WEIHNACHTEN

(Snow!)

Frohe Weihnachten!

Merry Christmas!

I missed Berlin so much last Christmas. Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas Markets) have been my reason for living ever since I visited one for the first time two years ago. I love this "Christmas-y" feeling and I never get that more than when I'm drinking Glühwein and listening to Christmas music in the cold (but not Minnesota cold).

(Amusement-park-like Weihnachtsmarkt at Alexander Platz)






(Warm coats at the Kulturbrauerei)


(zum warm werden)

It's been amazing being at a school too. They "get to" celebrate Christmas in school in Germany. As a person who does indeed celebrate Christmas, this is great. I wouldn't tell congress to change how it works in the US, but it's certainly fun for me here and now. There were Christmas trees everywhere and Advent Calendars in every classroom, mostly homemade ones.

At one school there was a great Christmas concert. I want to put up more pictures, but I wonder how great it is to put up pictures of kids online without their knowing.

(This seems safe)

There were also two buffets for the teachers which I blame for my holiday weight gain in a very good way.

(Maybe a third of the buffet)


(The Christmas party for teachers)

At the other school a class sang a song, told a joke, or told a story in the second period of every day of school in December.

I was also lucky enough to be able to make Plätzchen (Christmas cookies) with Oma.

One type of cookies was apparently so bad that someone had to spit it out, but I'm pretty sure the rest were really great.

Vanessa and I also went to a Christmas concert in the Berliner Philharmoniker. One of the teachers from the school that we work at together sang in it. She was one of many, but I'm pretty sure she sang the best.

(Oh Germany, this is a fancy affair, Pretzels? You're so awesome)


(BVG)

Frohen Nikolaustag!

Happy St. Nikolaus' Day! This is the day that kids get candy and toys in their shoes. That's the important part. The bad kids get twigs, though, as a warning to be good or they'll get nothing for Christmas. Sometimes they put in a wish list for Christmas too.

I'm celebrating today by lighting the first two candles on my Adventkranz (Advent wreath). I missed lighting the first one on the first Advent because I didn't want...to pay for it. After the first Advent my Adventkranz was only 5 Euros as opposed to 12. Score. I supposed that means I get think about Hope (candle one) and Love (candle two) on one day!

I'm also going to a Christmas concert with people from work. Should be fun.

I'll also be enjoying opening all of my Advent calendars. One with quotes from the Bible thanks to an Aunt (I'm not Christian, but I appreciate the advice), one with Chocolate thanks to a co-worker and one with tea thanks to the Sagerts. Am I ever a lucky duck.

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