Christmas is in the Air

My gift packages have been sent, our Christmas picture has been taken, and we’ve watched several Christmas specials on TV. Our decorations are up, minimal though they may be. But, this year we are adding some new experiences to our Christmas season.

First, I have seen my first real holly tree. They are very common here for landscaping. I even snipped a few sprigs for my advent wreath and decorations. Did you know that holly leaves are extremely sharp? The prickers on each point of the leaves are like needles. Ouch! You can see a whole holly tree in our Christmas season photo gallery.

On Sunday, our town of Münsingen had a Weihnachtsmarkt or Christmas market. The streets were filled with with stands selling homemade trinkets, baked goods, and other seasonal items. I finally had my first glass of glühwein. Samichlaus (the Swiss Santa Claus) and his sidekick Schmutzli were walking the streets handing out the traditional gifts of nuts, clementines, and chocolates to any children who do a little song or poem for him. Unaware of this requirement, Emily and James approached him in hopes of free loot, but found themselves singing “Jingle Bells” in front of a crowd of onlookers.

Yesterday, December 6th, was St. Nicholas Day, which is an important part of the Christmas season in Switzerland. As usual, we did it wrong. I grew up with St. Nicholas coming on the night of December 5th and filling our stockings. We don’t have stockings, so the kids left out their shoes (actually they left their rain boots, reasoning that they are bigger and would fit more stuff!). They woke up on the morning of the 6th to find them filled with little treats. But, in Switzerland, St. Nick doesn’t come until the evening of the 6th. Oops. During the day, he visited the schools where both Emily and James received a bag of nuts, chocolates, and clementines. Then, he visits family celebrations in the evening.

I went to choir practice that night, and we sang a beautiful arrangement of “Stille Nacht” as well as other pieces we are preparing for the Christmas service. I was surprised to see tables of – that’s right – clementines, nuts and chocolates, as well as tea, wine, and home made treats. We ended our practice a little early and sat down to share some holiday gemütlichkeit.

The Christmas spirit is definitely in the unseasonably warm air. Now, if only the rain outside would turn to snow…

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