The door opened, and the nose smelled the warm, spicy scent of gingerbread cookies, which were packed up in bright, colored boxes with gold silk ribbons. The store itself was wrapped in hundreds of meters of colorful garlands; in every corner were lush wreaths and small decorated Christmas trees; a huge plastic choir lined up at the checkout, performing a whole repertoire of Christmas songs; in the center there was a huge sculpture of nativity scene with animals, angels and three wise men, bowing respectfully before the Holy Family, near which a crowd of adults and children, wrapped in warm fur coats, scarves and shawls, were merrily making noise and exchanging with Christmas greetings. Everything announced and rejoiced about the arrival of winter celebrations!…