Happy Christmas!

I always love this time of year.

I'm  lying on my bed at one o'clock in the morning thinking about the joy this time of year spreads around the world....I know tomorrow that many children around Ireland and the world can look forward to a visit from St. Nicholas. I know Santa has visited the two children who live across the road from me and their presents are sitting under their tree, waiting for them to get up. Its a really nice thought that though we become obsessed at this time of year with commercialism and materialism it is nice to know that once in the year the whole of the world can come together in the spirit of community, happiness and a sense of loving thy neighbour.

The spirit that comes with Chirstmas is unique but the spirit of Eurovision, as it is known, is also built on the same principles, its just expressed differently. But no matter what the occasion it shows we can strive for a more peaceful time in our lives. This is Christmas, and what it means to me.

Whether you've never visited this blog before, whether you visit everyday. Whether you're Irish, British, Russian, French or any other country, whether you're a celebrator of Christmas or just someone who likes the time off, whether you like the winner of ESC or not, I wish you, your family and your friends the very best this Christmas. I also hope you will stick with me until the end of our Eurovision year, when around midnight on May 18th we will know the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. Until then, let us pause to think of the important time of year, relax and embrace the spirit of  Christmas.

From the Editors Desk.

Dear Reader,

With the advances of new technology there are many things that you could be doing while reading this piece. You could be at your desk, taking a break from the hassle of Christmas Day or maybe your in front of a warm fire reading this off a laptop. You could be in the kitchen trying to get Christmas dinner together and pausing for a moment to read this off your phone. 

In many ways this is a simple explanation of Eurovision. While many people will (hopefully) read this post everyone's circumstances are a little different. This idea of uniting behind a concept, such as Christmas, is the same idea that unites us each year for the Eurovision Song Contest. Christmas day is a special day and each moment of it is special. Today is not a day for reports or analysis. Today is a day for family. (Although the real die hard fans will be watching FiK in Albania.) As a fan of Eurovision you should have learned of the love for fellow people of the world that comes from following the contest. Let us hope the love that unites us for Eurovision can glow through out the world as a guiding light for all those who have gone astray.

I would like to thank you following the blog over the last number of months and hope you will return soon. Eurovision is not as far away as think and in the next month the National Finals will get into full swing. We hope to be their with you to offer opinion and ideas about it. 

We wish you and your loved ones health and happiness both today and for the coming year.

With love, kind regards to all and good wishes,
Nollag Shona Duit, 

Seán

Editor of The Best Eurovision Blog.

P.S. I know this video is a bit obvious but it represents so much of what Eurovision means to me.