Hahah
a - now you know why that song is in English! :-) But honestly, it is beginning to really look a lot like Christmas, yet it doesn't. Today the snow is falling again. I may, if we are lucky, get to finally have the White Christmas I have always dreamed of, but at this time according to the forecasts, it will only be on the ground, and not actually snowing. But we can always hope that a surprise snow cloud will form over us that magical Eve and Day.
a - now you know why that song is in English! :-) But honestly, it is beginning to really look a lot like Christmas, yet it doesn't. Today the snow is falling again. I may, if we are lucky, get to finally have the White Christmas I have always dreamed of, but at this time according to the forecasts, it will only be on the ground, and not actually snowing. But we can always hope that a surprise snow cloud will form over us that magical Eve and Day. 
We just returned from a two day Integration Seminar. This means that we got to learn all about why Germans behave the way they do and how we should react to that behavior. It was very enlightening. Although stereotypes are often overstated, and of course the degree to which a stereotype is encountered depends also on the situation a person is in, the idea that Germans are unfriendly and rigid was discussed at length. I personally have not encountered any 
Germans being that way. Everyone has been very friendly to me and extremely helpful. But I did get to learn that while at work, Germans are often all business and no small talk. Fortunately, in my situations here, I don't have much opportunity to encounter that, even in the classes I teach since the students are there to learn how to socially talk in English, so small talk is what my classes are often needed for.
Germans being that way. Everyone has been very friendly to me and extremely helpful. But I did get to learn that while at work, Germans are often all business and no small talk. Fortunately, in my situations here, I don't have much opportunity to encounter that, even in the classes I teach since the students are there to learn how to socially talk in English, so small talk is what my classes are often needed for. 
One of the things that the Americans who were at the seminar talked about is what we miss here about Christmas. Yes, the snow is falling and the air has a definite chill to it, but for us, it is harder to get into the mood for Christmas. There is no radio station that has been playing Christmas music we recognize since the day after Thanksgiving (especially since they don't celebrate Thanksgiving!!) The presents are already wrapped and have been sent for some time to our loved ones back home. Those things that are markers in our mind to get us ready for a season are missing somewhat here. We will not be able to travel home for the holidays, and no one in the family will be able to travel here. The side effect of this is that I have not yet decorated the apartment for Christmas. It seems like a lot of effort and expense to go to for no one but us to see it. But we have decided as a family that we do want it to be decorated, so that we can all feel like it must be Christmas.
Many Germans do not decorate their homes. We see the occasional strand of lights or small lit tree in 
the apartments, but the idea of whole neighborhoods being lit up for the holidays just isn't over here. Each town has its Christmas market, so I think the locals must rely on the Christmas explosion that one would see in these markets to take the place of their own spaces being decorated. Since storage is a premium and many things are more expensive to buy than they are in the states, it allows the locals to "feel" like it is Christmas without their actually having to have decorations. Also, for many the tradition is to get the tree very close to Christmas Eve and then to decorate it ON Christmas Eve as part of the excitement and wonder of the day.
the apartments, but the idea of whole neighborhoods being lit up for the holidays just isn't over here. Each town has its Christmas market, so I think the locals must rely on the Christmas explosion that one would see in these markets to take the place of their own spaces being decorated. Since storage is a premium and many things are more expensive to buy than they are in the states, it allows the locals to "feel" like it is Christmas without their actually having to have decorations. Also, for many the tradition is to get the tree very close to Christmas Eve and then to decorate it ON Christmas Eve as part of the excitement and wonder of the day.Christmas Eve is the day everyone has been waiting for in Germany. It is the culmination of all the Advent rituals and town markets. Most everything will be closed by lunch time on this day with the rest of the day going towards visiting with family and preparing the tree, special foods and then going to church for that special Christmas Eve service. The tree is often decorated with these lovely glass balls and icicles, straw stars and ornaments that you can buy easily at the Weihnachtsmarkt and tinsel or maybe some garlands. All the wrapped presents are then placed under the tree, and traditional foods are often shared. Afterwards, they exchange their gifts, opening everything on Christmas Eve. As in many American families, Christmas Eve may also be a time to read about the religious reasons for the season, or that may be reserved for the church visit. Goose is a common meal served here on this day, but I think we will probably have something more simple just for the 4 of us (pizza anyone?). Other traditional foods for this important feast are Lebkuchen, the spicy gingerbread cakes, Stollen, a fruity bread, white sausages, German potato salad, and marzipan, an almond flavored moldable paste.
Christmas Day is a very quiet time spent with family. The Christkind has visited the children for a second present surprise. The Christkind is an angel-like sprite that visits the children here during the night of Christmas Eve just like Santa does for us in the US leaving a big gift as a surprise to the good children. (Little did we know that Santa has helpers all over the world!) Also, like in the US, no stores would be open. This is a time for family and quiet celebrations and the eating of leftovers and additional home-baked sweets. We are hoping to catch some of those classic Christmas shows or watch a couple that we brought with us.
December 26th is not much of a holiday in the US unless you like to shop. But here, unlike in the states, the "Second day of Christmas" is again a time for family, quiet celebrations, or perhaps some family outing. Many of my students have said they will probably go skiing. We may try to go on Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day if we can find any of the slopes open, just to avoid the crowds. But, then again, we are in Germany, and we may just do like the Germans and go on this day. They actually have a name for this day after Christmas, and it is listed on our German calendar as such. It is officially a public holiday and is very important to the local Germans I have talked to. See the words for the day to find out this name.
In England, Canada, Greece, New Zealand, and Australia, this day is called Boxing Day. It historically was celebrated by giving gifts to the poor in the community. By some accounts, this was also associated with a Christmas Box that was a clay box for donations to the workers of a shop. The box would be broken and the contents distributed to the employees. The term Christmas Box now refers to a Christmas bonus given to employees. Although many still follow a tradition of donating to the poor on this day, it has in modern times become more like the US - a day to shop!
The words for the day are Christmas Eve: heilige Abend (hi lee geh ah behnd where the "i' is long as in kite), Christmas: der erste Weihnachtstag (vi nachts tahg (again the long "i" and the ch cat cough sound)) or just Weihnachten, and the day after Christmas: der zweite Weihnachtstag (tsvi teh vi nachts tahg).
The question of the day is "What is Sylvester and Heilige Drei Könige?"
Auf Wiedersehen,
Frau Spitzer
