Unless you’re one of my African friends who lives in an isolated jungle tribe in Sierra Leone, I’m pretty sure that everyone else I know is familiar with Christmas. But, have you heard of 2nd Christmas Day? Yeah, me neither, until I celebrated the holidays this year with my boyfriend and his Dutch family in the south of Holland.

Interestingly enough, 2nd Christmas appears to be celebrated just like 1st Christmas, by eating good food, imbibing strong drinks, and catching up with dear friends. It’s another day of relaxing with family next to a wood-burning stove while listening to festive music and drinking warm tea spiked with honey. Most importantly, it’s another day without any obligations. Would you like to take a stroll around a quiet Dutch village decorated with twinkling lights and candles in every window? Done! Would you like to lounge on a couch with your fuzzy-slippered feet up and swap stories with loved ones? You got it! The point is, this is your day.

Your 2nd Christmas Day, to be exact. I’ll never be able to do without two Christmases again...