While I was in the kitchen with my grandmother, the smell of freshly prepared biscuits filled the whole house. Everyone in the family could smell that something sweet was on its way. I was not an expert in the kitchen at that time, and nothing has still changed, but I was able to help her put all the needed ingredients together, bake them, and then add some decorations. Our specialty was baking Christmas biscuits. At that time, I was still in primary school, and each time I came to my grandmother’s, she wanted us to cook together. She wanted to teach me how to cook just like her.
Mixing all the ingredients, my grandmother used to tell me different stories. She loved talking about her childhood memories while living in a small village near Blagoevgrad. Her favourite thing to talk about was the Christmas traditions that her family had. Teaching me how to bake these biscuits was important for her because they would keep the traditions alive.
Learning how to whip up a cluster of biscuits, drinking hot chocolate, and watching Friends, me and my grandma used to lose track of time. That was what made the moment even more sentimental and close to my heart. My grandmother has always had a special connection with cooking, perhaps like most Bulgarian grandmothers, but for me, she was the best one in the kitchen. Somehow our cookies have always been in a perfectly symmetrical form and tasted delicate, even though I was not aware of what I was doing.
When the biscuits were ready, I could barely wait to taste them and to show them to the rest of the family, as they were a reason for my 7-year-old self to be proud of. Baking biscuits has become a tradition in my family. The kitchen was covered with flour, sugar, and butter. My grandmother and I enjoyed the moment to the fullest. Everyone in the house was happy. What more could I wish for?
My primary school started organizing an annual charity bazaar to raise money for people in need. I thought that this would have been the perfect opportunity to share our family tradition with someone who needed it. When I suggested this to my grandmother, she got overly excited and was more than happy to contribute to a cause. We participated for the very first time in 2008 when the bazaar supported families in need during the Christmas season.
As we prepared for our Christmas tradition, we were a little bit worried before starting to bake the well-known biscuits. We have learnt the cookies’ receipt by heart, but no one other than our family has ever tried them. At the end of the day, it was just a child sharing a moment with her grandmother and trying to impress the whole family.
We spent the following few hours carefully baking, decorating, and packaging the biscuits into special hand-made Christmas boxes that me and my grandmother also designed. We wanted to warm someone else’s heart during the holiday, and we were extremely committed to turning the cookies into small Christmas trees. We applied green food paint and red bows, trying to make them look as beautiful as they tasted.
At that moment, there was no one else in the kitchen. It was only me and my grandmother doing something that we both loved. I still remember how grateful I was for this moment that we shared. Even though we were just baking cookies, we were helping other people, and my younger self felt like it was making a little difference in the little world around me.
When the bazaar finally started, I was thrilled to see all of the booths and activities that had been set up. My school had also decided to include our choir in the agenda, giving a warming performance, which I fully supported. Even though the choir caught my attention, the biscuit booth, where our threats were displayed, was what got my heart back then.
The charity event took place in our municipality. My grandmother and I welcomed and greeted all people who passed by, did not miss telling them the story behind the cookies, and explained to them about the charity that we were supporting. I was beyond grateful, knowing that our family’s sweets could make a little difference for someone in need.
I still remember the satisfaction that I got from seeing people like our biscuits, but what was even more satisfying was the happiness on my grandmother’s face. Looking back on that day, I realize how lucky I am to have such a special relationship with my grandmother. She did not only teach me so much about baking those cookies but also about the importance of sharing with others. Sharing is caring. Even though the bazaar is no longer happening, we still prepare our special Christmas biscuits.
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Eyma Georgieva is a senior student at the American University in Bulgaria. She has a strong connection with her family and wants to encourage others to value their beloved ones.
