Es Weinachtet

I’ve enjoyed three lovely advent calendars this year but had only one of them to open this morning.  Sadly, today was the last “door” of the sweet Jacquie Lawson Victorian scene, sent to me by sweet friends from the USA and which we’ve really enjoyed.  The other two, being German, reached their conclusion yesterday on Heilig Abend, but I saved the content to share here today.

I found them both in a grand bookshop in Berlin.  I liked the nostalgic style of the illustrations on this tear-off pad style calendar and thought that I’d include a couple in my December Journal.

The pictures are very cute and if we ever have a snowy day in December, I’ll have the perfect illustration for my journal!

The second purchase was a more reflective one.  This small book has a chapter for each day telling a Christmas story from a familiar source and I thought it would be a useful opportunity to practise my German reading skills.  Most mornings, I have enjoyed reading a few pages over my porridge and tea, sometimes having to return to a longer chapter later in the day.

It’s the last pages of both that I share here, then, to wish you a very Happy Christmas and to thank you for your support this year.  I really enjoy your company and appreciate the thoughts you share with me.  I hope you’ll continue to read, to leave a comment occasionally and carry on our conversations as we sometimes do.  I know that not everyone reads German, but I include the text from my little gold Advent book as it stands: I’m sure you’ll recognise the words “legte ihn in eine Krippe, weil für sie kein Raum war in der Herberge”  at least!

Es begab sich aber in jenen Tagen, daß ein Befehl ausging vom Kaiser Augustus, daß alle Welt sich sollte schätzen lassen. Diese Schatzung war die erste und geschah, als Kyrenius Landpfleger in Syrien war. Und es zogen alle aus, um sich schätzen zu lassen, ein jeder in seine Stadt. Es ging aber auch Joseph von Galiläa, aus der Stadt Nazareth, hinauf nach Judäa in die Stadt Davids, welche Bethlehem heißt, weil er aus dem Hause und Geschlechte Davids war, um sich schätzen zu lassen mit Maria, seiner Verlobten, die schwanger war.

Es begab sich aber, während sie daselbst waren, da erfüllten sich die Tage, daß sie gebären sollte. Und sie gebar ihren Sohn, den Erstgeborenen, und wickelte ihn in Windeln und legte ihn in eine Krippe, weil für sie kein Raum war in der Herberge.

Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend auf dem Felde, die bewachten des Nachts ihre Herde. Und siehe, ein Engel des Herrn trat zu ihnen, und die Klarheit des Herrn umleuchtete sie; und sie fürchteten sich sehr. Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen: Fürchtet euch nicht! Denn siehe, ich verkündige euch große Freude, die dem ganzen Volk widerfahren soll. Denn euch ist heute ein Retter geboren, welcher ist Christus, der Herr, in der Stadt Davids. Und das sei für euch das Zeichen: Ihr werdet ein Kindlein finden, in Windeln gewickelt und in einer Krippe liegend. Und plötzlich war bei dem Engel die Menge der himmlischen Heerscharen, die lobten Gott und sprachen: Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe und Friede auf Erden, an den Menschen ein Wohlgefallen!

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Traditions

This time of the year above any other, is filled with happy traditions to which we look forward.  Avening WI’s Christmas party is always a fun affair with Shirley’s imaginative games and quizzes, including cheese tasting this year: Could you tell your Edam from your Emmental or your Camembert from your Cambozola? 

The stakes were high!

The morning after, there was the usual shopping to be done with a seasonally inappropriate bag to carry it in, don’t you think?  I’m having a thing about people dressed in seasonally inappropriate clothes right now, but when there’s blossom on a tree and primulas flowering in the garden, who can say what the season is, exactly?

Hardly typical of a December garden, is it?

It was the Stuart Singers’ Christmas concert weekend, so we had our traditional house full.  Perhaps not quite the same as every year, for sadly some friends couldn’t make it.  But two evenings of seasonal music enjoyed by a church full of appreciative supporters made for lively conversation over a glass or two the following day.

There’s a bit of tradition associated with our Sunday lunchtime affair too, which began, as always, with the arrival of our sweet neighbours bearing mistletoe.  Somehow, everyone knows the routine and helped themselves; we needed to do nothing more than enjoy their company and crank up the chocolate fountain.

When everyone had left, the “home team” enjoyed a peaceful couple of hours chatting over hot drinks and sweeties, looking through old December journals and remembering when. 

Sadly, both young government professionals had early starts on Monday morning, so they loaded up their little Nikolaus houses with the roof made of Smarties and the CurlyWurly fences and went off to catch a Sunday evening train back to London.

When he got back from the station, my hero and I kicked off our shoes and normal life resumed in front of the telly.  Another happy tradition 

Das ist das Haus vom Nikolaus

The Bernina blog posted this entry recently and for a short time, I considered basing our Christmas cards on this idea.  I thought it might be fun to punch the holes in the card, to enclose a piece of thread and challenge our friends to complete the puzzle.  A DIY card, then.  But then I thought how this is one of those things I have to learn all over again every time I do it and it can be frustrating to keep trying (and failing) when you know the answer is so simple.  I decided against the idea, you’ll be glad to learn.

(all 44 solutions on WIkipedia)

Thinking about this on St Nikolaus today, the 6th December (did you clean your shoes last night?) I found many references to the puzzle in German, but hardly anything in English, except for this useful resource (with one simple solution!)  I also came across the mathematical theory which underpins it – I knew nothing about Eulerian paths until now (and still don’t know much!)  I also discovered the next step of the puzzle…und nebenan vom Weihnachtsmann!

