Christmas!

At the weekend we got our Christmas decorations up.  It's an event that I usually look forward to and really enjoy.  Usually...  This year I struggled a bit.  We were (are) running late with everything Christmas-related.  It feels like time is flying, I haven't started my Christmas cards and I ordered the first Christmas presents yesterday.  Isabella was very upset when the neighbours had their decorations up and we didn't.  I just wanted to get past Joshua's birthday first.

As promised, we went up in the loft and brought down the boxes.  I always forget how much we have.  The tree is packed and I wasn't too upset when a couple of ornaments were dropped on the tiles - although trying to stop a two year old running through glass splinters while you run for the vac, is an impossible task.  Stress levels went through the roof.

I also forget we always have new decorations from gifts the year before so it is nice to rediscover them and find them a home.

On the whole, I was glad we did it and I love the cosy Christmas lights on an evening.  I'll be happier when we have gotten everything ready (so that'll be about midnight on Christmas Eve...) but I'm starting to enjoy this not-so-slow slide towards the holidays.

Nikolaus

Yet another German celebration that is so much more fun with kids.

This morning we got the kids up early to find their shoes filled with gifts - books and chocolate from us, toys and chocolate from Oma and Opa.  They both loved it.

At Kindergarten it had been a big deal to leave out a shoe under the Christmas tree yesterday and they were filled with some healthy snacks - satsuma, peanuts and a little bit of chocolate.  

Even Joshua had a satsuma and chocolate in his slipper.

At work, Nikolaus had left chocolates and a candle on the desks and a chocolate in the pigeon holes.

It is such a sweet tradition and I love it. In the evening, some children go door to door to sing for sweets - kind of a cross between Halloween and Christmas caroling.

This year I am a bit late getting to grips with Christmas.  I haven't started my shopping, made my cards or put up my decorations so I'm hoping to get a bit more into the spirit at the weekend and I am planning to get ahead of the game next year (but I seem to remember saying that last year too).

Wedding Anniversaries

Here in Germany tradition and family are celebrated in a big way. At the weekend we were at a silver wedding anniversary party for Nico's aunt and uncle. The family had met in the week before to prepare a garland and that was hung over their front door on Sunday morning. Their daughters had prepared a big party and invited family and friends. The weather was glorious and it was lovely to help them celebrate such a special occasion.

The year after I met Nico we attended his grandparents' golden wedding anniversary with a blessing at the church and a reception afterwards. At our own wedding, we met a couple celebrating their golden anniversary at the same church which was special.

Germans even celebrate a parsley wedding anniversary at twelve and a half years but I haven't attended one yet.

The first 'big' one is wood at five years, which we happen to have in July, so I am excited to see what happens!

Easter Fire

On Sunday Dad and I took Isabella to meet her friends at the local Easter bonfire. She saw two friends with their families and Isabella had a little snack although she wasn't impressed by the bonfire.

When it got dark we found a good spot to watch the highlight - these fire wheels. Isabella loved it and the fireworks that followed. Also, she was good and tired that night.

Fun Wedding

 This weekend we drove four hours to Arnstadt in Thuringen to celebrate our lovely friends' wedding. If I'm honest, I was dreading it - four hour drive, hotel with two little kids, a full on wedding day with said kids. I couldn't have been more wrong.

 These two put a lot of pressure on themselves to provide their guests with a fun day of activities.

After a beautiful ceremony, in which they were married by the same registrar who married the groom's parents, there was a group photo and a delicious lunch.

 After lunch we broke into two groups for a guided tour of the town. One group had a Russian translator for the bride's family and friends.

Arnstadt is actually the hometown of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He worked as an organist in the above church. There are also links to Martin Luther. The tour was really interesting.

After a chance to change we drove up a mountain for a treasure hunt. We were split into groups and we were with another young family with an easy route.

When we found our treasure, we let Isabella 'dig' it up; she was over the moon. It was fun and the weather was glorious all day.

After another quick change, we drove to the reception for some traditional fun, food and dancing.

It was a wonderful day for a wonderful couple.

Advent Preparation

Getting ready for baby number two has brought some of my festive season preparations forward and I'm all ready for Advent this year.

Advent is a much bigger deal here and it starts next week! Isabella has two calendars - this daily one that I made last year, and a weekly one.

She was a bit young for the whole experience last year but she's already picking up on prearations this time. As always, we're trying to combine traditions and part of that is moving the focus off chocolate. In her daily calendar, Isabella will be getting one chocolate and one piece from a 24-piece BieneMaya jigsaw.

For her weekly one, I've rounded up four small gifts - a torch, figures, a car. I'm so looking forward to her opening them!

Just Christmas to finish sorting now!

World Savings Day

As I mentioned at the weekend, Friday was world savings' day. I don't remember this being such a big event in England but here in Germany it's especially fun for children.

We set up a savings account for Isabella when she was about six months old. There are only so many toys she can play with at that age and she often receives money as gifts. Since she has all she needs, all this money goes into her money box or her account. One stipulation to the account is that a monthly payment is made so we give her a little something too.

It's really important to me that she has a good financial upbringing and avoids debt. Bringing her up in Germany certainly helps as banks here are much more responsible in not throwing credit cards at you.

On world savings day, children take their money boxes to the bank to be emptied into their account. As a reward they can choose a gift. Isabella picked this cute seal to go with her owl from last year. She also received a balloon animal and discovered the play corner in the bank.

It was really busy but it was fun and a tradition that we will be continuing.

Easter Fire

 On Sunday we visited the Easter fire in Leeste.  We arrived really late last year and missed most of the action.  This year we met up with one of Isabella's little nursery friends and his parents and it was really nice.

