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Welcome to how to make an advent calendar.
Christmas is a special time of year when we remember events of over 2000
years ago, spend time with family and friends, and decorate the home with
festive decorations.
Advent celebrates the weeks before Christmas and many people enjoy
making their own advent calendar. Bring some fun into your preparations for
the festive season by getting creative.
Family Christmas Traditions from Germany
By Jane Roseen
German legend says that, on Christmas Eve, all the rivers turn to wine, the
animals speak to each other and to humans, trees bear fruit, church bells
ring from the sea, and gems pour forth from the mountains. Is it any wonder,
then, that family Christmas traditions in Germany are bold, beautiful, and full
of cheer? When Christmas, or Weihnachten as the Germans call it, rolls
around in Germany, you’ll find lots of beautiful decorations, delicious treats,
and traditional stories to brighten the season.
The first part of December is traditionally reserved for solemn religious
reflection. In years past, this quiet period lasted right up until Christmas itself.
This time included a focus on reconnecting with your religion through
reflection and fasting. Modern Germans, however, tends to use a slightly
shorter period of time while still preserving the idea of concentrating on the
religious aspects of the season..
The four weeks leading up to Christmas (usually beginning just before
December first so as to include four Sundays before Christmas) is the
Adventszeit or Advent season. Many German households include an
Adventskran, or Advent wreath. This is a wreath of leaves with five candles,
usually with four purple candles and one white. On each Sunday of Advent,
one of the purple candles is lit. The white candle is traditionally lit around
midnight on Christmas Eve to signal the birth of the Christ Child. Most
families also have an Advent calendar for each child. There’s a door on the
calendar for each day from December 1st through 25th, and behind each
door the child will find a small chocolate or toy. Many families open their
doors just before bed, giving the children something to dream about in
anticipation of the arrival of Christmas.
Children in Germany tend to honor both St. Nikolaus and the Christ Child in
their traditions. On December 6th, families celebrate St. Nikolaus’s Feast
Day by placing their shoes by the fireplace. The children hope that St.
Nikolaus will deem their behavior throughout the year as good enough to
warrant treats of fruit, nuts, chocolates, candies, and marzipan instead of the
coal and twigs his partner Knecht Ruprecht bestows upon naughty children.
Many modern Germans now use a decorative item like a small wooden sleigh
or shoe in place of actual shoes when waiting for the arrival of St. Nikolaus.
After St. Nikolaus has come and gone, the children write letters to the
Christkindl or the Christ Child, addressing them to his home in Himmelstadt.
According to many accounts, the Christmas tree that has become traditional
throughout many parts of the world originated in Germany. Known as the
Weihnachtsbaum to the Germans, the Christmas tree is traditionally a live fir
or pine tree that is decorated with candles, marzipan, beautifully wrapped
chocolates, hand-blown ornaments, and tinsel. Tradition dictates that the
children of the family aren’t allowed to see the Christmas tree until the
Christmas bell rings on the night of Christmas Eve. Many families now keep
the Christmas tree in a locked room for such a purpose, while others prefer
to put their trees up on Christmas Eve evening.
On Christmas Eve, the German family traditionally starts their evening with a
service at their church. When they return, one member of the family rings the
Christmas bell, signaling the start of the Christmas celebration. The family
then goes to the Christmas tree to open gifts. This tradition of opening gifts
on Christmas Eve is different from many other Western countries, but
remains true to this day. Different parts of Germany believe differently about
who brings the gifts. In the northern part of the country, families traditionally
believe that the Weihnachstmann or Christmas Man brings their gifts. In the
southern part of the country, however, the Christkindl is who brings the gifts
that everyone enjoys.
Then comes the Christmas feast. Different families partake of this feast at
varying times; it can take place before the gift giving, after the gift giving, or
even after the midnight Christmas church service. Regardless, the feast
traditionally consists of a roasted goose or carp and lots of goodies. Some
typical side dishes include Christstollen, which is a long loaf of bread stuffed
with nuts and marzipan fruit; Lebkuchen, or gingerbread; marzipan fruits
themselves; and Stollen, a fruit-filled bread. The feast is usually ended with
plates of cookies and chocolates to bring a proper end to the celebration.
Christmas Day itself is spent with family and friends and usually includes time
for religious activities. The Christmas season doesn’t traditionally end,
however, until January 6th. This day was traditionally used to celebrate the
birth of Christ, and is still used today as the Feast of the Epiphany or Heilige
Drei Könige. This day celebrates the three wise men, and their initials along
with the year are written in chalk above the doors of German homes to
protect the family throughout the year.
Germany is the source of many Western Christmas traditions. While
maintaining their own unique intricacies, Germans have shared their
traditions throughout the world and can be looked to for wonderful ideas on
how you can start your own family Christmas traditions. Maybe this year,
your family can participate in the celebration of the Advent with a beautiful
calendar filled with chocolates, or decorate your tree with marzipan and
cookies. Make the traditions your own, and your family will remember your
Christmas celebration for years to come.
Jane S. Roseen became the sole Owner and President of Harmony Sweets
in 2005. Since then she has taken a small, successful online gourmet
chocolate shop and made it a name recognized world-wide. Harmony Sweets’
original mission focused on individual consumers purchasing gourmet
chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives. Roseen
expanded that mission to include corporate gift-giving.
Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Roseen
Visit our recommended sites for detailed instructions on
how to make an advent calendar:-
Look here - for family crafts & ideas
or here for the
EHow way!
or here for an advent ideas and printable advent pictures for children to
colour
Look here for great ideas on how to decorate your Christmas table and for
links to a great ideas for Christmas table linen, table runners and napkins.
