Yesterday, when I came home from work late in the evening, I noticed that I’m the eleventh door at the virtual Advent-calendar of a group of citizen from Dortmund. Well, not I’m the eleventh door, but my post about the Christmas-market in Dortmund. I feel honored that they chose my site, although its in English and maybe not easy to read therefore for other people from Dortmund. Thanks a lot!
Ugh! I’m just wondering, why my morning coffee tastes like a watery brew... I have forgotten to remove the old used coffee-pads and made my coffee with the them. It shows how stressed out I am at the moment. *giggle*
But back to my topic “Advent-calendars”: In Germany they are nearly everywhere during Advent-time. You can buy them with tiny little pictures behind the doors, with chocolate for the kids and with for example truffles and more expensive chocolates for grown-ups, newspapers print a different story every day as their advent-calendar, in the internet there are virtual ones with stories or lotteries behind the doors and some towns are gigantic advent-calendars, too. There are 24 windows in the city, which were decorated and brightly lit and every evening another of these windows is opened additionally. But notice: The German Advent-calendar has only 24 doors, because our main Christmas-fest is on Christmas-Eve. And also screen-savers are available as Advent-calendars. I would be interested what it is like in the USA. Are there as many Advent-calendars, too, or is this more German? Please let me know.
Advent-calendar with chocolate for kids
Town-hall of Huenfeld in Germany as giant advent-calendar
How are you celebrating Advent? Do you also have Advent-wreaths in your living room? Do you also lit one of the four candles on it more every Advent-Sunday? When do you put up the Christmas trees in your home? In Germany they were put up shortly before Christmas-Eve and they were lit the first time also on Christmas-Eve. Only Anna and I put it up already at the beginning of Advent, because we always had to celebrate Christmas after my mother’s customs, which isn’t our way. We like it a bit more relaxed. So we always pre-celebrated Christmas. Perhaps you like to tell me a bit about your Advent-customs, too?
OK, the coffee is better now. I’m having a short break now until I have to start my work. *Sigh* Advent-time is always very strenuous, at home and at work and at the moment I’m tired and exhausted to my bones. Perhaps the coffee will help a bit.
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Pictures: Public domain
My husband says that he recognizes the advent calendars from when he was a child, but I must admit, I have never seen one before.
Wreaths are traditionally hung from the front door, and trees are put up according to preference. Some people begin decorations shortly before Thanksgiving, some immediately after Thanksgiving, and some a few weeks into December. Many people place lights and decorations outside and they stay lit from the time they are placed until Christmas.
We don't light candles, we put up the tree, decorations everywhere and shop, shop, shop for gifts for everyone we know. The gifts are traditionally opened on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
Posted by: J.D. | December 15, 2007 at 03:21 AM
Dear J.D.! Thanks a lot for all this information. Today I'm pretty sad, so this is only a short answer...
Have a happy 3rd Advent!
Georgia
Posted by: Georgia | December 16, 2007 at 08:02 PM