This year is so different from anything that I have ever planned; this year’s memories will be shared with school friends, with new friends, and my family! They will not be shared at my church home, or with neighbors, there will not be family Christmas parties, or the warmth of a house on Thanksgiving morning! I think that I am prepared to except the differences that this season will bring. I believe that we all are ready to embrace the new traditions that will come, and enjoy the warmth of the individual moments!
Holidays in Germany are so wrapped in traditions (some of which I have learned, some of which I have no idea about)! We (the Howes family) are very excited about all of these new traditions! The first one was last Friday as we celebrated St. Martin’s day and a Lateran Walk! Basically, the younger children at ISS make a Lateran in art class and then at first sign of dark head into the gardens, or the forest singing a traditional German song and walk under the candle light! It is so lovely! For me this walk signified the first sign of winters approach and the feeling of the holidays nearing!
We Americans all know that Thanksgiving is coming which in the states. Here Thanksgiving is only celebrated by a small group! We have school that day, because it is not a Holiday (no pilgrims and Indians here)! Luckily, the ISS PTA makes a big deal out of Thanksgiving and those that want to can return to school that evening and enjoy a community style meal! Also, I am lucky because our family has been blessed with friends that live only a few hours away, and we will spend the whole weekend after Thanksgiving in Regensburg celebrating Faux-Thanksgiving...they are even saving the DVR of the parades so we can pretend Saturday that we are actually having Thanksgiving!
While we are in Regensburg we will also start a new Christmas tradition...OUR VERY FIRST WIEHNACHSTMARKT! These are the Christmas Markets so famously portrayed throughout the world! There are so many of them, almost every city has them, streets filled with stalls of food, and gifts. Some even have rides and ice skating rinks! They are an amazing site, I have just begun to see the buildings go up and I am overcome with JOY!
Another new tradition coming our way is St. Nicholas Day on December 6. On this day the children wake to find the shoe that they have placed outside filled with a small toy, nuts, candy, and fruit! Kinda fun, a mini Christmas surprise so early in the month! I have heard from the German families that the children have wised up over the years and now place their dad's shoes outside so that more treats will fit inside! I am hoping that my children do not learn of this!
In the spirit of new traditions we also will have things like Christmas programs. Abby will play an Angel from Poland in hers, and Ethan is part of the Choir in his. We have advent activities, the kids made their own calendar this year. We have a new church, with their various programs to enjoy; and of course we will have our very first Christmas in Germany!
So, yes there is a ton of tradition to miss...but really the only option is to embrace the new! To be excited about the abundance of new things to do and discover here! I have always loved the Holidays, I have always loved the warmth of the season, the memories created and shared, and here, in Germany the possibilities are vast!
Welcome and Warm greetings to the season!
PS. My Christmas Cards will still hit the mail Thanksgiving Day! Hehe :)
You have such a great outlook! Yes, the holidays will be different - but, a good kind of different. We are really looking forward to our faux-Thanksgiving and exploring the Christkindlmarkts with you all. The traditions, food and experiences you have in the next month will be amazing! (BTW - love how your Blog is coming along... love reading it!)
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