First we went to the main bonfire.  It was huge!  The little ones enjoyed it and had a little run around.  Then we had some chips and drinks before heading over to the hill to prepare for the main event.

It took forever to get dark and set up and that  was the worst bit for the kids but it was worth it.  Here in Leeste, they prepare big rolls of hay, set them on fire and roll them down the hill.  Isabella was stood right at the front of the crows and thought it was brilliant. 

She was asleep before we even got back to our street and had a lie in on Monday morning!  This will definitely be an annual outing.

Kohltour

After five and a half years in Germany I finally experienced my first Kohltour. It's a winter tradition in Germany and certainly brightens up January.

We met at our neighbours' for coffee, cake and the sharing out of pretzels. Everyone was well wrapped up. The pretzel and a shot glass are worn on a string around your neck. The queen from last year had prepared a trolley with schnapps, snacka, mulled wine and games.

We walked from their house on a mystery tour to a restaurant. At each junction, the schnapps was passed around and on two of the stops we played team games. It was great to chat with our neighbours and get to know them better after a year of short chats over the fence.

We passed several other groups on tours and at the restaurant there were about twenty groups enjoying their kale and sausage dinner. There was music and dancing and the new kings and queens were chosen.

Afterwards, we walked back in the snow which was nice. Really looking forward to next year too!

German Weddings

In the first week of the holidays, some of our friends got married in Nico's home town. For me, it was my first German wedding with the exception of our own where we tried to mix things as much as possible.

When we got there, they were taking photos in the church. There's none of the 'groom can't see the bride before the wedding' here. On one hand, I think it takes some of the excitement away but it also seemed to be less stressful.

After the photos the couple went away. All of the guests lined the path to the church, women on one side, men on the other. The men were all given a buttonhole and guests with cars were given a decoration for their car. This was nice as everyone got to see the couple.

The service itself was similar to any church service.

Afterwards, guests travelled to the reception in convoy. It's normal to beep the horns all the way.

There is a traditional soup at the reception. Then this wedding had a buffet. It's normal to have lots of entertainment at the reception. Family preared various things at our wedding and that was the same here. Apart from the speeches, one group of friends did a special song and dance. The siblings of the bride and groom arranged for guests to make video messages which were shown at the wedding. They also distributed decorated pegs for guests to find random groups of five for a random photo booth shot.

We arrived home at six in the morning. Weddings here are usually later - the service was at three - and the celebrations go on all night until the candle dance. This is another sweet tradition where the happy couple closes the day with a slow dance.

It was really nice to see a traditional German wedding and to celebrate with our friends.

The Shooting Festival

Saturday was the annual shooting festival in Nico's home village of Zahrensen. As his uncle was crowned shooting king last year, he held a lunch before the festival and we were invited.

Luckily the weather played along and we ate a lovely lunch with family and friends. Some were other shooting club members who helped to host the lunch.

All of the club members, including Nico's parents, brother and grandparents, wore a uniform - black trousers, white shirt and green ties and blazers with badges to mark various past competitions or achievements.

After lunch, a marching band with other club members arrived. They stayed for a few drinks before marching back to the club for coffee and cake. There was also a bouncy castle for kids.

I was quite surprised at the range of ages of members. Sometimes there were three generations of a family present. I find that really reassuring in this day and age where many traditions seem to be disappearing.

Here, many towns and villages have shooting festivals. Leeste's is this weekend.

Once Isabella got used to her new surroundings, she was off entertaining and charming family and strangers alike. She loved the bouncy castle.

Routines

One of the exciting things about buying  house for me, is starting new family routines and traditions with Isabella. It's already been really nice having breakfast together in the kitchen on a morning with radio and no television.

Something else I want to start next week is reading Isabella a bedtime story. I know she doesn't understand yet but it's never too early to start.

If we manage to get unpacked in time, I'm looking forward to finding a new spot for our Christmas tree and seeing Isabella's reaction to Christmas time.

Also, I'd like to do something as a family on a Friday night. Both Nico and I have fond family memories of marking the start of the weekend.

What family traditions mean the most to you?

Schnappszahl

Last week I learnt a new word - Schnappszahl.  This is the name given to a number were all the figures are the same.  I bought some flowers at the supermarket and the total came to 7.77.  When we got home, we enjoyed a celebratory schnapps!

New Year's Eve - German Style!

As I've probably mentioned many times now, this New Year's Eve was my first in Germany.  In fact, I believe it was my first outside of Morley...  I really enjoyed trying some new traditions this year: melting lead and setting off fireworks.  Okay the latter isn't completely new but it's much bigger in Germany and it was the first time I have ever lit one myself.

The lead melting was fun but as I was warned, most of the results looked like tear drops.  We thought some could also have been birds which tended to be lucky on the list of results but lots of things weren't on the list.  I'd definitely try it again.

The fireworks were also fun.  The pictures came out fairly well too.  It was nothing compared to what actually went off at midnight but it was fun for us and I'm no longer scared of them!  You can even see me running away from that first one, having lit it.

Traditions

Last weekend we went out and bought our rings (that's not them above - we pick them up next weekend).  It's the first thing we've done for the wedding and we're already discovering the different traditions between England and Germany.  In Germany, normally, you wear a ring on your left ring finger as an engagement ring and transfer it to the right ring finger on the wedding day.  This is how Nico is going to do it.  However, I already wear a ring on my right hand and am quite superstitious.  I've never worn a ring on my left hand as it's supposed to be bad luck.  For these reasons, I ordered a separate engagement ring and will wear both on my left hand.  I love the rings, I can't wait to wear them!  I also love that we are keeping both traditions and really enjoy discovering the differences.