Wishing All Of You a Very Merry Christmas with happy hours of being together with your loved ones!
Frohe Weihnachten! Frohes Fest!
Image: Pixabay byJo-Band aga2rk
Christmas
Weihnachten – Die wunderbare Kraft *Merry Christmas *
Weihnachten – Die wunderbare Kraft
(Ein Gedicht von Samantha Sam)
In der Weihnacht ein Menschenskind die Welt betrat,
in ihm sich der Same für eine besondere Kraft verbarg.
Eine Idee entfaltete eine wunderbare Kraft,
die in Geschichten Jahrtausende überdauert hat.
.
Lichter glitzern in den Fenstern und Straßen,
Geschäftiges Treiben herrscht in den Gassen.
Frohsinn und Besinnlichkeit erklingt,
während die Natur die Stille des Winters besingt.
.
Überall glitzernde Kugeln und bunte Lichter.
Zuckergebäck erhellen die Kindergesichter. [Read more…] about Weihnachten – Die wunderbare Kraft *Merry Christmas *
Merry Christmas – Frohe Weihnachten
“Advent, Advent,
ein Lichtlein brennt.
Erst eins, dann zwei,
dann drei, dann vier,
dann steht das Christkind vor der Tür!”
… and tomorrow it’s finally here, the long awaited date, Christmas Eve!
We wish all our readers and patrons a peaceful and relaxing holiday. Enjoy this special time with your loved ones and dear friends.
Thank you for being part of our CaliforniaGermans Family!
Images: Pixabay.com
Xmas Gift Book Tip #5 – Kurt Tucholsky’s Whimsical Stories About the Afterlife
Our last book tip for Christmas 2018 makes us indulge in famous German literature. It’s a book that is not only a must for all Tucholsky fans but also for everyone, who loves Berlin and its history.
“Hereafter. We Were Sitting on a Cloud, Dangling Our Legs.” is a collection of humorous short stories by Tucholsky that for the first time appear as a collection in a book as well as being published in English.
“Hereafter”, Kurt Tucholsky’s Whimsical Stories About the Afterlife
(by Dr. Eva C. Schweitzer )
Kurt Tucholsky is known for his political and satirical stories in the Weimar era, but the famed author also had a whimsical, spiritual side, and we experience it in this book, Hereafter. We Were Sitting on a Cloud, Dangling Our Legs.
Hereafter was originally a loose series of humorous short stories. Tucholsky wrote them between 1925 and 1928, while he was on assignment in Paris for his paper, Die Weltbühne (The World Stage). This is the first time these stories are collected in a book — adorned with pictures of little angels from Berlin’s cemeteries —, and also the first time they are translated into English. [Read more…] about Xmas Gift Book Tip #5 – Kurt Tucholsky’s Whimsical Stories About the Afterlife
Xmas Gift Book Tip #3 – Historical Fiction Novel “1918 – Wilhelm und Wilson”
100 Years Ago the First World War Ended in 1918. What if…?
What if the world had emerged out of devastating World War I with peace negotiations that had helped restore world order, create balance among world powers, and had called for cooperation among nations?
Hitler, Stalin, and WW II might never have happened!
On the basis of real history, Magnus Dellwig is creating a fictional world in his novel “1918 – Wilhelm und Wilson” and imagines a different outcome in the fateful peace negotiations among the world powers at that time. Follow the account of foreign minister Gustav Stresemann and witness through his eyes how (a different) history unfolds…
Magnus Dellwig’s historical fiction novel is packed with the suspense of diplomatic and political drama. As of now, “1918 – Wilhelm und Wilson” is only available in German. Get a taste of the book with the following German synopsis. [Read more…] about Xmas Gift Book Tip #3 – Historical Fiction Novel “1918 – Wilhelm und Wilson”
X-mas Gift Book Tip #1 – The Memoir “Otti Remembers”
Life of a German Teen during WW II. From Enduring Hardship to becoming a U.S. war bride – The Memoir “Otti Remembers”
What was it like for a teen to live in Germany during World War II?
Our first Christmas Book Gift Tip tells you all about it. The memoir “Otti Remember” lets you relive those turbulent times as Otti Baulig Ney remembers and allows you to be part of her life’s story.