You’ll be glad to know that some routines from Nikolaus have been observed today, as well

Eventually

I got my act together and started working on my December Journal!  Well, it is the 5th…

It’s been a funny old week.  Of course, I began it half way through really, since we were in Berlin until Tuesday night and Wednesday disappeared in a mountain of unpacking, washing and general sorting out.  On Thursday, it was my WI Christmas lunch which is usually a jolly affair in a local hotel, but this year we were a little subdued.  The husband of one of our dear friends had died a week or so ago and his memorial service was in the little village church on Thursday morning.  Though she wanted us to carry on with the Christmas lunch as planned it was strange without her and of course, she (and her dear departed husband) were both on everyone’s mind.

Of course, there was shopping to be done and a Christmas tree to choose – even though it won’t be brought inside until next weekend, we know there won’t be any more to choose from later in the week.  So, we decided to go and sort that one out before the weekend rush and were glad we did – first one we saw, we liked  (but of course, we had to look at another couple before we could settle!)

I loved these juniper hearts for the door, but really couldn’t justify spending so much on one, however lovely they are.  I shall hope for calmer weather tomorrow and find a few bits in the garden to make one instead.

And all the week, I was aware that I hadn’t even started my December Journal.  I hadn’t looked at any of my goodies from Berlin and hadn’t really done anything in my studio since the girls came to play a couple of weeks ago.  I knew that the longer I left it, the harder it would be to start.  So today, I decided to do nothing else until I had got it up to date.

First thing was to get the Christmas bits out.  Much easier to complete a page a day if it’s all there at my fingertips, so I pulled a few things from my stash and added them to some new things from this year and settled down to begin.

I knew the colour scheme I’d chosen but decided to leave the covers till later – maybe until the end?  So, right now, it’s not looking especially promising!

But inside is a bit better: a page about advent calendars, one about making my Christmas cards the other day and a few bits and pieces from the Christmas lunch (cracker jokes are usually pretty reliable for that page!)

There’s a photo of choosing the tree and a page about the Christmas cards which are now arriving by every post.

There are still piles of “stuff” on my other worktops though, including a set of numbers for next year’s advent calendar found in Karstadt last weekend, the empty packaging from a box of Advent tea we found: a different tea for every day of the month, individually packaged in a numbered envelope.  I feel sure I can find a use for those (the paper envelopes I mean – of course, we’ll drink the tea!)

Last but not least, the hotel where we had lunch was decorated with paper stars which caught the attention of the ladies around the table, who now want me to show them how they’re made at next week’s WI meeting.  Well, though I’ve made them years ago, I just had to check that I could still remember how…so samples have been prepared and left, half finished on my worktop.

The good thing is, because it’s been such an odd week, I keep thinking today is Sunday.  That means, I get a bonus day tomorrow!  Woohoo!

Still November

A discussion on the radio this morning echoed a conversation my hero and I had shared in John Lewis yesterday.

Is it Christmas yet?

No!  It’s still November!

I found myself nodding in agreement with Janice Turner, whose Times article from last year sums it up pretty well and leaves me with one and a half feet in the Turner camp even if I just can’t quite drag that last foot completely from Kirstie Allsopp’s sparkly Christmas grotto.  Whilst I enjoy some aspects of Christmas, I just can’t bear how early it all seems to creep up on me and that FOMO effect propels us into it all regardless.  I fear that some would have Christmas all year round given the opportunity, but wouldn’t that take all the joy out of it completely?

Needless to say, I can’t quite resist some of the offers which reward early shoppers though, and when I spotted cute polar bear wrapping paper on offer, of course I bought it.  Olaf took good care of it until I found a home for it.

The arrival of a box of goodies in preparation for my December journal arrived yesterday and also demanded my attention.  Our small friends are coming over after school tomorrow to begin putting together their album and so I thought I’d better gather a few things together for them which meant getting out the box of Christmas bits and pieces.

So, even though we were pretty determined to avoid being swept up in it all until next weekend at the earliest, as you can tell, we’ve caved in.

I pulled out the basket of December journals ready for the girls to look through and of course, couldn’t resist revisiting a couple of them myself.  I need to set up my album for 2015 and before I do, I thought I’d see what works and what doesn’t.  One of the discussions in the craft forums has been about the front covers, because some make very elaborate creations indeed.  However, as you can tell by the broken and damaged front cover decorations of some of these, the best ones are the simplest.  I’m not going to be over zealous about creating anything special for that, then.

My first December journal was from 1989 and it was fun to look back through it. 

So cute!  My journals contain so many happy memories and are much loved.

Even those tinged with sadness contain reminders that life goes on and there is comfort to be found in family traditions.  Looking through these reminds me why I continue to make these journals every year.  We all love them!

Some years, my journals are more complicated with bits and pieces stuck in there and there’s no doubt, the early pages are usually far more elaborate than those closer to Christmas itself!

As the pressure builds there is usually a sense of “get it done”.  That’s fine with me.

I think all of them have a page which prompts us to utter “remember that year when….”  this one was when Waitrose “forgot” our turkey order!

There are recurring themes in each of them and I know that these will feature in my 2015 journal too.  How will I make them different this year?  I have no idea!  (Maybe I won’t?)

Whilst choosing how big to make my 2015, I’m thinking that I don’t need to worry about running out of space because I can always create fold-out pages.  Sometimes, too, those fold out pages allow me to tell a more personal story, especially if I hide it behind a flap.  Hmmm.

So, taking a quick look through 2014 and remembering some of the pros and cons of that particular size/format, I’ve decided how I’m going to tackle 2015.

So, like Andy Pandy and Teddy, it’s time for them all to return to their wicker basket until the next time they come out to play.

Because it’s still November!