That morning, getting up early in the morning as usual, I looked up at the sun. The sun was miles away, but I felt its warmth as if it was here, several steps from me. Although I was stuck inside, the house could not save me from the scorching heat. I watched out of the window: people were wandering here and there being busy with their personal affairs, and nobody paid attention to the heat. Anyway, it seemed to me like that.

Berfin Sehri (Şehri Başol Özbilen) Seyhan İsmet İnönü Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi Adana/TURKEY

Suddenly I saw a strange boy. He was blond, about 12 years old, of a medium height, quite skinny, wearing glasses, dressed up in a warm jacket. It was so amazing  to watch that he did not suffer from the heat at all. He noticed me from a distance and very slowly came up to the window of my house. “Hi”, he said, “My name is Chris. How are you?”

Ana Novikiene (Kauno Stepono Dariaus ir Stasio Girėno gimnazija) and students: Karina T, Viktorija L.,parents

"Hello, my name is Mary too, I'm fine thank you." In fact, I was very surprised that he talked to someone he did not know at all with such an impulse. There was a striking point in him. "mask"

Şükran Gül (Gül Güleç) Seyhan İsmet İnönü Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi 

Drawing: Berfin Gül

Student: Deniz Beyza

Filiz Ergin (60. Year Ataköy Secondary School)

“We're going for Christmas shopping,” Chris said.  “Have you completed all your preparations?  My dad said he would buy me a great Christmas present.  “This damn sickness won't stop us from having a wonderful Christmas.” My father says so.  Anyway, let's talk again later, okay?  I can't see my friends very often anymore!  Then he ran away.  Really, when were we going to go Christmas shopping?  My father has been working from home for the last 10 days.  My mother was at work.  When my mother came back from work, I decided to ask her about it.  My little brother Luis was still asleep. I would talk about it with him when he woke up

Student: Deniz Beyza Teacher: Filiz Ergin (60. Year Ataköy Secondary School)

Just then I looked at Luis and her eyes were open. So glad that she was awake, I went to her excitedly. I told her that I was talking to Chris that they were going to Christmas shopping. Luis was very surprised and said that she found it dangerous. I was giving Luis the right, albeit involuntarily. We decided to share our concerns with her when my mother came.

Student: ik beste 

Beste SOYPAK- Büyükmandıra Anatolian High School

When the mother returned home they discussed the possibilities of going shopping and decided to go to the mall.

It was full of people in masks, adorned with Christmas trees, lights, big balls, stars and christmas carols. We went into several stores, disinfected our hands and bought many gifts: clothes, shoes, mobile phones, makeup, a perfume and a watch. And came home...

Student: Laura Bernardo e Dulce Santos

But, on our way home we suddenly stopped: we hadn’t bought the most important present: a simple warm hat for granny who lived alone in a house far from us. We had to go back and run if we wanted to find a good hat for our dearest grandma who was surely baking a lot of delicious traditional Christmas cakes for her loved grandchildren.

While we were going back to the crowded shopping centre, we saw a small nice shop with a bright shop window ...

Student: Gloria 

Emma Tucciarone - Istituto Comprensivo Maria Montessori, Terracina, Italy

We stepped inside. It was a  lovely little shop so warm, cosy and old-fashioned with hand knitted christmas gifts, ornaments, scarves and carpets. Looking around for something special to buy for grandmother, we came across the most exquisite, astonishing hat. It had a rubine color and lace garland. Around the hat cornice it was knitted and it had a veil on the front. Apparently we have found the perfect gift for our dearest person. The shop owner put it in a nice box with a big bow. So, we are ready to go home now...

Charikleia,2nd Primary School of Akrata, Achaia, Greece

Drawing: Mateo, Melina,Christina, Maria and Viktoria

As soon as we arrived home we rushed and changed our clothes. Every year we wore our Christmas festive clothes and started decorating our Christmas tree. This year we got an ecologic tree from the tree farm greenhouse. The ornaments, the lights, the garlands made it so fancy and glamorous. Me and my brother are always excited when the lights are turned on. We also sing and hear Christmas songs. We placed all the gifts under it  and especially granny’s. As we stay a lot inside due to the lockdown from Covid we’ll enjoy it even more this year. Then ...

Charikleia,2nd Primary School of Akrata, Achaia, Greece 

Drawing: Mateo, Melina,Christina, Maria and Viktoria

We had a delicious dinner all together, we sang our traditional songs, we danced until midnight. We exchanged our gifts. I gave the gift to my granny. When she saw my gift, she smiled and told me “ Whatever happens in the world, some feelings and traditions  won’t disappear. ” That was the most meaningful christmas for me because there was an excellent gift for me. The gift I took was...

Ece (Ceylan Erdoğan -Şehit Adem Özen Anatolian High School, Gaziantep/ Turkey)

special for me. I hope the pandemic is over. And we all go on a trip together. Then i will wear this hat. We need to know value of the moment. This is the biggest lesson i learned from the pandemic. By the way the pandemic didn’t prevent us from celebrating the New Year.

Student: Sevda E. 

Burçin Taşkın -  Esendere Çok Programlı Anadolu Lisesi, Hakkari/ Turkey