Bavarian Christmas Day 4-Postal coach and give-a-way II

A ride in the postal coach

One of the staple elements of the Christmas Market is the stagecoach of the Museum for Communication offering round trips for market visitors. Since 1950, the 1939 reconstruction of a "Berline" type stagecoach with two compartments, seating nine, of 1874, has been travelling around the Old Town during Christmas Market time. The Museum for Communication also provides a second, slightly smaller stagecoach, a reconstruction of a so-called "omnibus" of around 1900. The carriage co-driver plays the horn during the ride. Inside is no heat and it is compact like in the old days. It is much fun though. A welcomed break after eating all those goodies.
 

 And today also marks the start of our give-a-way no. 2, it runs from now until 6 Dec midnight. You can enter by leaving a comment in this post. The prize is a set of three tree ornaments from Kaethe Wohlfahrt, hande made in Germany. All items are assembled and painted by hand. They are numbered. The set consists of a tree, a school bus and a car. The winner will be posted 7 December and has to contact me within 24 hrs or another winner will be selected.



                                 

If you have any questions about the give-a-way let me know. Good luck! 

I'm joining Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll in life

DIY Sea Shell Garland & Ornaments for the Christmas Tree

When I blogged about doing a coastal style Christmas a little while ago Maya invited me to do a guest blog about what I would make. So here it goes:

Since I have a lot of sea treasures from our last vacation, I decided to make some sea shell decorations for our tree.

I just needed some basic supplies, like scissors, thin hemp rope, ribbons, pliers, shells, spray paint and wire. I already had the Dremel tool.

 First I sorted the shells out, I used some of the ones that I didn't mind drilling and painting. I used a Dremel tool to make small holes in the shells. I will post seperate on how to drill shells, but meanwhile, you can look at a tutorial from Maya. The drilling of the sea shells took the most time of the project. I recommend wearing a mask, glasses, and gloves for drilling and spraying. If you don't have safety glasses use your sunglasses. This is what the shells looked like before stringing:

Then I took some natural hemp on a roll and started stringing the shells on. I made a knot on top of each shell, so they would not move around.

 I hung the garlands to spray paint. I choose silver as a color and red and green ribbons for the individual ornaments.

I sprayed the shells silver front and back, and hung them outside to dry. I made a total of four garlands of different lengths for our medium sized tree. That way I can easily string them on the tree and I won't have to worry about one big long string as it is with the Christmas lights.

This is the finished sea shell garland, strung around a Cedar tree in my yard:

Then I moved on to the individual ornaments. I choose different shells and sizes to place on the tree accordingly.

            I drilled holes in the heart shells and used wire to wrap around the others.

I then sprayed them silver, and the cone shells I sprayed with a clear laquer since they already had a nice color. I let them dry outside on newspaper. It only took about 30 minutes. After the shells were dry I attached ribbon to them and tied a knot. I then placed the part of the ribbon with the knot inside the shell to hide it.

This is the finished product:

              I placed them on the Cedar tree to see what they would look like on the Christmas tree.

I also purchased plastic fillable ornaments, which I wanted to hang from the tree filled with sand and shells. Turns out the XL size I got is too heavy when filled, so I think I will place them on an outside tree, which is more sturdy. Perhaps next year I will give it another try with a different ornament. I thought the take apart ornaments would be easier to work with, but you can't really place the sand and shells the way you want them since it comes apart in the middle. If you want to try this I do recommend the ornaments that are fillable from the top. You can also take sea glass and wrap wire around it and make a loop to hang from the tree. Don't forget to place something nice as the tree topper, I'm going to use a sea star.

Voila! We now have coastal style decorations that are handmade, inexpensive, and unique.

Linking up here and at Sallys.

Happy Holidays!

My house Christmas decor reveal-exterior

Advent is upon us, Thanksgiving seems like a blur behind us. We are still eating Thanksgiving left overs, but we are in the Christmas spirit. As many of you know by now, my decorating theme this year is coastal. Today I will show the exterior of my house.

