This illustration was born from the stories that shaped my childhood. I always loved imagining that Santa Claus had his own kingdom, where Christmas was the most joyful time of the year. For many, it’s a season to escape reality and embrace the magic that inspires us to dream, share, and hope for beautiful things. As kids, how often did we wish to step through a portal into a world of wonder? How many stories or movies made our dreams grow wings? That’s the feeling I wanted to capture. Not just a typical holiday scene, but something different. In the center, two siblings step through a mirror—leaving behind a dull, joyless world and entering a realm where imagination becomes reality. Welcome to Christvale, the Christmas Valley. A giant candy cane leads the way to Santa Claus himself, guided by the North Star—also known as the Christmas Star. There’s a bustling village crowned by a towering Christmas tree. My favorite part? The Nutcracker, a noble guardian of the kingdom, and the majestic Phoenix, proudly wearing a bow on its head—because why not? Above it all stretches the vast sky we used to gaze at, waiting for a shooting star to carry our wishes. This piece is a love letter to my childhood dreams, a vintage-flavored portal to the stories that once lit up my imagination. It’s my dream, my memory, my world.