Fresh-cut pine. Cinnamon glaze on warm baked ham. Peppermint candy canes. Gingerbread just out of the oven. Hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows. New snowfall. Holiday evergreens. A crackling fire. Wet woolen mittens drying on the radiator. Sugar cookies. Lit candles glowing on a table, lavender and pine scenting the air. Crisp, cold, sub-zero air. Oranges studded with cloves. The top of a child’s head as you read The Night Before Christmas, together. Homemade caramel sauce. Fresh baked rolls, dripping with melted butter and garlic. French toast casserole on Christmas morning. Warm maple syrup. Molasses cookies. Slightly sweet champagne just after the cork pops. The familiar scent when hugging a loved one.
The warm embrace of the holidays.