Christmas Like it Used to Be

Every year when Christmas looms on the horizon, I start longing for home- the land of my childhood and Christmas memories. In Germany we celebrate on Christmas Eve or Heiligabend as it is called in German. Leading up to it is Advent, starting four Sundays before Christmas, marked by lighting a candle each week on an advent wreath. This is usually kept on the table in the family room where, in the old days, the family gathered and sang Christmas carols.

On 1 December, the tradition is to give children an advent calendar with little doors numbered 1-24, each containing a piece of chocolate. It makes counting the days and the wait till Christmas easier for the impatient little ones. If you like crafts you can make your own. I used to tie 24 little parcels on a ribbon or garland, filled with mini something's like candy, tiny toys, or crayons.

Everybody loves St. Nicholas who, on Dec 6, rewards children that have been good during the year by placing little surprises in their boots which they put outside the door that night. Of course they need polishing first. The naughty ones receive a fir twig, a little symbolic punishment. This tradition survives from pre-politically correct days, but it is always mitigated by some goodies.

We exchange our gifts on Christmas Eve. Until then all the presents are well hidden somewhere, not always easy under prying eyes. The 24th is a busy day marked by secret preparations, with the parents sneaking in and out of the living room where the tree is decorated behind closed doors. The tree has to be real, often a noble fir.

My parents had an understanding that Papa would take me out in the car pretending to do a last minute errand while Mama got everything ready including a special meal.

After dark, with all the family washed and dressed up, waiting around, a mysterious little bell was heard. The sign that Father Christmas had graced us with a visit. The door of the living room would open revealing a tree with real candles and the presents laid out underneath. Children's eyes would glaze over at this stage; carol singing was to follow before anybody was allowed to open presents. Kids will play till late, but also let the parents sleep in the morning.

We kept up our traditions when we moved abroad against a tidal wave of early presents and artificial trees with electrical fairy light while the neighbors' kids wondered why Santa Claus would make an exception for Germans and come early.

I can still smell the aromas of fresh Christmas cookies and the combined fragrance of Firtrees and candles. For me there is no fascination in electric lights. Naturally, you have to watch it and yes, occasionally someone would have a fire. So we had a bucket of water at the ready. Best to blow out the candles when you leave the room.

Stollen, marzipan and advent calendars are available here. But in shorts and T-shirts and with the kids having flown the nest it's not the same. Maybe with the arrival of the next generation and the patter of little feet, I'll regain my enthusiasm.

Having lived in different countries in Europe, Ursula Siebert was a teacher, lecturer, farmer's wife who then turned a businesswoman. Now married in FL, she works as a free-lance writer.