T’is the Season

Are you ready for the holidays yet?

We are, in a sort-of-almost-but-bring-it-on-anyway-kind-of-way. The best that can be expected after we’ve just all been hit first with a stomach bug and then a cold that tried very hard to pretend it was actually a flu. But no running in circles for us – we got a head start this year and don’t go overboard with anything anyway, so there still is enough time to enjoy the pre-Christmas time and tie up a few loose ends.

Our Christmas is made up of elements The Husband and I loved as kids and wanted to share with each other. This is what would have happened whether we were from different cultural backgrounds or not, but given that we are, we ended up creating our own version of a bicultural Christmas. It has changed somewhat since the kids came along and no doubt will continue to change as they grow, but for right now, here is what we do:

• Of German-Lutheran origin, though certainly known around these parts, are our Adventskalendar. The kids have home-made ones that we re-use from year to year. Having nice Adventskalendar was not an annual tradition for either me or The Husband, but I remember how much I loved mine in years I had one, which is why I always knew that the kids would get one, too.

• Baking special Christmas treats seems to be a universal tradition, though The Husband doesn’t do baking, so it’s generally up to me. And I bake up a storm, though mainly from German/northern European recipes, as The Husband is happy with anything sweet and I prefer those over what is found more locally. So, I make Stollen, something I detested as a kid and have come to appreciate as an adult. Also different kinds of cookies, and always at least one batch that involves young children measuring things, wielding cookie cutters, and decorating to their hearts' content with what appears to be unlimited amounts of sprinkles, icing, and whatever other decorations I can find. Since The Husband doesn’t do baking, this involves lots of quality time speaking German.

• Punk 1 and I try to make at least some of our Christmas cards ourselves. Punk 2 still has the attention span of a flee and won’t sit still for any length of time unless large machines are involved, though I am hoping next year he might be interested in helping. Punk 1 also wrote a few of the cards herself this year, in both English and German, and was all around pleased with herself. As she should be, ‘cause she did a really good job.

• This year, for the first time ever, we also made gorgeous folded stars as window decorations. As far as I know, every child in Germany grows up making these for Christmas – and we’ve already asked Oma to send us more of that special paper needed for next year as I can’t find it here.

• Along with all the other local kids, we wrote letters to Santa, but are still waiting for his reply. Santa didn’t offer this special service when The Husband was a kid, so he and I both used to write, colour, cut out and glue our wish lists so our parents could somehow pass them on to Santa.

• The German Nikolaus also comes to our house, as I have mentioned once or twice before. He already did before we had kids, but we now play up the bicultural and bilingual angles much more. As far as our kids are concerned, Nikolaus normally visits the kids in Germany, and only comes to our house because he knows that they are excellent little German-speakers and Papa is making an effort to learn.

• This year, we also went to the latest attempt at a European Christmas market in town. It was much better than previous incarnations, but unfortunately one visit is still plenty. At least they had nice and hot Glühwein, something I no longer take for granted at these local attempts, though none of the traditional treats like Schmalzkuchen, gebrannte Mandeln, and Lebkuchen. None of the atmosphere either, which was worst of all. And get this – the much anticipated visit from Nikolaus was actually a visit from the Dutch Sintaklaas. A bit unfortunate only for those of us who had read in the itinerary that it was Nikolaus who was coming and  had riled up their children all about it. Anyway, I’m hoping that they will bring an improved market back next year as this would be a definite hit on our Christmas to do list.

• Our Christmas tree goes up fairly early, entirely in line with what happens around here. I have come to enjoy having it on every night for a few weeks before the big day, as it is quite nice. It pretty much amounts to sacrilege where I come from, however, as our tree never went up before the 24th and my sister and I would only get to see it, beautifully lit up with real candles, as we came into the living room on Christmas Eve, having just missed Santa. It made our tree more special and it never became part of the furniture that way, but I have come to quite enjoy sitting in front of our tree for most of December now, though I really wish we would use real candles.

• The idea of real candles on Christmas trees does not appear to be palatable to the locals. I have often been told that doing so is “Quaint”, “Ever so cute!!!!” and “So old-fashioned!”, or on the other end of the spectrum “Way too dangerous!!!!” So, we have white electrical lights I can live with. One day we will be going to Germany for Christmas so the rest of the family can see how nice real candles are on trees – and my hope is that The Husband will get over thinking Germans are nuts for putting real candles on wooden things and believe me when I assure him we have never burned down the house. Neither with our tree, nor with our giant Christmas pyramid, another cherished must-have in my family which we don’t have here.

• Our tree is decorated with ornaments we got here (except one that comes from my hometown’s Christmas market), which, judging by people's comments, must look more German than Canadian.

• We sing and listen to both English and German Christmas music, with everything English heavily outweighing German.

• We read and watch Dr. Seuss’ "How the Grinch stole Christmas". More than once, I should add. This was The Husband’s favourite as a kid and totally part of Christmas for him. I encountered it when I first moved here and enjoyed it, but never had any emotional attachment to it until The Husband got me into it. Now Christmas is unthinkable without it for me as well.

• We don’t normally make a traditional Christmas meal, mainly because that’s what we’re having at the in-laws’. But we have different kinds of cookies and Stollen around, and The Husband generally is happy to have all the eggnogg to himself as I still can’t stomach it.

• Christmas Eve we spend with the kids - we have a nice dinner, watch The Grinch or wander around the neighbourhood and look at all the beautifully decorated houses. So far, they haven’t been insisting on waiting up for Santa, mainly because Punk 1 is scared of actually running into him, but I expect young Punk 2 to change that next year at the latest.

• We also participate in my favourite Canadian tradition of leaving out cookies and milk for Santa and a bunch of carrots for Rudolph and his buds, a responsibility Punk 1 has been taking quite seriously for the last two years already. We usually also leave a little note for them, and they leave one for us – and so far Punk 1 has been scared to go downstairs on Christmas morning in case “Santa and Rudolph are still here!!!!” I told her last year that Rudolph might lick Papa’s face and she is quite convinced still that she heard Santa and Rudolph come inside to do just that. She is hoping no one is going to come and lick her face, but young Punk 2 is more adventurous. He finds the whole thing amusing and is quietly hoping either Santa or Rudolph will come and wake him up.

• Gifts come from Santa/Weihnachtsmann, although some people in Germany get their gifts from Christkind (or Christ child). Our kids, however, also get some gifts from us (in hopes this will soften the blow when they find out the ugly truth), though on the whole we don’t go overboard with the gift giving. This year for the first time we’ve decided to give the kids something on Christmas Eve (cozy pajamas, if you must know, so they are all snug and comfy for the long wait for Santa). Opening a few gifts on Christmas Eve (in addition to what happens on Christmas morning) is somewhat known in these parts, maybe even common, and it’s certainly something The Husband’s family, being of German origin a few generations back, used to do, although not necessarily every year.

• These days, Santa at our house follows the North American tradition of arriving in the middle of the night, leaving gifts to be opened the morning on Christmas Day. It gives us a lot of time to lounge around, play with the new toys, spend some time together as a family and eat cookies all day long. We normally head out to the in-laws later that day or on Boxing Day for the big family Christmas party.

And there you have it, the main elements of our mixed up bicultural Christmas. It works for us :)

And for those familiar with both German and Canadian Christmas traditions, you will notice no mention of stockings, Christmas pudding or Adventskranz [Advent wreath] – because we don’t do stockings aside from decorations, The Husband’s family does trifle and what they call Christmas log cake instead of Christmas pudding, and we don't have an Adventskranz because I haven’t made one yet. Maybe next year.

Merry Christmas (or whatever you are celebrating)!