This blog hop is once again hosted by the wonderful Jo from Serendipitous Stitching, and it's my turn today! So make yourself comfortable, grap some hot cocoa with Peter Polar Bear here
and listen to me telling you how christmas eve is celebrated in my family. [short note: Christmas Eve or 'Heiligabend' is when actual christmas is happening in Germany - tree, presents, and all]
Since Felix and I only moved in together last year, traditions are only starting to from now, but I'll just tell you what we are planning to do this year. So, thankfully, we have Christmas Eve off from work, so we get to sleep in. Then, there will probably be some last minute present preparation (mostly wrapping, maybe some framing when stitchy presents are involved). We're having a quiet morning and a small lunch, then we head over to my grandparents in the afternoon.
I like to go to church on Christmas Eve - our church does a family service at 5pm, there is lots of singing, a nativity play by the kindergardeners, and candles lit with a light that came all the way from Bethlehem. When everyone is singing 'Oh how joyfully' in the end and the bells start ringing after that, then going out with the candle and walking home (preferably through the snow, although it's bin a while since we had a white Christmas), that's when Christmas really starts for me.
When we get home we have dinner - we traditionally used to have ham and potato salad for dinner, but in recent years we tried a few new things as well - then we put on some nice-but-comfy clothes and head for the living room with the tree and presents. We unwrap them, are happy (hopefully ;)) and spend all evening, talking and eating cookies and other christmas sweets, listening to our old christmas CDs (some of them we already had when I was a kid), sometimes watching a movie if someone got a good new one, maybe trying out or playing with what ever else we got, just spending some nice quality time together. It's a very nice way to get out of the stress and into the quiet time of between-the-years (in Germany, we have to holidays right after christmas, and Felix and I are off from work until the new year, so we really have some time to relax afterwards). I'm really looking forward to it now that I'm talking about it :)
I'll probably do one of my 'Strange German Holiday' posts around Christmas too, if you are interested in a few more traditions we used to have, or stuff from before and after Christmas Eve as well, so please come back later if you'd like to know more :)
18 comments:
Thanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year. I love the Brooke's Books Advent Animals, such a great series. I am sure they will become part of your Christmas tradition in years to come.
Your Christmas Eve sounds lovely and it's nice that you are making new traditions in your first home together.
I like Peter Polar Bear:) and your Christmas traditions. My 3x great grandfather was German.He emigrated here to the uk in the 1860's,I expect his family traditions were not quite like my 3x scottish great grandmother's.I will be back for your 'strange german holiday' post:)
That sounds great! We did that on Christmas day when I was a kid.
Your Christmas eve sounds lovely! I hope you enjoy making new traditions with Felix this year.
That little Polar Bear is so cute! I have resisted these ornaments so far but I do love them.
The polar bear is so cute. Your Christmas Eve sounds like a wonderful evening.
I love your polar bear, and I so enjoyed reading your post. I'll be back to read your Christmas post!
Enjoyed reading your post. Lovely stitching on Polar Bear, so cute! Have a wonderful Christmas:)
Sounds a lot like our Christmas Eve! It's been a long time since I've had the whole family over but at least this year I'll have my mom :)
Dein Eisbär sieht richtig lustig aus.
Ja, so ähnlich war der Heilige Abend bei uns auch immer, nur gab es bei uns immer Wienerle mit Kartoffelsalat. Und das gibt es immer noch :))
Hello I'm hopping by on the Blog Hop. I've done Peter the Polar Bear too. He's too cute! Great job on your ornament. Love your tradition. Sounds fantastic! Happy Holidays!!
Peter Polar Bear is so cute. Merry Christmas!
It is so nice to start new traditions...while keeping some of the older ones.
Your polar bear is very cute. Your Christmas Eve sounds lovely and relaxing.
Hi Leonore, Hopping on from Jo's Advent calendar blog hop. Your Christmas stitching is gorgeous. Enjoyed reading about your holiday celebrations.
My father in law stayed in Germany for few years and he had so much good things to say. So, Germany is on our must visit list now :)
I love reading about holidays/culture of different countries.
oh my gosh! My daughter and I have been doing the same thing here for the past couple years. We have our evening planned and since she and my housemate don't get home until 8:00pm from work, I will cook the ham and potato dinner! Afterwords we will open gifts. I love that you all do it this way as well!
Love your polar bear - I started him ages ago so seeing yours is a reminder that I must get back to him!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Hugs xx
The polar bear is adorable! Happy Christmas
I love the polar bear, he's on my to do list! My Mother is German and she misses her Christmas eve traditions, something my Dad just can't manage to do - but I'm hoping one year he will. Happy New Year!
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