A day out at the Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas market filled Leo’s Rabbit with the festive cheer. He enjoyed live music from a number of street performers, admired a vast selection of traditional handmade goods and tried some delicious German food and gluhwine.

This year Leo’s Rabbit started a new tradition, a reverse advent calendar. For the past 24 days he filled a box with food and toiletries by adding an item each day. Today he donated his box to his local food bank in order to help those less fortunate that are struggling at Christmas time.

By sharing his reverse advent calendar here, our small Rabbit is hoping to inspire you to take part and make a small difference to those most vulnerable in your local communities.

Today Rabbit honoured a beautiful Polish tradition and he celebrated All Saints' Day. It's a day to remember loved ones who are no longer with us. On the 1st November families all over Poland make pilgrimages to the resting places of their relatives, tending the graves and decorating them with wreaths, flowers and candles. As night descends cemeteries across the country are alight with millions of candles.

Rabbit went to his local cemetery and lit candles in memory of Leo, Maman, Tato, Shideh, Omeh, Connie, Zanamoo and all the other deceased family members and friends. They are no longer with us, but they live on in our hearts and souls. They will always be a part of us, because they helped us to become who we are.

Leo’s Rabbit wishes all the Iranians around the world a very Happy New Year! Yes... that's right, Persian New Year (Nowruz) is actually celebrated today, right at the beginning of Spring. This tradition originates from Zoroastrianism, the oldest of the great world religions, founded in 6th century BC by Zoroaster, the first prophet in the world who promulgated monotheism, with one, universal, transcendent, supreme God, the source of generosity, kindness and benefice. If by any chance you are one of the two people following our Rabbit :-), you may remember his previous post about this ancient Persian religion and the key ethical principles of Zoroastrianism - ‘Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds’. Rabbit decided to pursue these values in his little life, in hope to become a better Rabbit. How is he doing? Well... it's not for me to answer, I guess (Crazy Rabbit Lady wouldn't be impartial), so I'll leave the judgement to you :-)

We (read 'I' ;-) ) drifted a bit away from the subject, so let's come back to Leo's Rabbit and his activities today. Following Nowruz tradition, he prepared his haft-seen, a display of seven items that symbolise different hopes for the new year. His colourful basket contained the following items (and hopes):

• Sabzeh - Fresh grown wheat grass for rebirth and renewal;
• Senjed - Dried fruit, for love;
• Sib - Apple, for beauty and vitality;
• Seer - Garlic, for good health;
• Samanu - A sweet pudding, for wealth and fertility;
• Serkeh - Vinegar, for the patience and wisdom;
• Sumac - Persian spice, for the sunrise and overcoming darkness.

​Rabbit has a lot of hopes for the New Year and he will do his utmost to follow his dreams, better himself and inspire those around him. Without hope he would probably find it impossible to get out of bed in the morning. It is hope that gives him the inspiration to never give up, and in his small way, make the world a better place.

Small Rabbit with the basket full of hopes begins a New Year :-)

Today Leo's Rabbit, like many of us, is reflecting on the passing year and preparing for the next. He somehow feels, that he did not live up to his full potential. He's been places and learned a lot, but he also had many dark days overtaken by grief. He did not accomplish all his goals and there are things, he would have done differently. But that's ok. He learned his lessons.

Rabbit just finished setting up new goals for the coming year. They are big goals (especially for such a little Rabbit), but as you already know (that is if you've been following our Rabbit :-) ), he is a dreamer and he believes that almost anything is possible, if we only put our mind to it, stay motivated, work hard, persevere, and get up after each fall and work even harder.

Rabbit wants a better future, and he knows that he is the only one who can make it happen. He is determined to make most out of the coming year. Are you? :-)

​So, let's crack this bottle open and start an amazing year filled with new exciting challenges, colourful experiences, meaningful people and fulfilled dreams. Happy 2018 Everyone!

Can you guess what the Rabbit is dressed as? As a hint, I can reveal that he also carved himself into his Halloween pumpkin. The very scary Rabbit is preparing to go trick-or-treating in the evening and he will surely terrorise the whole neighbourhood (he is the scariest rabbit in the world right now!), so get these carrots ready! Happy Halloween Everyone!