The Magical Christmas Market (Christmas Sleep Story)

So just take a moment to allow your eyes to close and allow yourself to begin to relax.

And as you begin to comfortably fall asleep.

I don't know whether you'll drift asleep faster to the sound of my voice or whether it'll be to the spaces between my words.

And as you comfortably fall asleep.

I'm just going to tell this bedtime story in the background.

And Vera steps outside,

The cold air tickling her cheeks.

A scarf pulled snugly around her neck.

And as she walks in the brisk winter wind.

Feeling the weight of her coat resting on her shoulders,

Protecting her from the cold.

She enjoys the feeling of being out on this chilly winter afternoon.

There are grey clouds hanging overhead.

Stretching way off to the horizon.

Streets are quiet and still.

The houses stand so silently.

Their windows reflecting the afternoon light.

And smoke rises from the various chimneys.

Barely visible against the backdrop of grey clouds.

And Vera inhales deeply and comfortably.

Feeling the sensation of the cold air.

As she breathes that in,

It passes in through her nose,

Down into her body.

And then breathes out.

A cloud of air warmer than the surrounding air.

Noticing that faint scent of burning wood.

Mixed with the crispness of frost.

As the smell from the various fires within the houses,

Mingles with the cold air outside.

And although windy and overcast.

There's a certain peacefulness and stillness to the world around her.

With very few people moving around.

Almost like there's a solitude enveloping everything.

As if the world is wrapped in a blanket of calm.

And as she continues to walk.

The sound of each step on the cold stone beneath her feet.

She enjoys the sound as she occasionally walks over fallen leaves.

That gentle crunching sound.

And after a while of walking.

She can see the first flicker of light in the distance.

From the Christmas market.

Down in the town.

And she enjoys each year coming along to this Christmas market.

The various stalls.

The soft glow of fairy lights strung between those stalls.

The decorations.

The music.

Giving the town such a cosy,

Calming feel.

And Vera feels that this sight just brings her such joy.

And there's a bit more warmth here in the market.

With chestnuts roasting.

With some outdoor seating spaces.

With fires for warmth.

And she begins to explore the market.

To the backdrop of the murmur of the voices around her.

The sounds of the different traders trying to get customers attention.

Some of the stalls have lanterns hanging delicately within them.

Creating flickering shadows.

Dancing around the inside of marquees.

And small tents.

And across the cobblestone path.

And as she walks.

She passes a stall containing cakes.

Smells that scent of the different cakes.

The spiced wintry cakes.

Another stall with mulled wine.

Continuing walking she can smell the scent of cinnamon.

Orange zest and other sweet smells.

And while walking around this market.

She hears singing.

And sees a small choir.

Singing familiar carols.

With a small circle of people enjoying the performance.

And Vera always enjoys the way that the market.

Transforms the dullness of winter.

Into something so beautiful.

With the soft glow of the lights.

The way everyone seems so friendly.

And happy to see each other.

And the joy of the festive decorations.

And she continues looking around these stalls.

And while walking around.

She can see children playing.

Children walking along holding parents hands.

And grandparents hands.

Couples with their hands intertwined.

And some wrapping each other up into their arms for warmth.

As they explore the market.

Pointing at different items.

Making purchases.

Admiring the different stalls.

And as she explores.

So she eventually.

Finds her attention drawn to a stall.

Selling delicate glass ornaments.

Each one glowing and glistening.

So beautifully under the lanterns light.

Seeming to almost shimmer and sparkle.

These glass ornaments handmade.

So fragile and intricate.

Some shaped.

As Christmas tree decorations like snowflakes.

Their edges seeming so fine.

And almost too delicate to touch.

And she thinks of how difficult it must have been.

To make such ornaments by hand.

And while exploring.

Now with a bag with a well wrapped up glass ornament within it.

She can smell the scent of pine needles.

And the other scents around her.

As she approaches the centre of the market.

Where there's a tall Christmas tree.

Wrapped in decorations and baubles.

And Christmas lights.

Gently pulsing and changing.

And people stood around taking photographs.

Of this Christmas tree.

And others.

Doing their best to walk around those who are taking photographs.

And the scene seems so magical.

So calming.

As the light continues.

To dim around her.

As the afternoon draws on.

And the sky is still overcast.

And so she can't actually see the sun passing across the sky.

And so she can't actually see the sun passing across the sky.

