Bottrop.
The Lewandowsky family has deliberately spent Christmas Eve abroad for almost ten years. What drives them and what they sacrifice for it.
While people are still pushing through the supermarkets, frantically doing last-minute errands or standing in the kitchen for hours, sometimes in bad weather and temperatures around five degrees, the Lewandowsky family is lying on the beach, enjoying a coffee with a view of the sea or breaking up the catamaran through the waves off the south coast Fuerteventura. The outdoor thermometer at the club resort showed 27 degrees Celsius when they arrived a few days ago.
In 2013 the Lewandowskys from Bottrop christmas eve celebrated together abroad for the first time. “We just wanted to get away,” remember Gritta (59) and Marc (48). Their daughter Jil (23) was 14 years old at the time. “After that, I had the feeling that I had never had such a relaxed, fluffy winter,” Marc sums up. It was clear to all three that they would repeat the “Christmas vacation” concept. But the warm weather is just one thing. “We’ve never had such a relaxing holiday before,” emphasizes Gritta.
Escape from the stress of Christmas: This family flies to the sea
It’s not that the three don’t celebrate Christmas. On the contrary. Up until 2013, they regularly had a full house on Christmas Eve. Gritta’s daughters from her first marriage came along, and eventually their husbands and children too. A lush tree was set up in the already cramped living room, and food was brought out – as is supposed to be the classic way of Christmas in this country.
“At first Holiday we always went to my great aunt’s,” says Jil. And you can see from her face that there’s more to come. “It always ended in chaos. For me, these big family reunions were a childhood trauma. “Gritta shakes her head when she thinks about it: “It was fun for an hour, and then the first ones had a fight.”
Going abroad for Christmas: save all year round
The Lewandowskys were fed up with this “forced thing”, as they call it – the running around, the stress. “In Djerba, we enjoyed just lying by the pool during the day on Christmas Eve and still eating a perfect Christmas dinner in the evening,” says Gritta. “Much better than I could ever do.”
It’s not like the Lewandowskys don’t have to do anything for this Christmas luxury. “We save on our vacations all year round,” explains Marc. Although that Travel in the south at Christmas time, in his experience, is usually even cheaper than in summer. Together with the flight, the three of them will pay around 9,000 euros this year for a three-week all-inclusive holiday in Fuerteventura. “Originally we only wanted to be away for two weeks,” says Gritta. “But that would have been just under 300 euros cheaper.”
In order to be able to treat themselves to this time-out, they restore their old furniture, forego going to the cinema, going to restaurants or the latest mobile phone model. Even the old car is a means to an end for them, not a status symbol. In addition to the office job in the city administration in Bottrop, Marc is active in the swimming club, just like Jil, who is now studying, and Gritta, who takes care of the administration there. Through the trainer hours, some money also flows into the holiday fund.
Without compulsion and conventions of the family
They experience the time they spend here or the sacrifices they make in everyday life family but not as a burden – rather as an investment. “Now I can consciously perceive Christmas and consciously enjoy it,” says Marc. “I’m finally spending the holidays in a way that’s good for me and only with people who are good for me. Without compulsion and conventions.”
The three don’t have to do without Christmas flair. “In the hotel complex, where we have been staying for a few years now, a small Christmas market is organized on the holidays,” says Jil. There is a magnificent Christmas tree in the lobby, in the afternoon there is a nativity play by the pool, and after dinner there is a prayer service for anyone who wants to. Families can book a Santa Claus or Christkind service, which brings the gifts to the room.
Cocktails instead of mulled wine: That happens on Christmas Eve
Gritta, Marc and Jil always look for a quiet corner of the club resort in the afternoon to give presents, roll the dice and celebrate the unwrapping of every package. The first holiday gifts was there on the beach on the catamaran overlooking the sea. In the evening, photos and Christmas greetings are sent, and a few phone calls are made. Then the Lewandowskys sit down in small groups over a cocktail at the bar, meet other guests who have become friends over the years, and let the Christmas Eve end in a relaxed manner.
Not everyone can understand that. While one of Gritta’s daughters is relaxed about Mama flying away for Christmas, the other is quite disappointed. For them it is part of that public holidays to spend traditionally at home with loved ones. However, Gritta will not fulfill this wish in the foreseeable future. Gritta wants to celebrate the festival in a way that makes her happy – and not for others.
Meeting with the grandchildren just happens later
But the meetings with the older daughters and grandchildren are not cancelled. They are still there, but only in January. “Personally, I think it’s much better if everything is a little equalized,” says Gritta. “Especially the little ones can appreciate the gifts so much better and are not overwhelmed all at once,” confirms Jil.
In addition, three of the four grandchildren have their birthdays in December. The big one family celebration However, the Lewandowskys have deleted them from their schedule: “We only meet with the people who are really close to our hearts – even at Christmas.”
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