Christmas baking ......

Baking German Christmas biscuits, or Plätzchen, has always been a cherished tradition in my family. This year, my husband's cousin and I decided to continue this festive ritual—except we found ourselves doing it in two very different places: Toronto, Canada, and Dubai, UAE.

In Toronto, with the winter chill and snow falling outside, the kitchen will be filled with the warmth of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The dough will be rolled out on the kitchen counter, and shapes of stars, hearts, and trees, will be cut out and baked, before they will be lovingly decorated with sprinkles, icing, and sugar. The aroma of freshly baked cookies drifting through the house feels just like Christmas back home in Germany. The cold, cozy atmosphere of Toronto made the whole experience feel even more magical as we listened to Christmas carols and sipped on hot cocoa.

In Dubai, in the other hand, the holiday season is warm and sunny, a far cry from the snow-covered streets of Toronto. Despite the difference in weather, we are determined to keep the tradition alive. The Dubai kitchen, with its bright sunlight and heat outside, feels like a different world, but the spirit of Christmas is very much the same. We swapped snow for sand, but the joy of baking together remains unchanged. As we decorate the biscuits with glittering sugar and colorful icing, we share laughter and memories via Facetime, feeling close even though we are far apart.

Whether in the snow-covered streets of Toronto or the warm desert heat of Dubai, the act of baking these special biscuits brings a piece of Germany with us. It reminds us that no matter where we are in the world, the warmth of family and tradition will always make the holiday season feel like home.