Signs of Christmas

Christmas is almost here, but as you know it is not a holiday in Morocco.

There are no glowing christmas trees in the center of town. No santa clauses strolling

the sidewalks or shopping centers. The towns are not decorated, nor are there big crowds

hustling and bustling everywhere. We have no snow in Agadir, and just today the first christmas trees arrived in the market.

And yet for those of us who look forward to celebrating Christmas every year there are undeniable signs that Christmas time is approaching.

I play lots of Christmas cd's, bake christms cookies and send card.

I've already posted a page about Advent, candles and wreaths, evidence of the nearing of the nativity. But these manifestations are apparent only in our homes.

Today I'd like to share with you pictures of what over the years I've come to associate with my favorite holiday..

First sign that we're nearing December are the aleo that begin to bloom,
in parks and yards all over town.

They are a bright orange, and the birds love to drop in
for a drink of the sweet fluid in their petals.


Here's a close up of a few we have on our little balcony.


Another shot, with the swaying palm branches in the background.


As the days shorten, and the nights grow longer, the pointsettas also
begin to bloom and reach for the sky!

These pointsettas are so small next to the beautiful and full, red and white ones we

had when we lived in the villa. But they're still pretty and festive!

This one is near a grocery town just down the street, there are lots

of pointsettas in Agadir.

These trees , too, just explode in December, I think it's called(Spathodea) the Tulip Tree

of Gabon.

It's so full of color and energy!!

And last but not least the (Schinus Mole). We call it the "false pepper tree"

because of it's small spicey-peppery smelling berries...that when crushed make you sneeze as if they were real pepper, but they're not! The tree I photographed is small. There are many big ones in town, they line many of our avenues.

These branches are so beatiful and smell good ,too.

I've often used them in table decorations or in my advent wreaths.

Don't the berries look tempting enough to taste?

I don't advise it!!

Beautiful flowers, trees exploding in jubilating colors, cooler days, and bluer skies,
these my friends are proof to me, that even in Agadir, Christmas is just around the corner!!

A Very Merry, Meaningful Christmas to you!!