Esslingen Christmas Market

I've already mentioned what a big deal Christmas markets are here in Germany.  We could go to a couple every weekend in December within a 60 mile radius and still not hit them all.  They're in every major city and tiny little village!  

The one we went to today was in Esslingen, just a 20 minute drive from home.  We've kind of got the system down… since they are so CRAZY PACKED on the weekends, and the weekend is the only time Ben can go with us, we try and show up as soon as they open, first thing in the morning.  When we arrived at 11:00 today (that's first thing in the morning for us) it was just moderately crowded.  We only stayed for two hours (it was raining pretty good) and by the time we left the crowds were pouring in.  

Esslingen was fun because they also have a medieval/renaissance market… they had lots of fun activities for the childruns. 

This was supposed to be Rapunzel's Hair.  Emily was supposed to be able to pull it and get a prize.  Except she didn't get a prize.  We just burned 2.50 euro for nothing. 

The girls got to try their hand at crossbows.  Pretty sweet

Em hit a few targets… fairies and dragons and whatnot

This was a fun game where they had to knock the pins over (the bandits) and leave the middle one remaining (the king)

And the hand cranked ferris wheel was a hit, even in the rain

This warm fresh bread on a  stick was yummmmmmy. 

The hot chocolate wasn't bad either

Chowing down on some flammkuchen.

So, who's going to come visit next Christmas??

Ok, I read back on my last blogpost and realized I came across kind of harsh and critical.  I hope I didn't make anyone (who knows if anyone beyond five people even reads this blog, and in this instance I am grateful for that) feel bad or like they were being attacked by involving Santa Claus in their family traditions.  I grew up believing in Santa Claus too!  And I don't consider my parents liars or pagans nor have I ever resented them for going along with the Santa Claus story!  I was just kind of writing stream of conscious without giving much thought as to how I might rub someone the wrong way… so if I did, I truly am sorry.    

Anyway, here's a few pics from our Saturday trip to the Stuttgart Christmas market.  I also had an old friend/neighbor come visit us who is stationed in another part of Germany.  I hadn't seen him in years!  And I'm super pumped because a friend I've had since KINDERGARTEN is coming to visit next week!  Yay!  Love seeing familiar faces that remind me of home!

The "True" Meaning of Christmas

Ok, I don't know why this bugs me, but it does so I'm just going to get it off my chest… It has been bugging me every Christmas since we've had kids.

It has to do with what we teach our kids about Santa Claus.

My girls are 5 and 3 now.  And my kindergartener, especially, is getting exposure from other sources, besides her parents, as to who Santa Claus is and what Christmas is all about.

In our LDS religion, along with other Christian denominations, we emphasize Christmas to be about the Christ child.  And anything else, i.e. Santa Claus and the North Pole and chimneys and reindeer are fun and magical but they represent the secular and fictional side of Christmas.

 My girls have been beyond stoked about Christmas this year.  They spend lots of time hanging out at the tree and studying the gifts underneath it.

Just the other night at FHE Ben asked Emily, "Em, do you know why we celebrate Christmas?"  "Ummm, Santa Claus?" she ventured.  As her parents our initial, natural reaction was to correct her, as though she answered the question earnestly, but incorrectly.  "No. It's not about Santa."  She looked confused. He went on to ask, "Do you know what the TRUE meaning of Christmas is?" "Jesus?" she guessed again. "Right!!!"  Then we proceeded to read the scripture story from her illustrated Bible.

Can you see how this would be confusing to a small child? She's being bombarded with images and songs and stories and movies about Santa Claus, but he's not "why" we celebrate Christmas.  We often hear this phrase "the TRUE meaning of Christmas."  If there's a true meaning, then that implies that there's a false one as well.

 My question is why do we have to have two separate Christmas narratives?  The fat jolly Santa who dishes out the goodies vs. the reverent, holy Christ child who gave us the ultimate gift.  It's hard to see how the two relate, and it frustrates me.  I don't like lying to my kids.  It goes against my natural instinct.  And I don't like the thought of them having to "find out" that Santa isn't for real some day.  A friend just lamented on Facebook that her newly enlightened 10 year old is begrudging them for lying to him all these years.  And if kids learn about the Americanized, secularized Santa Claus only to find out he's bogus, where does that leave them?

My proposal is why not blend the two versions… Santa Claus and the Christ child?  Why not tell our kids the TRUTH about who St. Nicolas really was?  No, he's not a fat guy in a red suit who lives with elves at the North Pole.  He was a Greek Christian bishop who lived in what is now Turkey hundreds of years ago. His parents died when he was young and he inherited a huge amount of wealth.  He was a disciple of Christ who did his best to lead a Christ like life.  He gave to the poor.  He loved children.  He used his wealth to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.  Isn't that a much more beautiful (and true!) story than flying reindeer?  And then it's not such a huge jump to the "true" meaning of Christmas.   We can still fib about him coming to visit our homes on Christmas Eve… and yes, someday they'll learn that St. Nick didn't really visit our house, but at least he's not a completely made-up character.  What we've told them about him is TRUE!  And inspiring.  And a much more accurate version of what Christmas is all about.

Ben thinks I'm nuts.  What do you think?  

www.stnicholascenter.org

Nuremberg Part Zwei

Coupled with the interesting Nazi sites we visited was the amazing Christmas market in Nuremberg. 

Christmas in Germany is steeped in tradition.

And it's really fun…

Christmas is another occasion for the Germans to come together and CELEBRATE... that's what I'm discovering their festivals are all about… gathering and celebrating.  There's a real sense of community. It's like someone is throwing a party and EVERYONE comes.  As we pushed our way through the crowds I kept thinking, "Did ANYONE stay home??" And it seems that Germans don't mind crowds.  Every festival we have been to has been PACKED, with the Christmas markets being no exception.  As we learned about the Nazi Party rallies mentioned in the previous post, it kind of all came together in my head.  It began to make more sense how Hitler was able to capitalize on the German's love of gathering and celebrating and turn his "rallies" into an opportunity to successfully establish his party ideology and absolute authority.  Am I making sense?  No?  Ok, just look at the dang pictures. 

I can't get enough of their chocolate covered fruits on a kebab…. my favorite of course being the chocolate covered strawberries.  But at 4.50 euro a pop, it can quickly add up!

The girls LOVED the kinder market.  Even though it was JAM packed. 

Gluhwein or their Christmas wine is sold all over the place and people stand around drinking it everywhere.  Of course, we ask for the "kinder punch" which is like spiced apple cider. 

Nuremberg is famous for its gingerbread.  Too bad I don't like gingerbread

Selfie on top of the cathedral overlooking the market.  Trying to give you an idea of the amount of people there.  

The girls hung out at their Toy Museum for hours… a respite from the crowds.  It was a huge blessing since they're not really into the market scene.

Caroline "licking" the salt off her pretzel.  She is so weird. 

We happened upon a brass ensemble and organ concert in a beautiful cathedral.  We sat and listened to this guy rock out to Bach on the organ.  It's one of those times where you have to pinch yourself…. listening to Bach in a German cathedral… so cool!

Magical, yes