Christkind

Day started with MrB popping around doing his Santa Claus imitation. Wasn’t allowed to peep in the lovely packaging. He was on his way out to his hunting area to do his traditional Christmas Eve sign of respect duty – he puts out at various places in the forest piles of tasty food such as fermented chestnuts and apples and tops it off with a few (human) self-made Christmas biscuits. Some will say this is somewhat hypocritical but I can assure you he respects the wildlife on his patch despite being legally obliged to fulfil contractual duties to keep numbers limited. In fact he said today that the county council person responsible for controlling the hunters has hinted that they may reduce the number of deer that have to be shot, something MrB has been asking for, for a long time.

Off for the morning dog walk. It was a warm +3°c according to the car gauge but once outside and in the open it felt like -5°C in the stiff wind.
Home and a spot of lunch after which I took a nap. In the meantime Angie’s eldest sister Brigitte arrived to stay with us for the night. The girls took off for a walk with Luna in Ottobeuren in the wonderful sunshine which had appeared and with now less wind. While there they took a quick look in the Basilica, the photo is from Angie’s mobile during the afternoon service for the youngest children who can’t manage Midnight Mass.

It’s very difficult to photograph the huge scale of the Basilica and especially when it was so dark. I have lightened it a bit to bring out some of the architecture. While they were out, I listened to the BBC Radio’s broadcast of the King’s College Cambridge Carol Service, an old tradition for me.

When they returned, I again loaded both dogs and did a short-ish walk with them along the stream at the edge of the village. It was 18:00 and not a sound to be heard except the church bells. At one point I heard a big splash and because it was dark couldn’t see what it was but assumed it was Luna. However she appeared at that moment also having heard the noise. It must have been one of the very active beavers celebrating the peace of Christmas Eve and thinking nobody was about.

18:00 is about the time most Germans start the big celebration. Here we got St Nicolaus out of the way on 6th December. Tonight is all about the “Christ Child” an angel like figure. Children are “diverted” to undertake some task while Mum and Dad decorate the tree and place the presents underneath it and finally open a window. Then sitting room door closed, a bell rings, children dive in to the room and just miss the Christ child having flown out of the window and lo …. has left presents behind. Family stand around tree sing a carol (Oh Tannenbaum) and if Granny also present a second one (Silent Night). In worst case, poor child has to accompany with a flute or similar musical instrument they are trying to learn to play at school. And then dive in to the presents.

The Christmas meal does tend to vary from region to region but still around 40% go for the simple sausages and potato salad. In other cases it may be a roast goose or carp. I phoned my uncle later near Heidelberg and he and family had just had a roast wild boar. Angie cooked us a pork fillet in a creamy sauce with roast potatoes and very lovely crisp kohlrabi chunks.

I do much prefer the German/Bavarian traditional approach to the whole Christmas thing. I mean the Christian Christmas thing rather than the Xmas, Santa bit. Each has its own “right” of course and I don’t knock the Santa hats and all that but it’s not what I class as Christmas.

But then I am an old grumpy type and Christmas lost it’s meaning for me 27 years ago. My own fault. But tomorrow I will be back in the swing of things when taking part, if only digitally, with the grandchildren and children’s British Isles Christmas Day. Don’t forget the sherry guys and now off to bed, Santa is on his way.