Author's Note: All right, so I was originally intending to write only one Christmas chapter, but I think I am going to end writing at least two. There were just too many interesting Christmas traditions in the Baltic area. I didn't even get to put them all down! Anyway, this chapter is set a Poland's house, Christmas Eve. Next one will probably be Christmas Day, Sweden's house.
Leaning against Lithuania's chest, Latvia waited for the first star to appear. It was Christmas Eve, and they were standing by a frost-stained window in the dining room. Lithuania was warm and strong, like a wolf. In his arms, Latvia hardly noticed the cold air drafting in through window. He felt safe and happy. Lithuania did not speak or move, but Latvia could feel his heart thumping, his breath as it was pulled in and out.
Further back in the house, Estonia was fidgeting with the Christmas ornaments, rearranging them on the tree in nervous anticipation. The apples, sweets and the straw decorations were taken from one branch put on another, switched off again. They had been preparing everything for weeks, but Ukraine was still running about making sure everything was just right. Latvia could hear the slight bounce of her breasts accompanied by the swish of her shawl and the soft pad of her slippers. Every so often, she would trip on Belarus who was curled up behind one of the drapes quietly playing chess with herself. Ukraine would hiss and grumble about her uselessness. Belarus would just shrug and dig her teeth angrily into the light wood queen, which she had captured early on in the game.
"No, fighting, girls," Lithuania said. He spoke quietly, but he looked both of them sternly in the eye.
"Sorry," Ukraine mumbled.
"But, I didn't do anything," Belarus whined.
Lithuania fixed her with an even sterner gaze. She looked down and said no more.
"It's this time of year," Lithuania said, "when the dead walk on earth. We should show them our best behavior."
Latvia nodded and bit his lip. He wondered what the dead looked like, and if they would ever talk to him. The idea of death frightened him a little, like the thunderclap in a rainstorm. It seemed so final. No turning back from death. Yet, it would not likely be his fate, at least not for a very long time. Humans were different. They led short lives, like flowers, withering and passing away, or dying in full bloom, plucked for fate's garland. It must be good then, that those poor people who had to die were allowed on earth again, even if it were but for one day of the year. He should not let his fears interfere with their happiness.
He could imagine lovers again embracing then walking hand in hand through empty houses stocked with memories. Fathers would gather their grown children in their arms, and a mother would sing to sleep the babe who took her life.
Latvia felt tears swell his eyes, though he was not sure why.
"What is wrong, darling one?" Lithuania soothed.
In an instant, Latvia remembered that he was a child, at least in form, and he was being held in his guardian's arms. Not his father's arms. He did not know if he had ever had a father, but there was a silent promise in Lithuania's embrace, and he did not want it broken.
"I'm hungry," Latvia sighed.
Lithuania nodded solemnly. "But, Latvia, the star is not up yet. We must wait."
Latvia nodded, the side of his face brushing the soft, green velvet of the Lithuania's tunic. Although, it was not really Lithuania's tunic. Poland had them wear their finest for Christmas, but Lithuania wore Poland's finest, because Poland loved dressing his Liet up. He'd dress him up like a doll and then display him.
"Poland is taking a long time out there," Ukraine said. Startled, Latvia turned his head towards her. She was looking at the door, which was at the other end of a small hall outside the dining room.
"He loves the animals," Lithuania said.
That was true enough. Poland had a great fondness for animals, especially his animals. He could spend hours in the barn, just talking to the horses. He was quite a sight sitting on a turned over trough in his fancy lace and satin.
"Yes…" Ukraine began and then stopped. She shrugged her shoulders, giving up, and then walked over and knelt down by Belarus, "Hello, dear, how are you doing?"
"Stalemate," Belarus said.
"Oh? I thought the darks were doing better…"
"I started over from then. That game was stupid."
"Would you like for me to play with you, Natalia?"
"No." Belarus stared at her as if she had just asked the stupidest question in the world.
Ukraine sighed and stood up again. She relit a window candle, which had gone out and paced the floor before finally settling down near Estonia and helping him with the decorations that had been settled on a week ago. Latvia noticed Estonia was growing red as a pomegranate. He thought it rather funny. Poor Estonia not getting the final say in the ornament placement. His thoughts then drifted back to Poland.
"Maybe," Latvia thought out loud, "he's waiting for the star outside."
