Austrian Christmas

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD
(Christmas as I remember it, by Gerdy Wyatt)

[Editor's note: this was written by my mother, who grew up on a farm in what was then Bohemia but after the war became part of the Czech Republic.]

First, I'd like to clarify that I came from Bohemia and our customs and traditions might be a little different from those in Germany, but our language was German.

In my home the Pre-Christmas Season starts with Advent, which is a time for fasting and penitence as a way to prepare for the coming of Christ. This time of year is rather cold, dark, and gloomy. So, to symbolize the hope and anticipation of the coming of our Savior, a German clergyman started the tradition of the Advent wreath by adding a candle on each end of a cross, which he kept on his table. He added some evergreens - the symbol of life, which he arranged in a circle, the symbol of eternity. He lit one candle each week preceding Christmas, thus the advent wreath was born. At our house it was suspended by red ribbons from the ceiling above the table. It has now become a tradition in many countries. We also have an Advent calendar, which keeps the children's focus and attention directed toward Christmas. Each day one door or window is opened to reveal a little surprise.

Following the beginning of Advent, we celebrate St. Nickolaus, whose Feast day is celebrated on the 6th of December. In my village, St. Nickolaus was dressed like a bishop and with him came his helpers, Knecht Ruprecht, who carried a sack filled with apples and nuts, and Grampus, who was dressed rather shabbily and wore chains around his waist, presumably to carry off any children who had misbehaved. St. Nickolaus and helpers usually arrived with lots of noise and commotion, giving us ample time to find a safe place close to Grossvater, or behind Mother's apron. After entering the house with elaborate greetings and stories about the long journey, which seemed to put us somewhat at ease (we were seven children at home), St. Nickolaus would engage each child individually in conversation and ask about our achievements and if we behaved and listened to our elders. We then were encouraged to show what we'd learned by singing a song or reciting a poem. After proving that we were good, St. Nickolaus would pass out some apples or nuts, and if we were exceptionally good, maybe a book. If we were bad, Grampus rattled his chains and tied us up and dragged us out into the darkness, where, after our pleading and promising to be better he would release us. This experience usually encouraged us to cooperate with parents and siblings alike, until long after the Holidays had passed and the weather was such that we were able to work off our energy outside again.

From St. Nickolaus day on, there was a lot of hustle and bustle, as my mother and my older sisters were baking. Many of the traditional cookies, such as Lebkuchen, Zimtsterne, Aniseplaetzchen, and Weihnachtstollen are better after "resting" in airtight containers for a few weeks, usually in pretty tins with Christmas motifs on them. Sometimes the Stollen were wrapped in cloth which had been soaked in rum.

This also became a time of family togetherness. Our kitchen was rather large, as it also doubled as our dining room and in winter as family room. It was there that all the Christmas Season activities were taking place. Our house was a farmhouse which in those days did not have central heat, therefore the kitchen was the warmest and most comfortable place in the home. My Grandfather would tell us stories of his childhood and so it became a lesson in family history. He also showed us how to "pastel," which means to be creative. We made whistles and little baskets from willow branches and we cut shapes into raw potatoes and poured melted wax or lead into them to make ornaments and toy soldiers. Even the girls had their own whittling knives. We also made lanterns out of balsa wood or heavy construction paper . We cut Christmas motifs, such as Christmas trees, candles, stars or angels, into the side panels and glued colored paper over the cutouts so when we lit the candle inside, it would give a stained glass effect. We took these to Mass on Christmas Eve to light our way, as there were no street lights in our village in those days, and we walked in the snow. People from farther away came by buggy or horse-drawn sled. My Grandfather and my Father both played the violin, and my grandfather played in the church choir, and my Aunt sang in the choir, therefore they sometimes practiced at home, adding to the festive feeling. (I do not remember my Grandmother, as she died when I was only two years old).