But she can notice.

That the light around her is dimming.

And Vera heads over to a small cafe.

Tucked delicately between two stalls.

She sits.

On the cold wooden bench.

At a wooden table.

As she's served a cup of tea.

And a cake.

And she looks around her and watches the world pass by.

While gently holding that cup.

Between her hands.

Feeling its warmth spread gently.

Through her fingers.

Drifting into her mind as she.

Lazily drinks that drink.

The steam from the drink.

Rising and meeting with the cold air.

Before dispersing.

As people continue to explore the market.

And as she rests there.

Drinking that drink.

So her thoughts begin to drift.

To memories.

Of different times.

To recalling family home life growing up.

A small cosy home filled with warmth.

The sights and sounds and scents.

As her parents decorated the house for winter.

The warm crackling log fire.

In the living room.

The twinkling lights hung around the room.

The decorations on the tree.

And she allows herself to be absorbed in those memories.

Enjoying the pleasant experience in her mind.

Now all grown up.

And much,

Much older than back then.

Her family are spread all over the place.

But on Christmas day.

They all come together.

To enjoy time with each other.

Enjoy.

A cosy roast dinner.

And she gets to enjoy her grandchildren.

Running through the rooms playing.

Watching them open their presents.

And as her mind drifts and floats.

So she recalls.

A set of five golden napkin rings.

She was bought last year.

And she thinks about how she'll have to seek those rings out.

To lay out the dining room table.

And she looks forward to seeing her family.

Having them all coming together at the same place at the same time.

And after finishing her drink.

She sets back off from this cafe.

Heading back exploring the market.

As she explores so she.

Buys some veg and the meat.

And other items.

For the Christmas dinner.

She picks up a few items.

Like last minute presents.

For her family.

That she just happened to see in this market.

Handmade goods.

She knows they won't be able to get anywhere else.

She finds.

A set of the most beautiful napkins.

And feels they'll go nicely.

With the gold rings.

She received last year.

And so she then heads back.

To the market.

And so she then heads back.

Through the market.

As the sun is now.

Fully set.

And the evening has set in.

So comfortably.

And she heads home with her goods.

She does some of the preparation.

For Christmas days dinner.

She relaxes in front of the fire for a while.

Before heading to bed.

Drifting and floating so peacefully asleep.

And the next day on Christmas day.

She continues to prepare the Christmas dinner.

She makes sure the house looks.

So cosy.

So calming and festive.

As the family members turn up.

As the family members turn up.

And as they turn up.

So they.

Greet her so happily.

Sometimes with gifts.

Sometimes with just an item or two.

To eat or drink through the day.

And Vera.

Mixes and mingles with her family.

While at times being in the kitchen.

Preparing the food.

But having done some preparation beforehand.

This helps her to be able to spend more time.

With her family.

Then she pops up to the bedroom.

To get the presents that she has wrapped for her family.

And takes them downstairs and.

Places them under the tree.

And other family members with presents.

Place what they've brought along under the tree too.

And then late afternoon.

They all sit around the table.

Enjoying the meal.

And after the first course.

They pull the crackers.

Wear the crowns.

Tell each other ridiculous jokes.

Look at the different items found within the crackers.

Enjoying each other's company.

Before then enjoying the main meal.

Then the dessert.

And then by late afternoon.

They sit around in the living room.

The children on the floor near the Christmas tree.

The adults in the chairs.

Trying not to fall asleep to their full stomachs.

And they go around asking the children.

What they've brought along.

And they go around asking the children.

To take one present at a time and pass them from under the Christmas tree.

To the relevant person.

And they enjoy taking it in turns.

To watch each other open their presents.

And watch the children open their presents.

And by the early evening.

The children are playing with their presents.

The adults are all talking.

Catching up with each other.

Sharing stories.

Occasionally reminiscing.

Laughing.

And sometimes just sitting there relaxing with a drink.

And then as the evening moves on.

So the different sets of family members.

Say their goodbyes and set off on their journeys back home.

And after everyone has gone.

And the evening's getting later.

Vera feeling deep contentment in her heart.

Finishes tidying away and cleaning up.

Before relaxing down for a while.

Enjoying the peace and quiet.

The cosy feeling of resting.

And thinking back on the family she's seen today.

Before then heading to bed.

Where she drifts and floats.

So peacefully.

So comfortably asleep.

Into slumberland.