The picture above is my front door with a buoy wreath I made. I got the idea here. I took a buoy I had and added different greenery, berries, a pine cone and a red bow. Et Voila! A nautical wreath is born.

The mosaic above is my first one and it shows more of the outside. The top left picture shows the front door with the wreath and a pair of old Bavarian ski's from the 1900's. I thought that would add a nice touch. Top right is a window sill, I placed greenery on all outside window sills, added some rocks and pine cones and some silver sea shells that I sprayed myself.

Lower left has a swag I made and placed on the pillars in front of the house. I just used greenery, berries, and a large silver heart shell that I sprayed and a green ribbon. I used wire to hold it all together.

Lower right shows the front door again with the flags flying.

Here we have a rocking chair that I found in a dumpster and I have it deocrated with a cedar tree branch formed into a 'C' for the first letter of our last name. I read somewhere that using cedar is an old tradition.

Last but certainly not least, here is Rudolph and I placed a wooden sled behind him to make believe he is pulling it. And there are the lights on the roof and pillars, that is my husband's project.

And a picture with the lights at dusk.  Happy Advent!

I'm linking up to:

Just something I whipped up-Holiday Style @ the Girl Creative

Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House

Holidays @ the DIY Show Off

Metamorphis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Show Off Your Cottage @ The House in roses

Boardwalk Bragfest @ Bobbypins Boardwalk

Christmas Vignette @ Southern Hospitality

Very merry Vintage Style

Best of 2010 @ Completely Coastal.

Bavarian Christmas Day 3-1. Advent and Advent wreath

                                      

The Advent Tradition is a religious celebration in preparation for the arrival of the Christ child (Christkind) on his birthday, the 25th of December. Advent comes from the Latin term Adventus Redemptoris, meaning The Coming of the Savior or Arrival. Traditional families set up an Advent wreath (Adventskranz) on the Sunday closest to Nov 30th (the fourth before Christmas) to start the Advent Season.  They gather around the Adventskranz on each Advent Sunday to light the next candle and sing Christmas carols. Advent is also called Light weeks (Lichtwochen).

Here is my Advent wreath-the theme in our house is coastal this year. I put sand and crushed shells at the bottom, and spray painted shells silver to add.

And here are some examples of other wreaths:

Here is a cute idea to make in no time. You will need:

4 candles

hot glue gun and glue

cinnamon sticks

twine or ribbon for wrapping around the sticks

scissors

Trim the cinnamon sticks to desired length. Glue the sticks around the candles, it looks best if different height candles and sticks are used. Wrap ribbon or twine around the sticks and tie a bow or knot. Place on small saucers.

                                                           Happy 1st Advent!

I'm linking to Handmade Winter Holidays @ Grown Up Crafts and Handmade Holidays @ Sew Can Do, Holiday Craft Along @ Mrs. Greene, and Christmas Tree link up @ I love nap time.

Christmas Blog Party now open

Hello,
just a reminder the Bavarian Christmas Linky Party is now open. It runs through 19 December. Click here to read the original post.
Click on button to get your copy of the button for your web site.

The first give-a-way for my followers is also running through 19 December. Give-a-way no. 2 will be posted on Tuesday, 30 November.

Happy Pre-Christmas!

Bavarian Christmas Day 2-Christkind

Today I will talk about the Christkind (Christmas Angel). Here is the short version. The holy child brings the gifts on Dec 24th. This tradition started in the 16th century. At that time the Christkind sent a bag with 5 things: toy, candy, coin, clothes and school supplies. As the gifts got fancier in modern times the tradition moved to lay out the gifts on the Gabentisch (Gift Table). Now read on for more information and history:

The Nuremberg Christmas Angel with her white and golden dress, long blond curls and her golden crown, has been the symbol for the Christmas Market for many decades. During Advent time, the Christmas Angel is the most important representative of the city and of the traditional Christmas Market.

Every year, on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, the Nuremberg Christmas Angel opens the Nuremberg Christmas Market by reciting a solemn prologue.

"You men and women, you who once were children, too,
You little ones whose life has just begun,
Each of you who rests today, and will work again tomorrow:
Listen, hear what Christchild has to say!

