Christmas is near. In fact next weekend will be the first Advent! An important date I remember from my childhood, as it meant the most wonderful season of the year was about to start. The dangerously delicious scent of freshly baked cookies filled my and all my friends’ homes. It was the season, where it seemed to be just natural to find some time in the day to sit together with a warm cup of tea or coffee in the hand, chatting and watching the flame of the first candle of the advent wreath magically illuminate the dark filled rooms.
Cookies, Snow and Sankt Nikolaus (Saint Nicolas), Christkindl markets and the cold but sweet smell in the air, ‘heisse Maroni’ (warm chestnuts), Gluehwein (hot spiced red wine), and more are just some of my cherished Christmas memories…
I am still on the search for a perfect advent wreath and have yet to find out more about Christkindl markets here in California. The Christmas Festivals, like the Winter Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, are probably a close bet. In the meantime get in the mood for Christmas by checking out the regularly updated list of Christmas events. It’s an extra page under ‘Resources’, dedicated to “Christmas 2009″.