This past week, I’ve been enjoying Swiss Christmas markets in Zurich and Lucerne.
In every main square, rows of little huts like pop-up villages sell everything from glühwein, chocolate, baked goods, and traditional Swiss and international food items to holiday decorations, jewellery, toys, and woollen mittens and sweaters. Amid glowing lights, families, friends, and tourists like me gather to soak up the festive spirit.
On Sunday, as I wandered the cobblestone streets of old-town Lucerne, I kept coming across live music. (I love when that happens.) I stepped inside a centuries-old church just as the organist, accompanied by clarinet and trumpet, filled the open space to the rafters with beautiful holiday melodies. The vibration of the tones seeped through my skin and lulled me and others into restful appreciation.
Stepping back into the cold air, I discovered a brass band ready to fill the market square with uptempo tunes. Passersby stopped, bopped, swayed, and hummed along, not only in celebration of the season but as if to thank the sun as it broke through the clouds that had blanketed the area for the past week, revealing snow-capped mountain peaks I hadn’t seen on my arrival. Cafes and restaurants with sunny patios filled quickly while those in the shade remained empty. Riverside benches filled up too. Between sips of their favourite hot beverage, people turned their faces toward the sun to soak up the winter warmth. No one was in a hurry. This was a moment to savour.
Strolling through the upper town, I could hear trumpets playing. A concert in another church, perhaps? I walked toward the sound but couldn’t pinpoint its source. Perhaps it was adrift on the wind, adding a dimension of joy to the air itself, free for all to inhale and become a part of you.
The previous evening, I had booked a last-minute ticket to a holiday concert in the modern theatre. From the second-last row of the highest balcony, I enjoyed a birds-eye view of 90 singers and 13 musicians who entertained us with holiday favourites, most of which I knew, some Swiss and German ones I did not. A guest speaker intermittently recited stories. My German being limited to counting to ten and a few other words I can decipher from their similarity to their English counterpart, I tried to guess what each story might be while letting not knowing be part of the specialness of being immersed in another land and culture; one of the things I enjoy most about my nomadic life. The audience was invited to sing along to Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht (Silent Night, Holy Night) with the German words provided in the program so everyone could participate.
Experiencing European Christmas markets has been on my bucket list for many years, yet I had no plan to check it off this year. However, when what I had planned for December took an unforeseen turn, rather than get upset, anxious, or flustered, I tuned inward and let my heart lead the way. As usual, everything fell into place better than I could have planned or imagined, with ease, flow, and joy. How lovely to let joy unfold without a plan.
Life can happen beautifully when you let go of control and let joy lead the way.
Let your life be the music your heart plays for you.
Let the higher perspective of The Soul Collective shift your awareness and come back into the knowing of all that you truly are.
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