During this time the geese were being fattened by force feeding them a special diet of "Gaensenockerln" which were specially prepared from grains, boiled and mashed potatoes and eggs. This was to ensure a delicious "Weihnachtsgaensebraten," or roasted goose, which was our traditional Christmas Day dinner. At the same time the geese' chests were plucked of the fine down feathers which were saved to make the famous German feather beds that were an expected part of each daughter's dowry.

Also the Karpfen (carp) were being readied for the Christmas Eve dinner. This was done by cleansing them of the muddy taste by catching them a few days ahead and letting them swim in a large tub of fresh water. Remember, Christmas eve is still a fast day.

Christmas proper started with "Heiligabend" which means "Blessed Evening." While the children were kept busy with some of the above-mentioned activities, the freshly cut "Weihnachtsbaum" or "Kristbaum" (Christ's Tree), was being decorated in the living room, so the living room was off-limits to the younger children. The tree was decorated with real candles, lots of silver and golden glass ornaments, "Lametta" (or icicles and tinsel), candy, nuts, and fruit. When the candles were lit it became a sight of radiance and beauty.
Dinner on Christmas Eve always consisted of breaded, fried carp, potato salad, and German (called "Boston or Butter") lettuce here. After dinner we got ready for "Metternacht" or Midnight Mass. It was always very special, since we children were not often allowed to stay up this late. Also, the walk to church, which in our case was not very far, was nevertheless very beautiful with the snow glistening, and with the stars very bright since there were no city lights anywhere to diminish their sparkle.

Mass on this Holy Night was mostly a celebration with glorious songs. The children gathered about the Nativity scene, where they placed their lanterns around the crib. Many of these beautiful Christmas carols such as "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" and "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum" have become famous throughout the world. Every time I hear them, some of that childhood wonder returns and fills me with warm memories.

After Mass, on the way home we would search the sky for a glimpse of "Kristkindel" or Christchild as we were sure that it was near. Once in a while someone would see a falling star and our imaginations would run wild trying to guess if it was the Kristkindel and whether it had already come to our house. After arriving home we would gather in the large kitchen for some hot cider or other warm drink, all the while listening for the bells to ring which was a sure sign of Kristkindel's presence, at which time we would storm into the living room where a wondrous sight awaited us. Seeing that Kristkindel had stopped at our house was always more exciting to us than the gifts, which usually were handmade wooden toys, maybe a doll, and always some clothes. We children believed Kristkindel brought the tree and gifts.

Since most of my relatives were farmers and in winter not much work can be done in the fields, this became a time to visit back and forth, hence all the cookies and cakes came in handy. Also, with every visit we would get some small present. This pretty much went on until Epiphany (6th of January), at which time the tree would be taken down, signaling the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Farthest north I've ever been

http://bit.ly/galbraithlake

Above the Arctic Circle.
Above the treeline.
We had temperatures of 70 degrees below zero Fahrenheit with wind chills of 110 degrees below zero in January 1987.
We slept in tents whenever the temperature dropped past 40 below.

Did you know that a hardened steel wrench will break if you drop it at 50 below?

This is Pump Station Four on the Alyeska (Alaska) Pipeline at Galbraith Lake.

happy hour haiku

drinking on friday
mojitos go down easy
then the morning comes

a haiku?

there's a place inside
that needs tenderness and love
it's a quiet place

sometimes easy to find
but sometimes it's miles away
all but forgotten

there are not many
but there are a few people
who have cradled it

held it, nurtured it
encouraged its awakening
shuddered with its pain

it's in all of us
when we look at one another
we see it or not

it's in how one looks
whether it is seen or not
perhaps it's a gift

truly, there's a choice
it's easy to close our eyes
sometimes even best

but we must take care
to make certain it's a choice
and not a habit

polish your mirror
share what you see with others
help them polish theirs

mates

in the year of her birth
my universe was split
until she could find me
i would never be whole

it's a dangerous energy
that can yield life or death
learning to let it flow
is our essence

sex, it's not just for breakfast anymore