Hellooo :)
So, since we're
getting really close to Christmas, let's talk a bit about it. As I already told
you, I'm a fanatic. I start listening to Christmas songs before Halloween and
kind of annoy everybody with it. But don't you just love Christmas, carols,
decorations, basically everything about it? My all-time favourite is the Disney
Christmas sing-along. Or as I should say, one of them. They have several ones,
and this particular one I've been listening on tape (yees, it's that old) since
I was a little kid. I just googled it, it's from August 1995. Does anybody else
find it strange that they publish a Christmas sing-along in August? Or maybe
that just supports the early Christmas fanatics like me. It has a bunch of
songs sung by Mickey and his friends. My favourite one is The twelve days of
Christmas. Even more annoying for everybody around me, as it is a veeery long
song. Apart from this tape I love Carol of the bells, All I want for Christmas
and Rockin' around the Christmas tree (Obviously the Winnie the Pooh
version!). As I told you all about my
city last time, I thought I'll give you a brief overview about Christmas and Winter
in Germany.
Check out this short slideshow about Christmas in Germany
Germany is famous for its Christmas markets and Glühwein. And
not just for tourists. We all love them. Usually one month before Christmas, on
the 24th of November, the Christmas markets open. Most people go there in the
afternoon or evening when it's already dark. You can have typical German snacks
for dinner, buy the cutest mostly handmade gifts and decorations, listen to
carols and drink Glühwein, Kinderpunsch (the non-alcoholic version for kids),
hot spiced apple juice, hot chocolate, Lumumba (chocolate with rum) and eggnog.
Most of them also have a nativity set and some even have an ice rink. It's
typical that you visit all the different markets in your city or area, that you
go once with your friends, family, work colleagues, etc.
So, how do I
celebrate Christmas and prepare?
In November my Mum or Dad and I usually prepare the Advent wreath, because we prefer it to be homemade. My mum also prepares an Advent calendar with sweets or little gifts. In December we then decorate the house and visit the Christmas markets. We also start discussing what to have for Christmas dinner. In Germany we don't have a traditional dish, so we just like to find something that makes everybody happy. And you wouldn't believe how difficult that is. Scrolling through several cookbooks there's usually just one menu we can all agree on. In the night before the 6th of December we put a boot or bag outside our door for Nikolaus (St Nicholas) to fill it with sweets and little gifts. And then comes the 24th of December, the day we celebrate Christmas in Germany. I usually spend all day on the sofa watching movies such as Home Alone, Rudolph or We're No Angels, while my parents prepare everything. At around 5pm we start by playing some carols on our instruments. It's typical to play music or read poems and go to church at this time. We then unpack our presents and have the family dinner. Only close family, like me and my parents. On Christmas Day we will then meet the whole big family. And since my parents are divorced I usually have a third or even fourth Christmas celebration on Boxing Day. I really, really love Christmas and all about it, but I think it's also the most exhausting three days of the year.
What else is different in Germany? I for example never believed in Santa Claus. In Germany it is (or was, now we're becoming more Americanised) traditional to believe that Christ Child / Baby Jesus brings the presents. In Germany we don't have Christmas carollers, but on the 6th of January, children dressed up as the Three Wise Men will come to our houses, sing, renew the blessing on our doors and receive money for charity.
In November my Mum or Dad and I usually prepare the Advent wreath, because we prefer it to be homemade. My mum also prepares an Advent calendar with sweets or little gifts. In December we then decorate the house and visit the Christmas markets. We also start discussing what to have for Christmas dinner. In Germany we don't have a traditional dish, so we just like to find something that makes everybody happy. And you wouldn't believe how difficult that is. Scrolling through several cookbooks there's usually just one menu we can all agree on. In the night before the 6th of December we put a boot or bag outside our door for Nikolaus (St Nicholas) to fill it with sweets and little gifts. And then comes the 24th of December, the day we celebrate Christmas in Germany. I usually spend all day on the sofa watching movies such as Home Alone, Rudolph or We're No Angels, while my parents prepare everything. At around 5pm we start by playing some carols on our instruments. It's typical to play music or read poems and go to church at this time. We then unpack our presents and have the family dinner. Only close family, like me and my parents. On Christmas Day we will then meet the whole big family. And since my parents are divorced I usually have a third or even fourth Christmas celebration on Boxing Day. I really, really love Christmas and all about it, but I think it's also the most exhausting three days of the year.
What else is different in Germany? I for example never believed in Santa Claus. In Germany it is (or was, now we're becoming more Americanised) traditional to believe that Christ Child / Baby Jesus brings the presents. In Germany we don't have Christmas carollers, but on the 6th of January, children dressed up as the Three Wise Men will come to our houses, sing, renew the blessing on our doors and receive money for charity.
How do you celebrate
Christmas? What do you love most about the season?
Tell me all about it!!
Tell me all about it!!
Merry Christmas to
all of you,
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