Every year, four weeks before we decorate our trees,
And everyone anticipates the Christmas feast,
Here on this square, as in the past, the market comes
Which up and down the country they call Christmas Mart.
This little town is built from wood and canvas
Its splendour´s short, will soon be gone,
But yet it is eternal. My market is forever young,
As long as Nuremberg exists, as long as you remember it.

For young and old the sight of this Old Town of Nuremberg
Has many faces whose number can´t be counted.
Look at this square. Today in its surroundings
High buildings rise, and factories of modern times,
And many suburbs grow, yet it remains forever,
the Nuremberg of its people.

The last month of the year has come and so the day
When wishes are fulfilled and presents given.
The market´s lights shine brightly
With baubles, glitter and with Christmas promise.
But don´t forget one thing:
Those who have everything don´t need your presents.
It´s children of this world and poorer folk
Who´ll tell you what it means to give a present.

You men and women, you who once were children, too,
Be child again today, rejoice
When Christchild now invites you all to see this market.
Whoever comes to visit will be welcome."

Imagine standing in front of this mighty church in the dark, with just the Christmas Angel lit up, and listening to the Prologue. It is a fine moment for children and adults alike. The pictures don't do it justice, it is much prettier in person.

 Her other tasks in the run-up to Christmas include appearances on the Christmas Market and on the Children's Christmas Market, fairy tale hour in the "House of Stars" and over 170 further appointments in charitable institutions. Her visits to old people's homes, kindergartens, institutions for disabled people and hospitals bring joy to many people. Just before Christmas, the Christmas Angel gives presents to the little patients of Nuremberg's children's hospitals.

In addition, the Christmas Angel has to give a lot of interviews, has many TV appearances, and acts as an ambassador for Nuremberg when she visits Christmas Markets in other cities. This Christmas messenger from Nuremberg is even known as far away as in the USA. The Chicago "Christkindlmarket" which was established in 1996 and is modelled on the Nuremberg market, is opened every year by the previous year's Nuremberg Christmas Angel – with the prologue spoken in English. This special representative of Nuremberg also pays regular visits to Nuremberg's Scottish sister city, Glasgow.

Election Process

Since 1969, every two years, the Nuremberg Christmas Angel has been chosen through an election process. The media invite young women from Nuremberg to submit a photograph and CV to apply for this voluntary post, if they fulfil the following conditions:

They should, if possible, have been born in Nuremberg, but in any case should have lived here for a long time. They must be over 16 and no older than 19 years. They must be at least 160 centimetres tall, have a very good head for heights and an ability to withstand bad weather.

Photographs of twelve selected applicants are published in the daily papers and on the internet, and readers and users may then select their favourite. A jury makes the final decision between the six applicants who received the most votes, inviting the girls to an interview – including a test of their knowledge of Nuremberg. The Christmas Angel is chosen for a term of office of two years.

Christkind in the 1950's. Notice her dress looks like it is made out of pleated golden metall.
This angel hangs over the entrance to the Nuernberg market:








The angel is also called a 'Rauschgoldengel', a Christmas Tree Fairy. Legend has it that a grieving father made the first angel to remind him of his lost daughter. The Rauschgold (intoxication gold) was made of Messing (brass) and hammered to thin sheets like paper. Messing was manufactured in Nuernberg and Augsburg. The production brass was rolled out, bright-pickled to thin sheet metal and struck still more thinly and cut then - 20 and more boards one on the other - between leathers. By this treatment the sheet metal received the pleated rigidity and the gloss. Today no more intoxication gold is manufactured. The modern angels are made of aluminum and still sold at the Nuernberg market.


And here is my angel, that I use as a tree topper:

I hope you have enjoyed this trip to the past with me and will join me again tomorrow for the 1. Advent.

