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Thursday, December 21, 2023

The Silence of Christmas

Today I share a blogpost again that I already posted a couple times. Last year, Elephant's Child commented that I can repost this each and every year. I am following her advice.

Since Mary and Joseph have faces, I'm sharing this to Nicole's Friday Face Off

In Germany, our “big day” is not Christmas Day (and we even have two of them!) but Christmas Eve – Heilig Abend (Holy Eve) as it is called. It usually starts out hectic, often with the last big shopping because all of the stores and supermarkets will be closed for the following two days. But around 2:00 pm the shops (including the grocery stores) close and by 3:00 pm at the latest a magical silence covers the entire country like a beautiful veil. The ideal December 24th brings snow in the afternoon and turns the world into a winter wonderland by the time the first church bells start to ring.

Oh, the sound of church bells – how much do I miss this! They ring every day (at 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning, at noon and again at 6:00 pm), but on Christmas Eve all the bells are ringing, from the smallest, highest pitch to the biggest one with the deepest, loudest sound. It’s a concert of bells that resounds through the silence, calling for mass. Christmas services start in the later afternoon, the first ones mainly for smaller children, showing nativity plays and involving the kids. Later in the evening follow the more “grown-up” services with meaningful sermons and the old German Christmas carols sung by the congregation. Everybody knows these songs and since the churches are always packed on Christmas Eve it is a strong and joyful singing.

 

After church it’s back home – and waiting for Christkind (Christ Child). Yes – it often is not Santa coming through the chimney (there are not that many houses with a fireplace anyway) but Christkind. When I was a child I always envisioned Christkind with golden curly hair and a flowing white dress, an angelic smile on its face. It would place the presents in “die gute Stube” (“the good room” = living room) and magically disappear, unseen by anyone. The children are called in and they stand in awe looking at the Christmas tree – that was brought in and decorated only the day before (or even in the morning) and very often carries real candles on its branches. I have always loved the real candles, it smells differently and the whole atmosphere is – yes, magical. After singing a few Christmas carols everybody opens their presents accompanied by Christmas music on the radio.

 

And if you’re still awake or missed the afternoon/evening service you can go to midnight mass – always my favorite Christmas service. A huge tree is lit (some with real candles – we live dangerously in Germany!), the atmosphere is festive and peaceful – it is our “Silent Night, Holy Night”.


May the magic of Christmas touch your heart, wherever you are.




17 comments:

  1. Merry Xmas to you and have a wonderful festive season

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  2. Lovely post. I'm sorry you miss the German traditios for Christmas. I wish you a great time wsith your famis and friends, hugs, Valerie

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  3. ...Carola, I wish a Bright and Merry Christmas.

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  4. My parents were friendly with an elderly couple: two sisters who shared a house and a beautiful garden. When we visited at Christmas they would light the candles on their tree for us, and it was beautiful. I also remember the aroma. Thank you for making me think about it!

    best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  5. All the very best for the season, Carola. Look forward to sharing the New Year with you - David

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  6. It's interesting, but yesterday I was thinking about this post. The image of the bells has stuck with me. And the image of silence. I think that is one thing I love about Christmas Eve is how it can be about silence. Thanks for sharing this again, and I hope you keep doing it. Have a wonderful Christmas Carola.hugs-Erika

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  7. A beautiful post. I love the photos and the story. Traditions are so interesting. Have a very nice weekend.

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  8. Me ha encantado conocer esas tradiciones alemanas. Aquí en el pueblo también tocan las campanas y lo más importante es la Nochebuena, los regalos los traen los Reyes Magos, el 5 de enero. Abrazos.

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  9. Love this beautiful post, Carola.
    Wishing you joy, warmth, and all the magic of the season this Christmas. May your heart be filled with peace and your days be merry and bright. Happy holidays!

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  10. Beautiful. Stillness and snow and church bells ringing.

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  11. Liebe Carola, offenbar wird Weihnachten in den USA doch sehr anders gefeiert als in unseren Breiten. Ich wusste bis vor kurzem weder, dass es keine so stimmungsvollen Adventmärkte gibt noch dass offenbar Mitternachstmetten, Glockengeläut und ähnliche "typisch weihnachtliche" Bräuche nicht von den Europäischen Einwanderern mitgebracht wurden... Echter Kerzenduft gehört für mich auch einfach dazu zu Weihnachten - viel mehr noch als ein Weihnachtsbaum oder Geschenke...
    Danke für die lieben Zeilen bei mir!
    Ich wünsche dir und allen, die du liebst wunderschöne Weihnachten ⛄🎄🕯️ (mit Kerzenduft) und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr 🍄🍀!
    Herzlichst, Traude
    🍀❣️🧸🎠❤️⛄🍄🎄

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  12. Such a lovely post.
    Have a wonderful Christmastime.

    All the best Jan

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  13. Genau so ist es, der Heilige Abend ist der wichtigste des gesamten Weihnachtsfestes. Unser Weihnachtsbaum wird morgen fertig geschmückt und leuchtet dann am Abend zum ersten Mal und unter dem Baum liegen die verpackten Geschänke für die Familienmitglieder... den Kartoffelsalat bereite ich jetzt fertig für morgen, es gibt verschiedenen warme Würste dazu sowie einige Gemüse... Am ersten Feiertag kommt die Gans auf den Tisch und dazwischen geht es in den Wald... und genau zur rechten Zeit hat es geschneit... es ist so herrlich draußen... ich wünsche dir in der Ferne frohe Weihnacht, viel Glück und Segen.
    Eine große Umarmung für dich von Viola
    Und ich kann dir sagen, ich wäre auch sehr gerne mal in deiner Gegend :-)))

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  14. Thank you, Carola, for sharing this post of Christmas celebrations in your home land. Lighted candles on a tree are beautiful and I have seen them myself many years ago. Sending all best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful 🎄that is filled joy and looking forward to the coming new year. Thank you for your posts this year.

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  15. Merry Christmas Carola! Best wishes to you and your family! John

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