Oh, if only every day were Christmas Eve or Christmas. And if only Omicron didn’t exist, so we’d enjoy the boredom. Plus, it feels so wonderful to read politicians’ greetings. They’re brimming with love, understanding, solidarity, empathy… Even the trolls on social networks are silent.

Oh, how nice it would be if the politicians who are addressing us so nicely today took their holiday greetings as a life-changing decision. But not as we tend to think to ourselves – starting from Monday I’ll go on a diet, starting from Monday I’ll quit smoking, starting from Monday I’ll start working out, but let them reach a firm decision – starting from Monday I’ll respect different opinions, I’ll work for the common good and most importantly, I won’t spread hatred every day, first thing in the morning, with every statement issued by the party.

But we know that’s not going to happen.

Today, people, not only politicians, wish everyone good luck, and starting from tomorrow they’ll revert back to their curses. Today they’re speaking of the peace of God, from tomorrow they’ll call on God to punish all those who have different opinions. Today they’re moralizing about tolerance and common values, and from tomorrow they’ll go back to their old habits – they’ll insult on all grounds, be it party affiliation, nationality, sexual orientation, vaccination status… I mean, discussing the dilemma whether an Australian law should be obeyed or the fact that Novak Gjokovic didn’t want to get vaccinated against Covid, friends said all sorts of nasty things to each other.

Let’s enjoy a few more days in this festive tranquility. The new government will be elected on Monday. And the new Bulgarian Prime Minister said he would come to Skopje. And the country will return to normal.

How should I feel about the year that started with fierce quarrels over Toma and Nole?

Translated by Nikola Gjelincheski