For the 10th day of Christmas, yours truly is delivering a guest blogger! Our close family friend and Olive's first German teacher, Frau Klein. Frau Klein - a German native, now living in the US since 2007, offers German language and culture programs through hands-on activities and personalized curriculums for everyone from age 1 to 100.
Please check her out at GermanTimeWithFrauKlein.com.
Frau Klein is an immigrant, entrepreneur, and all-around SHEro in our hearts. We are so excited for her to unwrap the hidden story and German traditions of Advent for us today. We hope you'll share this little tidbit of history with your kiddos, in whatever way your family is counting down the days until Christmas. And happy second Sunday of Advent!
Advent Advent
There is no better time than December to be German! Many customs speak the old language, and since we Germans don't celebrate Thanksgiving, we wait a few more days and ring in the holidays with Advent (Latin: advenire - to arrive).
Adventskranz and Adventskalender are essential. Traditionally an Adventskranz is a wreath made out of fir tree branches holding four candles. Depending on your or the vendor's mood, it is decorated with ribbons, little figures, pine cones, and other bits and bobs. Starting the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve, we light up the first candle and add one each of the following Sundays. The history of this tradition goes back more than 170 years ago by a clergyman named Johann Hinrich Wichern, who looked after poor children. His little students were anxiously awaiting the Christmas celebrations and asked him multiple times daily. He put four large and many small candles on a wagon wheel and lit up a big one for each Sunday and the little ones for the other days.
Since wagon wheels do not come in handy, nor do they fit the ordinary dining table, the Adventskranz has significantly shrunk to a more appropriate size. When it comes to the small candles, these have now evolved into an Adventskalender: A calendar with 24 "Türchen" (little windows or boxes) that can be bought containing chocolate, books, or toys. Adult versions with wine or beer are available for purchase as well. Crafty Pinterest people make their own for their loved ones - the sky is the limit!
