Today’s blog recalls an earlier era when our children were young and living in a magical German village during my first Fulbright year. They counted down the days until December 25 with Advent calendars and put a BIG shoe outside their door the evening of Dec. 5 for a visit from Nikolaus on Dec. 6. This poem is reprinted with love from us to all our family, friends and readers during this Advent season. It is a time to value one another and to share our love.
Advent Season
A time of hope, anticipation.
Crisp air outdoors. Candles,
lights, wreaths abound. Advent
calendars to count down.
Small surprises, sweets
behind the tiny doors.
Shouts of glee at the
prizes in little hands.
Smells of fir boughs,
pinecones, gingerbread
houses, baked goodies.
Traditions and rituals.
My classroom desk in
Germany held wonderment
as I walked in. An Advent
wreath with a lit candle.
Thirty faces watched me
as I reacted in surprise and
expressed thanks to all
the smiling faces.
How different it was this
Fulbright Year of teaching
in Germany. Still years later
our lives forever changed.
Moonlit walks on snowy
December nights through the
tiny village in Germany.
Outdoor Christmas markets
adorn towns with sights,
smells, sounds of Christmas
music. Rich traditions and
new cultural experiences.
One shoe outside the door
awaiting the visit of Nikolaus
to fill it with candy and fruit.
A revered day – December 6.
The Christ Child visits on
Christmas eve when families
gather to exchange their gifts.
Church services at midnight.
There is much to be said
for sacred family time and
celebrations. Stores closed on
Sundays, holidays. These
days remain in our hearts
and minds to be forever
treasured and shared in
future shared holidays.
We love the old fashioned
Christmas when people
take time to value one another
and share their love.
Wonderful memories, Mary Ann! ❤ Wishing you and yours a blessed and beautiful Advent Season. xo
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Thanks, Bette. A magical time of year with great anticipation both in church and outside of church. Enjoy the weekend, Mary Ann ^__^
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Liebe Mary Ann,
die faszinierende Schilderung Deiner Erfahrungen mit dem Ablauf der Advents- und Weihnachtszeit in Deutschland während Deiner Lehrtätigkeit berührt tief Herz und Seele.Ich freue mich,daß Du diese Zeit mit Deinen Kindern hier verleben konntest.Diese Erlebnisse des Frieden in der Weihnachtszeit bleiben bestimmt das ganze Leben in Erinnerung und im Bewustsein.Dir,liebe Mary Ann,Deinem Mann und Deinen Kindern wünsche ich auch in den USA
eine besinnliche friedvolle Zeit.Ich weiß,daß sich die Art des Begehens der Weihnachtszeit ein wenig von unseren Gepflogenheiten unterscheidet.Euch alles,alles Liebe und Gute ,
Dein Arno
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Lieber Arno, unsere Familie wurde bereichert durch unsere Jahre in Deutschland und durch die Teilnahme an und den Unterricht an deutschen Schulen. Ja, diese Erfahrungen werden ein Leben lang erhalten bleiben. Unsere Kinder sind heute verständnisvolle und tolerante Individuen. Die Welt braucht mehr solche Menschen, damit das gegenseitige Verständnis der anderen zum Weltfrieden führt. Es beginnt mit einer Person. Dies ist eine magische und doch spirituelle Zeit des Jahres für uns. Ja, unsere Traditionen mögen etwas anders sein, aber in den Herzen und Köpfen aller von uns ist Liebe und der Wunsch nach Frieden und Glück. Von uns zu Dir und Deiner Familie, wünschen wir Euch einen spirituellen Advent und ein wunderbares, friedliches Weihnachten und Neujahr. Liebe Grüße, Deine Mary Ann 🙂
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Hab ein wunderschönes erstes Adventswochenende, Mary Ann! 😊
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Vielen Dank. Viele Grüße für die Adventszeit wünsche ich auch. Enjoy the weekend, Mary Ann
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Lovely post. I haven’t seen a snowman in oh so long. Thank you!
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Thanks for the lovely comment. Sometimes we have lots of snow to build snowmen. A fun activity to be certain. Since we receive the most snow of any city of our size in the lower 48, I anticipate we will do that again this year. About 120″ on average. So enjoy the snowmen!
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Herzlichen Dank. Alles Gute.
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Vielen herzlichen Dank! Auch Ihnen und Ihrer Famile eine schöne Adventszeit. Michael 😉
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Danke, danke, danke, Michael. A blessed Advent to you and your family, Mary Ann
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Wonderful! I have to apologize for late revisiting. Sorry! Wish you a great, blessed Advent Season. The “good old time” was much more better in this. Now its only the chocolate figure, and perhaps some songs. 😉 Michael
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Ah, yes, the good old days. Blessed Advent season to you as well, Michael. And many thanks for re-blogging the posts.
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Mary Ann, this is a lovely poem of Christmas celebration and your years in Germany were formative for you all. I love the snowman photo…is that now? Have you had so much snow? We had a tiny fluttering and you should see the excitement that generated! Ahh…once the advent candles are out,the first one lit then the peace of the Christmas season is upon us. Hope you had a lovely special first adventure! 😀❤️
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Thank you for your kind comment, Annika. The snowman photo is a few years ago. My daughter recently sent it so I included it. We have had dustings of snow here and there, but nothing major yet. I hope it holds off for the next three weeks so I don’t have to drive to night rehearsals and performances. Look to your twitter account for a note from me. Advent candles at church. We both have been too busy with music making. I’ll simply light a couple candles this weekend to make up for it. Love this magical time of year. Enjoy your family and Advent.
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That works well too…lighting two candles at once! Hope the rehearsals are going well. BTW I don’t have any message from you in my twitter. Wishing you a lovely evening. xx
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Oh gosh, I wrote two answers to your first one. It’s not something to write here either. Rehearsals are going well. It looks as if it’s Baltimore for me this year and not the UK. 😦 Perhaps another time.
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I enjoyed your poem and memories from a German Christmas. We were blessed to spend one Christmas in Germany while we were living in England. We went to a Christmas Eve service in Munich, and I was thrilled to recognize ALL of the music, from the organ pieces to the carols. We are Lutheran, so these things were part of our heritage. Snow fell gently every day. What a magical time it was!
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Your kind comment is much appreciated, Anne. How lovely that you were able to experience a German Christmas in a beautiful city. This time of year is magical and with gently falling snow, it must have been a wonderful experience for you and your family.
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Our German Christmas was magical. A college friend and his wife shared their Christmas Eve dinner with us before going to be with family.
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Remembering good times with family and friends is so important in life. It gladdens my heart to hear of such accounts like your Christmas Eve dinner in Germany. Thanks for your comment. Much appreciated.
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