But what is Christmas?
As a Dutchman, growing up meant that Christmas was kind of an afterthought. For us, the 5th of December was the real deal, with Sinterklaas giving us gifts and poems on Pakjesavond. Sure, we had a Christmas tree, but come December 24th, we would get nothing more than a card and some chocolate.
Yet, as the years progressed, the weight shifted. Upon a certain discovery around my 8th, Pakjesavond lost some of its magic; a magic that I have only recently rediscovered now that I have children of my own. Christmas, on the other hand, grew in importance. Nowadays it is the time that I get to see all of my friends in one place, a time when the family gathers around the dinner table, and a time when my own children find out that my brother is far too generous in his gift-giving.
Now, when I sit around the Christmas table, twirling my 3rd glass of wine above an empty plate, listening to stories of my parents, brothers, and children, a feeling of contentment rushes over me that I rarely feel at other times in the year. A feeling that everything will be alright as long as I am with these people.
To me, that is the feeling that Parc Maasresidence Thorn has to recreate. It’s incredibly difficult to do because this feeling does not come with a set of instructions.
But boy did they pull it off…
Far ahead of time, in the summer, the park team already got together to start unpacking the Christmas program. From the beginning, one thing was clear: it’s not about the size of the tree, or the nuanced foods, or the splendor of the decorations. It’s about making families and friends feel at home, fully at ease when staying at the park. The team drew a lot of inspiration from the Burgundian lifestyle, which is so prevalent in the south: cozy surroundings, comfort food, and good food.
And so, the team set out to sketch an idea that made them feel warm and fuzzy.
Dimmed lighting, tables with roughhewn decorations, platters with game and winter vegetables served by cheerful waiters, wine bottles in every open space, and a self-decorated Christmas tree watching over. Friends and family huddled closely, drinking big cups of hot chocolate with dollops of whipped cream and eating warm waffles with powdered sugar while the harsh winter winds blow outside. People braving the cold in cozy blankets, singing carols at the top of their voices while riding in an ornately decorated horse-drawn carriage. Children falling on their bums as their wobbly parents teach them how to ice skate after not having done so themselves for years. Long walks through silent forests to restaurants that serve Christmas pie and mulled wine. Local Christmas markets with handcrafted goods and the Churches’ children’s choir in the background.
The team aspired to move away from dazzling, grandiose displays and towards personalized, heartfelt, and genuine Christmas celebration. Therefore, they have decided on a traditional Dutch ice-skating rink with “Snert” and hot chocolate rather than a huge rink with a light show and Christmas mash-up songs over the speakers. Santa will visit on his sleigh unexpectedly every once in a while, rather than a huge festive gathering where everyone gets to sit on his lap. There will be a winter cruise with warm blankets and hot chocolate rather than an expensive 3-course Christmas dinner aboard a luxury star-liner.
Christmas is about appreciating the little things. Creating the feeling of nostalgic homeliness over fabricated joy is what counts most. And that’s why the family and I will be visiting Parc Maasresidence Thorn this year.
Although…
A little bit of over-the-top glam and splendor is sometimes appreciated because we do really want to go to Designer Outlet Roermond for Christmas shopping! It is our yearly guilty pleasure. We love the fabulous displays and dazzling lighting, accompanied by great Christmas deals, and a whole array of activities. And of course, my kids have been nagging me for weeks to go on their Christmas Ferris wheel!
We can’t wait to enjoy our Christmas dinner at Humphreys and then huddle up on the couch to watch Home Alone (another guilty pleasure) in our villa. Although this is our first Christmas at Parc Maasresidence Thorn, something tells me it’s going to be a tradition.
