad and had to find a home for me for those two weeks. I liked my grandparents, but before that we hadn’t spent much time together, so obviously I wasn’t very happy with the situation.

So that winter, the biggest admirer of Christmas and everything that comes with it had to look after a 10-year-old always-negative child. I remember the shock on her face when she invited me to walk around the Christmas markets and I refused, arguing that it was too cold outside.

“But you are not going to stay at home all the holidays just because it’s cold, right? Just put on an additional sweater.”

“If I put on too much, it becomes difficult to move, so it’s better to stay in the warmth.”

“Better than what, dear? Better than experiencing the magic of winter?”

“I am really sorry, Grandma, but I see nothing magical about winter.”

“Don’t you like Christmas?”

“Yes, Christmas is cool, but it’s just one day. And even that one day is still freezing. Don’t you feel that either?”

“I have something that warms me from the inside when the weather outside is not the best.”

“Is that the glühwein your mother bought for you?” Grandmother laughed sincerely at my words.

“Well, that can also warm you from the inside, but I am talking about something else — faith in winter magic. Come with me, I’ll teach you to see it everywhere.”

But, as I said, back in those days I was a hardly persuadable child, lacking love for one of the most beloved holidays among children.

The first snowflake landed on my nose and melted immediately. I closed my eyes to memorise its cold touch on my skin. I love winter. There is nothing more magical than fluffy white flakes falling from the distant sky.

But, to be honest, I wasn’t always such a big fan of it. I hated having cold hands all the time and a frozen nose; I hated putting on so many clothes that I couldn’t even move.

But when I was about 10 years old, I had to spend the winter holidays with my grandmother, as my parents had some business abroad and had to find a home for me for those two weeks. I liked my grandparents, but before that we hadn’t spent much time together, so obviously I wasn’t very happy with the situation.

So that winter, the biggest admirer of Christmas and everything that comes with it had to look after a 10-year-old always-negative child. I remember the shock on her face when she invited me to walk around the Christmas markets and I refused, arguing that it was too cold outside.

“But you are not going to stay at home all the holidays just because it’s cold, right? Just put on an additional sweater.”

“If I put on too much, it becomes difficult to move, so it’s better to stay in the warmth.”

“Better than what, dear? Better than experiencing the magic of winter?”

“I am really sorry, Grandma, but I see nothing magical about winter.”

“Don’t you like Christmas?”

“Yes, Christmas is cool, but it’s just one day. And even that one day is still freezing. Don’t you feel that either?”

“I have something that warms me from the inside when the weather outside is not the best.”

“Is that the glühwein your mother bought for you?” Grandmother laughed sincerely at my words.

“Well, that can also warm you from the inside, but I am talking about something else — faith in winter magic. Come with me, I’ll teach you to see it everywhere.”

But, as I said, back in those days I was a hardly persuadable child, lacking love for one of the most beloved holidays among children.

The first snowflake landed on my nose and melted immediately. I closed my eyes to memorise its cold touch on my skin. I love winter. There is nothing more magical than fluffy white flakes falling from the distant sky.

But, to be honest, I wasn’t always such a big fan of it. I hated having cold hands all the time and a frozen nose; I hated putting on so many clothes that I couldn’t even move.

But when I was about 10 years old, I had to spend the winter holidays with my grandmother, as my parents had some business abroad and had to find a home for me for those two weeks. I liked my grandparents, but before that we hadn’t spent much time together, so obviously I wasn’t very happy with the situation.

So that winter, the biggest admirer of Christmas and everything that comes with it had to look after a 10-year-old always-negative child. I remember the shock on her face when she invited me to walk around the Christmas markets and I refused, arguing that it was too cold outside.

“But you are not going to stay at home all the holidays just because it’s cold, right? Just put on an additional sweater.”

“If I put on too much, it becomes difficult to move, so it’s better to stay in the warmth.”

“Better than what, dear? Better than experiencing the magic of winter?”

“I am really sorry, Grandma, but I see nothing magical about winter.”

“Don’t you like Christmas?”

“Yes, Christmas is cool, but it’s just one day. And even that one day is still freezing. Don’t you feel that either?”

“I have something that warms me from the inside when the weather outside is not the best.”

“Is that the glühwein your mother bought for you?” Grandmother laughed sincerely at my words.

“Well, that can also warm you from the inside, but I am talking about something else — faith in winter magic. Come with me, I’ll teach you to see it everywhere.”

But, as I said, back in those days I was a hardly persuadable child, lacking love for one of the most beloved holidays among children.