Give-a-way #1&Bavarian Christmas start

Welcome to the first day of a Bavarian Christmas at Dobermans by the sea! Over the next 30 days I will show you my home and its holiday traditions!
I'll start with the Nuernberger Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market). Not only is it one of the most famous and best markets, but it holds a special tradition for our family. Our first date was at the market, and we make it a point to go every year when we are in Germany. My husband even scheduled his leaves from deployment so he could be home for Christmas.
We usually go to my hometown of Ansbach, were we park the car at the railway station and take the 45 min. train ride to Nuernberg. The market is a short walk away from the main terminal. We usually hit the first booth that sells Brezn' (Pretzels) and Bratwurst. Then we walk deeper into the crowds and around the stalls. We have more Bratwurst, buy some Gluehwein (spiced cider) and hot chocolate. We buy some gifts, take a ride in the postal carriage and take pictures. Then it is time for more Gluehwein and dessert, chocolate covered fruit, crepes, or Lebkuchen. I make sure to buy enough food for the trip home. After a few hours we are usually frozen and you can roll us out of there because of all the good food we ate. We love it! I will post about everything I have touched on here in the next few weeks. Don't miss it.
Before we get started, today is the day of give-a-way #1. It starts today and ends 17 Dec at midnight. It is for all my followers as a thank you. You have to do nothing other than be a follower and check back on 20 Dec for the winner. The prize is a handmade little purse in black and gold, perfect for the holiday season.

Give-a-way #2 will be posted 30 November.

The market in the 1950's. 



History

 Nuremberg's Christmas Market is one of Germany's oldest Christmas fairs. The pre-Christmas event on Nuremberg's Main Market Square dates back to the mid 16th century. The first mention in writing is from 1628. The following inscription in black ink was found at the bottom of an oval, 19-centimeter-long spruce bentwood box decorated with flowers – now in the possession of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum: "Sent to Regina Susanna Harßdörfferin by Miss Susanna Eleonora Erbsin (or Elbsin) on the occasion of the Christmas Market of 1628".

140 Stall Holders in the 18th Century
A list from 1737 demonstrates that almost all Nuremberg craftsmen were represented on the market. 140 persons were entitled to offer goods for sale.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Christmas Market became less important. It shifted to various venues within the city, and was only revived in the 1930s. The National Socialists made good use of the well-established traditional event which enhanced Nuremberg's image as the "Treasure Chest of the German Reich" and was a welcome supplement to their own calendar of festive events. In 1933, the Christmas Market moved back to the Main Market Square and was a much Romanticised event. An actress dressed up as the Christmas Angel, accompanied by two golden Christmas tree fairies, recited a prologue, a children's choir sang, and church bells rang. During World War II, no Christmas Market was held in Nuremberg.
After World War II
In 1948, the Christmas Market was re-established in the Old Town which had been completely destroyed.

We actually have a gingerbread tin of Nuernberg that dates prior to 1945. Look for it in the post about Lebkuchen.

 
Today- Every year, Germany's most famous Christmas Market opens its stalls for visitors from all over the world, right in the middle of the city, on Nuremberg Main Market Square. At 5.30 p.m. on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, the Christmas Angel opens her market, reciting the solemn prologue from the gallery of the church of Our Lady. And as every year, by Christmas Eve, more than two million visitors from all over the world will have sampled the delights of the Christmas Market. Look for a posting on the Christkind tomorrow.

About 180 wooden stalls, festooned with red-and-white cloth, have given the Christmas Market its name of "Little Town from Wood and Cloth". 200 stall holders present their traditional wares: Nuremberg spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, bakery goods and sweets, typical Christmas articles such as Christmas tree angels, cribs, Christmas tree ornaments and candles, toys as well as arts and crafts products. Favourite souvenirs include "Nuremberg Plum People", little figures made from prunes. And of course, by way of refreshments, there are always rolls with Nuremberg roast sausages and mugs of mulled wine.

The staff of the Market Department keep a watchful eye on the stalls and the goods on offer. So plastic fir garlands are a definite no-no, just as much as non-stop taped Christmas muzak or carousels. The market's stall holders also compete for the most beautiful and tasteful stall design. And reap their rewards: since 1981, the City has presented an annual award of gold, silver and bronze "Plum People" for the most beautiful stalls.

I will post about more features and traditions of the market in upcoming postings. The next is tomorrow about the Christkind.