Karin Bartsch's Journals

Christmas is a special time of the year, no matter whether you are a Christian or not. In older Pagan times it was the celebration of  Winter Solstice and later it was the birth of Christ which gave the winter festival its name.

Anyway - let's celebrate! In Germany there are 4 special Sundays before Christmas, called Advent. It is derived from the Latin advenare - coming nearer, arriving. The first Sunday is called 1.Advent Sunday, which is tomorrow, Nov. 29, 2009. The other 3 Advent Sundays get the numbers in front of them accordingly.

Tomorrow Dieter and I will light a big red candle as a centerpiece on our couch table sitting in a ring  of artificial fir and red little apples. We will remember earlier times in our life.....As a child I remember the Adventskranz, a wreath made from fir branches with 4 candles on it and hung from the ceiling over the dinnertable with big red silky bands fastened by making bows. The 1. Advent is marked by one burning candle, the 2. by 2 and so on.  The room darkened and the candles burning.....Does that paint a picture of comfort? When there is also a "Gluehwein" (hot sweetened and spiced Red Wine) or an Apple Cider or an Egg Nog  on the table, everything will be fine.....

The time of Advent is also a time to bake cookies, to craft little gifts and to write cards.

Here is one  Adventskranz  sitting on the table.

2 candles are burning, that would be on the 2. Advent Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009.

This one looks very tasteful in its simplicity. But there are no limits to your creativity, as far as the colors of the candles and the trimmings go, even the wreath could be made from different material, like fabrics or wood or from artificial white fir branches - with golden candles and ribbons.....

We have to work on Christmas ( Dec. 24. - Dec. 26.) but we will participate  when Christmas Dinner is served in the recreation room on Christmas Day at 1:00 PM.