Advent
Everybody was happy and blogging about Thanksgiving which is a celebration not observed in
South Africa. Watching celebrations in American movies it comes across like Christmas!
For experienced marketers this is a busy period!
I said that I am thankful with a joyful heart even though we do not celebrate it here, and I appreciate being reminded to give thanks for everything received.
Thanksgiving just being over and the Black Friday special coming to an end, Christmas is already in sight, and in Germany and other countries we observe and celebrate Advent starting 4 Sundays before Christmas Eve.For me it brings back childhood memories of festive decorations and the first snow, which I loved and enjoyed as a child
Advent is celebrated lighting a candle on a decorated wreath and each Sunday an additional candle is lit.When all four are burning, Christmas is around the corner. Traditional Christams cookies are baked and eaten during this period of joyful expectation.
I invite readers to share if they celebrate Advent and how.
Thank you!
Recent Comments
21
Yes, being of German ancestry and Lutheran Advent was always celebrated in our home. We had an Advent wreath and lit the candles each night for dinner. We made traditional German cookies which were recipes from my father and mother's family. Us girls got to count down with an Advent calendar. I still have an Advent calendar and wreath. Debbie
Daniela, 11, and I made the meringues which she loves and she decorated the table, put the cookies out, found the tablecloth, put on the candles and made the wreath.I helped by getting all the decorations out of the cupboard and supervising her baking effort.
Yes, I too remember the snow and the fir trees and baking.My mom used to bake for what seemed an army even when we moved to South Africa!
Und Christkindl Markt...
My daughter badly wants to experience a Christmas in Germany...
Here the traditional Christmas song: Leise rieselt der Schnee... has been converted into : Leise rieselt der Schweiss von der Stirne so heiss...!
Cape Town is soooo hot at the moment!
Yes, I do so love the Christmas songs. Christmas in soooo hot a place certainly seems strange.
It certainly takes some getting used to!The reworked version of the Christmas song originates from a Swiss minister.He is back in Switzerland now...
Yes, Beate, growing up in Vienna, Austria, I know exactly what you mean. December was the month of 'Christmas' smells and, of course, Christmas music. (I grew up - literally - across the road from Schubert's birthplace and went to church in the Schubertkirche, i.e. the church where Schubert was baptized and where he went to church.) I still feel nostalgic, remembering the fir tree smell from the advent wreath, the smell of baking...
I think Austrians haven't yet become as crazily politically correct as the British and 'Frohe Weihnachten' is still the norm.
Growing up as an Anglican Advent played a major part leading up to Christmas, people connected with each other and the build up of joy was felt everywhere.
You said "we observe and celebrate Advent starting 4 Sundays before Christmas Eve.For me it brings back childhood memories of festive decorations and the first snow, which I loved and enjoyed as a child" and I add "and the pleasant smell of freshly baked cookies which were not to touched before Christmas Eve"
Childhood is gone and Christmas has been replaced with "Black Fridays, Cyber days, whatever that means) and the WORDS MERRY CHRISTMAS have been replaced by "Happy Holidays and leave your hard earned money at the register".
Stupid
We hold on to our Christmas Traditions here. We do say Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays here too. It is "Christmas" and we are Not giving it up, period. So called political correctness, can go but a stump.
Advent sounds lovely!
You are right! Christmas should not be commercialised and I try not to submit to the pressure but focus on the real reason for Christmas!
please all come back later LOL ! i don't have much of an internet connection to speak of and i am trying to upload a picture, it won't let me. You guys are too fast for me!
Using my cellphone as a hotspot!
I have heard of Advert, but have not shared in it. But I do appreciate you telling us about it. I love reading about other people cultures.
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Hi Beate. Nice to see and experience the different cultures with its habits. Of course I heard of Thanksgiving but the post of Pete was for me "a new look" at that. For the first time in my life I appreciated Black Friday by going annual. Talking/Thinking about Christmas is - for us Europeanpeople - something completely different although the catholic intention is fastly "declining" We also light the candles and prepare! Ich weisz das fuer unsere Nachbarren den HeiligAbend ein groszes Fest ist; wir feieren 1en und 2ten Weihnachtstag. Sofort nach Weihnachten fahren wir nach Spanien - Gegend Valencia - fuer 3 Monaten ""Hibernate" Wunsche dir eine gute, stimmungsvolle Vorbereitung fuer Weihnachten und jetzt schon Frohe Weinachten and die allerbeste Wuenschen fuer ein gutes, gesundes Neues Jahr. Viele Grueszen. Antonius
Vielen Dank und das wuensche ich Dir und euch auch! Geniesst euren Urlaub und holt euch keinen Sommenbrand!
Wir feiern immer immer am Heligabend.
Hi Beate. Just to clarify: when i talk from/about neighbours= Nachtbarren then: being dutch I mean people from Germany and that is why I said "Heiligabend" Have a nice day! Regards Antonius