"Perhaps," Lithuania answered. Latvia stared up at him. Lithuania looked so grave and tall that Latvia suddenly felt as if he should not be there. He wriggled free and scampered towards the door. He felt the hay, which had been laid ceremoniously on the floor, prick through his wool socks. It was supposed to make the room feel like a stable.
"Where are you going?" Lithuania asked
"I want to wait with him," Latvia said bouncing from one foot to the other. He wanted the fresh air, the open horizon, even the cold. The room suddenly felt so closed up, hot even.
"You'll have to put on your coat and boots," Lithuania said. Already, he was getting the hat, scarf, and mittens.
"I want to go out too," Belarus said.
"I do too," Estonia said.
'Very well," Lithuania said. He looked at Ukraine, but she shook her head.
"I'll stay here," she mumbled. She sat down on the window seat and took up her knitting.
Lithuania slipped his arms into his long fur coat and his feet into his leather boots, helped the others into theirs, and they were just about to go out when the door opened, and Poland rushed in, knocking them slightly back with the force of his entrance.
"Merry Christmas!" he exclaimed. Then noticing the mistletoe, which he had placed obnoxiously over the door, he threw his arms around Lithuania and kissed him full on the mouth.
Lithuania gasped, which made Latvia giggle, and Estonia blush and look away. Belarus made a slight face and stepped on Poland foot.
"Hey!" Poland said, "like what was that for?"
"Scaring us," she said.
"Well, like sorry," Poland spluttered, "but how was I like suppose to know that you'd be like lined up behind the door?"
She shrugged.
"Anyway," Poland went on, "I like saw the first star already, so like the celebrations can begin!"
"I want to see it," Latvia pleaded, "can we go out and see it?"
"Yes," Poland said, "but like come back soon. I'm famished."
Lithuania led them out. Poland said that he would have done it himself, but he was tired of the cold. For a while, they just stood there, staring at the small bluish white light that glistened like an onion in the sky. Estonia started humming a carol. Lithuania ordered him to sing it, and so they sang Christmas carols until Poland dragged them in.
'Hey," Poland said casually when they were all inside, "I like think there might be something different about the tree."
Latvia turned his head to find that tucked under the Christmas tree, there were piles of clothes and what looked to be toys. His heartbeat started to soar, and it took a lot of discipline to keep himself from running over to them.
"Are those for us?" he asked.
"Like totally," Poland said. He looked quite pleased with himself.
Releasing a squeal of joy, Latvia threw himself upon Poland and hugged him tightly. "I love you! I love you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Poland fidgeted uneasily, not used to someone holding on to him so tight. "Like you're welcome. Like I just want my household to have the best."
He ran his fingers through Latvia's soft curls, before pulling away, his cheeks lightly pinkened, his green eyes sparkling even brighter.
"Come on," said Poland, "let's eat dinner first. Like I said, I'm famished."
They all sat down at the dining table. It was a long table covered for the occasion with straw, which was further covered by a white tablecloth. Poland sat at the head of the table, Lithuania to his right, Ukraine to his left. Estonia and Latvia sat on Lithuania's side, while Belarus sat by her sister. From a basket, Poland lifted up a wafer. The others did likewise. Poland broke a bit of the wafer and gave it to Lithuania, who ate it. Then everyone broke pieces of their wafers and fed each other. When this was completed, the real meal began. Twelve courses where brought forward one by one, to represent the twelve days of Christmas. Latvia ate until he could eat no more, and then his head started to fall upon his hands, his eyelids drooped.
"You must stay awake," Estonia hissed, poking his arm, "we still have mass to attend."
Latvia nodded and closed his eyes.
"Latvia," Estonia groaned.
"It's all right," Poland said, "Like for now, leave him alone. I'll wake him up when Christ's Mass starts."
Waiting for the first star on Christmas Eve, was a tradition in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia (maybe other too).It was believed in Latvia and Lithuania that the dead would walk on earth around Yule. In Latvia, people would dress up in costumes, so that the dead would not recognize them (kind of like Halloween). Hay representing the hay in the stable Jesus was born was very popular in decoration was popular in all of these countries. Also, sometimes, in Poland and Lithuania hay was used to predict the future. Christmas trees were not popularly used inside yet since this is the Middle Ages, but Estonia and Latvia both have a claim on Christmas trees from around this time. Anyway, that's all for now, folks, be sure to leave a review.