“Otti Remembers: German WWII Teen Immigrates to America” – A Memoir
By Leslie Blaize
“Otti Remembers: German WWII Teen Immigrates to America,” offers a rare, first-hand account of those turbulent times. Otti Baulig Ney, 89, from Sutter Creek, Calif., reveals how she endured bombing raids, tuberculosis (TB) and extreme deprivation as a teen during the war years. [Read more…] about X-mas Gift Book Tip #1 – The Memoir “Otti Remembers”
Weihnachtswunsch (Ein Gedicht)
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas with a merry Poem by Julia Eichberger! Wir wünschen allen ein friedvolles und gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest mit einem Gedicht von Julia Eichberger!
Weihnachtswunsch
.
(Ein Gedicht von Julia Eichberger)
.
Unter jedem Kerzenschein
sollen Glück und Liebe sein,
dass in jedem Heim
die Heiterkeit kehrt ein.
Unter jedem Tannenbaum
erfüllen soll sich jeder Traum;
der von mehr Zeit
und von weniger Leid.
Unter jedem Dach der Welt;
Familie, die zusammenhält.
Kummer und Harm soll’n schwinden
und sind nie mehr zu finden.
©Julia Eichberger
Image: Pixabay.com
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Julia Eichberger, was born 1987 in Stralsund as the oldest kid out of three and lives now in Brandenburg near Berlin with husband and daughter.
She has enjoyed writing since her childhood. In 2012 her first poem was published by a small publishing house (https://www.sperlingverlag.de/). Several poems followed.
A trained banker, Julia is currently working for an insurance company, but since writing is a passion of hers, she still finds time to write short stories and poems. If you would like to read more of her work, check out her website: www.mach-mal-nen-spruch.de
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Silent Night…
SILENT NIGHT…
… was definitely not the motto on Christmas at our house growing up (and still isn’t). The celebrations of Jesus’ birthday usually consisted of singing, playing games, blasting Christmas music, and indulging in good food. The family traditions continue to this day, but the family has expanded quite a bit since my childhood days.
In Germany, the gift exchange traditionally happens on December 24, Christmas Eve. I can still remember when I was a younger kid how excited I was on this day. My anticipation rose to the max when the glass door leading to our living room was covered with linen so that I was unable to see when Santa would arrive to drop off the presents. Nowadays, I couldn’t care less about material gifts, but I am sure we all remember how that was the highlight when we were little.
The “usual” Christmas Eve for my family looked like this: During the day, we would listen to Christmas music, decorate the tree, play games, prepare part of the food for dinner, and just relax. In the younger stages of my life, my grandmas were present with us during the Holidays as well.
At three p.m., we attended the mass at our local church. I grew up in a pretty small suburban town of Dusseldorf, which means that when you went to mass on Christmas Eve, you basically knew everybody attending. So once the service was over, my parents were chatting with neighbors, friends, and acquaintances before we headed back home. At that time, my excitement was almost unbearable, and it seemed like hours until we would finally be back at the house.
But before it was time for the gift exchange, we would all gather around the tree and sing Christmas songs. I know this sounds cheesy, but my father took a lot of pride in establishing this tradition. Later on, when I was a teenager, I was playing the piano while everybody else was singing (probably for the best since I have a terrible singing voice).
Once we finished the last tune, it was present time. After every gift had been unwrapped and inspected, it was time for what is now, being an adult, my favorite part: food. The traditional family dinner consisted of meat fondue with plenty of side dishes. Dinner on Christmas Eve usually lasted for hours and included lots of booze (not for the kids, of course) and laughter.
Once the table was cleaned up, it was time for game night. Card games, board games, activity games…You name it, we did it. Game night was accompanied by more booze and candy. Believe it or not, there was always, always room for candy in my family, even after a multiple-hour dinner. Our Christmas Eve agenda (minus the gift exchange and church visit) usually continued throughout December 25 and 26, which are both Holidays in Germany.
When I moved out to Huntington Beach, I traveled back to Europe for Christmas during the first couple years. I haven’t been to Germany now for two years, but we are keeping the Christmas tradition alive over here in California, including the good food, drinks, games, and laughter. Except for this year, we are having one sweet addition: a two-month-old baby girl. And with that, our Christmas night will definitely be anything but silent.
I wish all of you a very merry Christmas, no matter how you celebrate! Happy Holidays!
