It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I LOVE this time of year.

I love the joy in the air. I love the time spent with family and friends. I love the giving and receiving of thoughtful gifts. I love how Christmas brings people together. I love the traditions that are unique to every family and every culture.

Europe is an amazing place to be at Christmas. From November all the way through until January, the towns come alive with lights and markets and Christmas festivities.

The big blue Christmas tree in Limoux
sparkles at night

The frozen fountain in the middle of the
ice skating rink in Carcassonne

Since November, Limoux has been slowly decorated in anticipation of Christmas. Lights have gone up on every light post in town, all over trees down the main street and in the town square, and a big, blue Christmas tree has been put up on the main round-about through town.

As if by tradition, all of these lights were turned on on December 1, and every night since they light up this little town with Christmas joy. The big blue tree, which happens to be just a short stroll from our front door, lights up and sparkles. Boxes wrapped as gifts have appeared under the tree just this week, and the street behind the tree welcomes people to town with an illuminated 'Bienvenue' sign.

Preparations for local festivities have begun in the town square, with an old traditional-style merry-go-round being installed in the centre, surrounded by brightly-lit trees and small wooden chalets that convert to gift stalls. 

Almost every tree along the side of the roads has had colourful ribbons tied on their branches, and a big illuminated '2013' sign hangs prominently on the way into town.

While Limoux's efforts at Christmas cheer are welcoming and charming, they are modest compared to the larger centres.

Carcassonne has installed an ice-skating rink in their town square, complete with a 'frozen fountain' and electric light display. The impressively-sized rink is surrounded by stalls selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, churros and crepes. A few streets over in another open area, a Ferris Wheel provides a backdrop to a carnival-style display, with stall vendors selling Christmas wares from little chalets.

Christmas markets in Toulouse

Christmas markets in Barcelona

Festive lights adorn the streets of
every town, including Barcelona

We also ventured up to Toulouse, and wandered around their markets, which were comprised of unique and often hand-made gifts, with everything from jewellery to beanies and scarves, kids toys, and home-made sweet treats. There were also a number of food and drink outlets serving the crowds of people with mulled wine, hot chocolate (which was pure liquid chocolate - I know, I tried it!), and potato cooked in a variety of ways (filled spud, mash, chips, etc).

Even in Barcelona at the end of November, we walked through the Christmas markets, which were filled with stalls selling small nativity scene characters and all kinds of Christmas tree decorations. Christmas lights hung across every street - big and small - as we walked through the old town.

From what we have seen and experienced here so far, Christmas is more than just a time for family in Europe; it is a real community event, where people of the town celebrate and enjoy each other's company in the most festive ways.

While we won't be sharing Christmas with our families this year, nor will our gift giving and receiving be anything significant, we will certainly experience and thoroughly enjoy the joy in the air, the way that Christmas brings people together, and the unique traditions of this culture.

Joyeux Noël!