It was supposed to be the cause for great happiness – the Weihnachtsstollen, a Christmas treat I had brought from home this summer for the sole purpose of enjoying it during the Christmas season. You see, living in a country that doesn’t celebrate Christmas except for like two hours on Christmas Eve, also means you can’t have any of those specially delicious treats many of us from so-called Western nations take for granted during this season. At least in my home country, we have tons of all sorts of Christmas goodies that contribute to everyone gaining so much weight this time of year. So, for me having a few of those things exported here, makes Christmas just a tidbit more special. It got really “special” today, when I finally decided to break into my precious little Weihnachtsstollen. So special, in fact, that I’ll probably remember it for some years to come.

Well, I had consumed one full piece already, and I was happily munching on the next one when I realized something tasted rather odd! I took another bite to realize it tasted really odd. That’s when I decided to turn on the lights (I was sitting with lights dimmed to enjoy my little twinkle lights and all), and lo, as soon as I examined those little Stollens a little closer, I saw something suspiciously fluffy in my little box of treats.

I looked even closer, and my first suspicion came true: while I’d been busy counting the days until I could finally break into my Christmas treat, the stollens in this little box had also been busy. Busy growing a layer of mold which was hidden underneath the first layer of perfect looking stollen pieces. So, with a sad little heart (and an even more disgusted stomach) I had to say good-bye to my precious little Christmas treats …