Image: pixabay.com
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Anne-Kathrin Schulte is a contributor for CaliforniaGermans.com. She writes about her personal experience of the American Dream as well as on working as an au pair in CA. She was born and grew up in Düsseldorf, Germany, where she completed her degree as a state-approved Kindergarten teacher. After her au pair engagement in the US and a quick return to Germany, she decided to attend university in California and moved back to the United States. She has been living in Southern California since 2011.
If you would like to contact Anne-Kathrin, please send an email to californiagermans(at)gmail.com and place her name in the subject line.
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Weihnachtseindrücke (Ein Gedicht)
Weihnachtseindrücke
(Ein Gedicht von Julia Eichberger)
.
Die Engel singen sanfte Lieder,
leise fällt der Schnee hernieder.
Glöckchen klingen überall
Fröhlich Klang im Weihnachtsschall.
Knirschend versinken meine Füße
in der watt’gen weißen Decke.
Süßer Duft – in jeder Ecke
verteil‘ ich weihnachtliche Grüße.
Lichter leuchten meinen Weg,
auf den ich mich stets begeb‘.
Zart zerschmilzt der Stern,
bleibt mir für immer fern.
.
©Julia Eichberger
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Julia Eichberger, was born 1987 in Stralsund as the oldest kid out of three and lives now in Brandenburg near Berlin with husband and daughter.
She has enjoyed writing since her childhood. In 2012 her first poem was published by a small publishing house (https://www.sperlingverlag.de/). Several poems followed.
A trained banker, Julia is currently working for an insurance company, but since writing is a passion of hers, she still finds time to write short stories and poems.
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Celebrating Saint Nicholas Day. How did you behave all year?
Today is Saint Nicholas Day (Sankt Nikolaus). How did you behave all year? He will know!
Perhaps you were good and could start out your day already with a full boot full of treats. Or you are still waiting until tonight when Saint Nicholas himself comes by and pays you a visit.
Many German families celebrate this beloved tradition the way that they have their children put out a boot overnight from the 5th to the 6th of December so that Saint Nicholas could fill it with oranges, nuts, chocolates, and even small toys. This would, of course, happen only if the child had behaved well all year. Surprisingly, they always had!
In some families, like mine, Saint Nicholas would actually come by in the evening of the 6th of December. Every year it was a big affair. We had friends with their children over to await the honored guest. O my, was I nervous as a young child!
Around 6 pm we would hear little bells and heavy footsteps crunching through the snow towards our patio door looking out onto the black pitch garden. And there he suddenly was! Standing in front of our patio glass door knocking with his white-gloved hand. Saint Nicholas!
All of us kids would huddle together, while my dad would open the door and beckon the honored guest in. Every year we were awed just the same!
Saint Nicholas and his Golden Book of Truth
Saint Nicholas entered our living room. Dressed in a bishop’s robe with a red cape and a Mitra he had a heavy burlap sacket over one shoulder and a huge golden book clasped underneath his other arm that was also holding a golden staff. After we all had greeted him he took a quick glance at the half circle of children asking one of us to come forward to hold his precious crozier. We were all excitedly terrified and intimidated at what to expect next.
He sighed and slowly leafed through his golden book when suddenly stopping at one page, he announced a name and looked at us children with questioning eyes. The one, who had been named, timidly stepped forward and Saint Nicholas looked at him or her with a friendly look and exclaimed in a deep voice: “Now, let’s see what my little angels have written about you over the past year.”
He started reading out of his big golden book all, that he or she had achieved over the year, and what the parents were so proud of. Saint Nicholas would approve with little nods here and there or even utter some words of admiration.
With gleaming faces, we listened to his every word wishing just that the end would not be too embarrassing since everyone else was listening. We were aware that most likely, not everything had been perfect over the year and knew that Saint Nicholas would close by mentioning something we could thrive for and do better in the following year.
Every child had finally been addressed and received a little burlap sacket filled 
with treats, that Saint Nicholas retrieved from his big one. But this wasn’t the end. No!
Now it was time for entertainment! The parents would ask Saint Nicholas to take a seat and enjoy a glass of red wine while he would listen to our, the children’s presentations. Relieved, we children moved to this more relaxed part and recited our poems, played holiday music on our flutes and the piano.
After a short social time with Saint Nicholas, we finally accompanied him back out to the garden where he vanished into the dark, leaving us with the noise of the crunching footsteps in the snow and the jingling of bells in the air.
Exhilarated we ran back inside the house to indulge in unpacking our presents at last.
Image: Title image ©CaliforniaGermans , Pixabay.com