Do you remember what the Little Prince said about his fox? Look closely: he was just a fox like a hundred thousand others. But I made him my friend, and now he’s one of a kind.

That’s what friendship is really about, isn’t it? Being someone special to another person —loved not despite being known, but because of it. True friends are one of life’s most incredible gifts.

And now that the season is starting to show —yes, the one with lights stretching across every street— we’re getting close to a tradition that celebrates friendship, even if these days it sometimes feels more like a hassle than a joy. Because here’s something you might not know: the famous “Secret Santa,” the one that drives you a little crazy because you never know what to buy, actually began as a way to honor friendship. It goes back centuries in Northern Europe. People would leave small anonymous gifts at one another’s doors, often signing them as “the forest dwarf” or “the spirit of winter.” From that tradition came the German word Wichteln, which means “to play the little elf” — secretly exchanging small, thoughtful gifts within a group.

So when you draw that slip of paper with someone’s name on it, even if you don’t know them well, put a little care into choosing something that could make them happy —something pretty, useful, and of course, not expensive.

Between us, our Sudoku Calendar is perfect for that kind of gift. It’s small, thoughtful and not expensive —and it lasts all year long. One puzzle a day, a tiny moment just for you, a quiet ritual that follows you through the seasons.

And that’s it. Until we read each other again, take good care — and be happy.