Thank you for visiting how to make an advent calendar
Christmas is a special time of year when we remember events of over 2000
years ago, spend time with family and friends, and decorate the home with
festive decorations.
Advent celebrates the weeks before Christmas and many people enjoy
making their own advent calendar. Bring some fun into your preparations for
the festive season by getting creative.
Family Christmas Traditions from Germany
By Jane Roseen
German legend says that, on Christmas Eve, all the rivers turn to wine, the
animals speak to each other and to humans, trees bear fruit, church bells
ring from the sea, and gems pour forth from the mountains. Is it any wonder,
then, that family Christmas traditions in Germany are bold, beautiful, and full
of cheer? When Christmas, or Weihnachten as the Germans call it, rolls
around in Germany, you’ll find lots of beautiful decorations, delicious treats,
and traditional stories to brighten the season.
The first part of December is traditionally reserved for solemn religious
reflection. In years past, this quiet period lasted right up until Christmas itself.
This time included a focus on reconnecting with your religion through
reflection and fasting. Modern Germans, however, tends to use a slightly
shorter period of time while still preserving the idea of concentrating on the
religious aspects of the season..
The four weeks leading up to Christmas (usually beginning just before
December first so as to include four Sundays before Christmas) is the
Adventszeit or Advent season. Many German households include an
Adventskran, or Advent wreath. This is a wreath of leaves with five candles,
usually with four purple candles and one white. On each Sunday of Advent,
one of the purple candles is lit. The white candle is traditionally lit around
midnight on Christmas Eve to signal the birth of the Christ Child. Most
families also have an Advent calendar for each child. There’s a door on the
calendar for each day from December 1st through 25th, and behind each
door the child will find a small chocolate or toy. Many families open their
doors just before bed, giving the children something to dream about in
anticipation of the arrival of Christmas.
Children in Germany tend to honor both St. Nikolaus and the Christ Child in
their traditions. On December 6th, families celebrate St. Nikolaus’s Feast
Day by placing their shoes by the fireplace. The children hope that St.
Nikolaus will deem their behavior throughout the year as good enough to
warrant treats of fruit, nuts, chocolates, candies, and marzipan instead of the
coal and twigs his partner Knecht Ruprecht bestows upon naughty children.
Many modern Germans now use a decorative item like a small wooden sleigh
or shoe in place of actual shoes when waiting for the arrival of St. Nikolaus.
After St. Nikolaus has come and gone, the children write letters to the
Christkindl or the Christ Child, addressing them to his home in Himmelstadt.
According to many accounts, the Christmas tree that has become traditional
throughout many parts of the world originated in Germany. Known as the
Weihnachtsbaum to the Germans, the Christmas tree is traditionally a live fir
or pine tree that is decorated with candles, marzipan, beautifully wrapped
chocolates, hand-blown ornaments, and tinsel. Tradition dictates that the
children of the family aren’t allowed to see the Christmas tree until the
Christmas bell rings on the night of Christmas Eve. Many families now keep
the Christmas tree in a locked room for such a purpose, while others prefer
to put their trees up on Christmas Eve evening.
On Christmas Eve, the German family traditionally starts their evening with a
service at their church. When they return, one member of the family rings the
Christmas bell, signaling the start of the Christmas celebration. The family
then goes to the Christmas tree to open gifts. This tradition of opening gifts
on Christmas Eve is different from many other Western countries, but
remains true to this day. Different parts of Germany believe differently about
who brings the gifts. In the northern part of the country, families traditionally
believe that the Weihnachstmann or Christmas Man brings their gifts. In the
southern part of the country, however, the Christkindl is who brings the gifts
that everyone enjoys.
Then comes the Christmas feast. Different families partake of this feast at
varying times; it can take place before the gift giving, after the gift giving, or
even after the midnight Christmas church service. Regardless, the feast
traditionally consists of a roasted goose or carp and lots of goodies. Some
typical side dishes include Christstollen, which is a long loaf of bread stuffed
with nuts and marzipan fruit; Lebkuchen, or gingerbread; marzipan fruits
themselves; and Stollen, a fruit-filled bread. The feast is usually ended with
plates of cookies and chocolates to bring a proper end to the celebration.
Christmas Day itself is spent with family and friends and usually includes time
for religious activities. The Christmas season doesn’t traditionally end,
however, until January 6th. This day was traditionally used to celebrate the
birth of Christ, and is still used today as the Feast of the Epiphany or Heilige
Drei Könige. This day celebrates the three wise men, and their initials along
with the year are written in chalk above the doors of German homes to
protect the family throughout the year.
Germany is the source of many Western Christmas traditions. While
maintaining their own unique intricacies, Germans have shared their
traditions throughout the world and can be looked to for wonderful ideas on
how you can start your own family Christmas traditions. Maybe this year,
your family can participate in the celebration of the Advent with a beautiful
calendar filled with chocolates, or decorate your tree with marzipan and
cookies. Make the traditions your own, and your family will remember your
Christmas celebration for years to come.
Jane S. Roseen became the sole Owner and President of Harmony Sweets
in 2005. Since then she has taken a small, successful online gourmet
chocolate shop and made it a name recognized world-wide. Harmony Sweets’
original mission focused on individual consumers purchasing gourmet
chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives. Roseen
expanded that mission to include corporate gift-giving.
Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Roseen
Visit our recommended sites for detailed instructions on
how to make an advent calendar:-
Look here - for family crafts & ideas
or here for the
EHow way!
or here for an advent ideas and printable advent pictures for children to
colour
Look here for great ideas on how to decorate your Christmas table and for
links to a great ideas for Christmas table linen, table runners and napkins.
Thank you for visiting how to make an advent calendar
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From: Health Communications Inc.
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