Christmas tree thread !
- Thread starter glamwales
- Start date
vinvac
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We put ours up last weekend
Here's ours
Complete with our own little Mrs. Claus.
You can see that we got some snow yesterday, but it's turned to rain now, so it's all slushy here.
Complete with our own little Mrs. Claus.
You can see that we got some snow yesterday, but it's turned to rain now, so it's all slushy here.
hoover1060
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a Mr. Charles Brown
inspired my tree this year...
I am so not in the mood for Christmas this year
inspired my tree this year...
I am so not in the mood for Christmas this year
Out of the attic
And to the table
No Muss
No Fuss
And the cat won't be climing it!
And to the table
No Muss
No Fuss
And the cat won't be climing it!
whirlcool
Well-known member
Vinvac and Glamwales:
What beautiful trees you have! I can see time was spent on that!
We haven't even started our decorating yet. We usually wait until about the 15th.
What beautiful trees you have! I can see time was spent on that!
We haven't even started our decorating yet. We usually wait until about the 15th.
hooverwheelaway
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Here's ours!
Went up after dinner on Thanksgiving.. sort of a tradition for me.
During the day:
Went up after dinner on Thanksgiving.. sort of a tradition for me.
During the day:
hooverwheelaway
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And - its so pretty to watch!
At night:
At night:
lederstiefel1
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glamwales' tree
Hey Neil!
Up to now I like your tree best - really beautiful! Even the fireplace is so lovely decorated!!!
Compliment!
Second best I like Vinvac's tree!
But that is only my personal taste!
Will be difficult for me/us to outbid these...lol!!!!
Ralf
Hey Neil!
Up to now I like your tree best - really beautiful! Even the fireplace is so lovely decorated!!!
Compliment!
Second best I like Vinvac's tree!
But that is only my personal taste!
Will be difficult for me/us to outbid these...lol!!!!
Ralf
Here in the Netherlands most people do not start with Christmas decorations before Santa Claus has left for Spain on December 6th. However, there is a tendency in shops to pull the Christmas season forward. Recently I visited a garden centre were they had a Christmas department with Santa Claus songs in the background. Weird!
lederstiefel1
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Theo / Mielabor
Hi Theo - I do agree with you so much - in Germany we used to start with X-mas deco not until the Advent-time has started (first of the Advent-Sundays or 1st December, depending which one comes earlier) and my mate and I refused to switch on the electric light chains on the balcony as well as in the windows and candles on the advent-chaplet before Saturday night (1st December) although X-mas cookies and stuff are meanwhile already available from end of September on or even earlier - so weird and sick!
And christmas-trees traditionally will be decorated not until the evening of the 23rd December - but more and more often you find them already from end of November on in many houses...
Ralf
Hi Theo - I do agree with you so much - in Germany we used to start with X-mas deco not until the Advent-time has started (first of the Advent-Sundays or 1st December, depending which one comes earlier) and my mate and I refused to switch on the electric light chains on the balcony as well as in the windows and candles on the advent-chaplet before Saturday night (1st December) although X-mas cookies and stuff are meanwhile already available from end of September on or even earlier - so weird and sick!
And christmas-trees traditionally will be decorated not until the evening of the 23rd December - but more and more often you find them already from end of November on in many houses...
Ralf
Ralf,
When I was a small child, I had a neighbour who came from Germany. She always had a very big Christmas tree and just as you said she decorated it only just before Christmas and the lights were not lit before Christmas Eve. We didn't have such a strict procedure and I was told at that time that it was a German custom to do it that way. She also had presents for Christmas which we found strange and told us that they came from the Christmas Child.
When I was a small child, I had a neighbour who came from Germany. She always had a very big Christmas tree and just as you said she decorated it only just before Christmas and the lights were not lit before Christmas Eve. We didn't have such a strict procedure and I was told at that time that it was a German custom to do it that way. She also had presents for Christmas which we found strange and told us that they came from the Christmas Child.
lederstiefel1
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Theo
Yes - of course the presents all come from the christmas child who drives along in a sledge with Knight Rupert, the helper of Santa Claus, and it walks from house to house and puts the presents onto the present-table in the X-mas chamber (usually the living-room though) for everybody - or if people have an open fire-place will throw them right onto the grid through the chimney like Santa does meanwhile in Britain and the States....
Ralf
Yes - of course the presents all come from the christmas child who drives along in a sledge with Knight Rupert, the helper of Santa Claus, and it walks from house to house and puts the presents onto the present-table in the X-mas chamber (usually the living-room though) for everybody - or if people have an open fire-place will throw them right onto the grid through the chimney like Santa does meanwhile in Britain and the States....
Ralf
A very interesting
Tree
Tree
sparkymarky1973
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This is ours this year. Last year we used the artificial one but this year we got a real tree.
Mark
Mark
lederstiefel1
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real tree
I've NEVER in my life had an artificial tree and will resist to get one as long as I live! We use to have a "Nordmann-Tanne" (abies normanniania) or "Nobilis-Tanne" (abies procera) and always have real candles in it together with small electric lamps for those times when we are not able to observe the tree.
Sometimes we buy the tree with roots sometimes we buy a cut tree and put it into a post with water in it, to keep it fresh longer and avoid shedding of the needels.
Decoration varies from year to year, depending on our "mood" or taste...
We have copper, red, silver and gilden glas-globes as well as little woodden figures together with bows, glittering garlands and other stuff. A must is also the christmas pyramid for me on a side-table which has a big fan on top that is driven by the warmth of candles at the bottom and brings all stages into a move! It's entirely made from wood with the whole nativity set on three or four platforms (crib, sheperds, holy kings, angels) that runs like a merry-go-round, driven and lit by the candles' light.
Ralf
I've NEVER in my life had an artificial tree and will resist to get one as long as I live! We use to have a "Nordmann-Tanne" (abies normanniania) or "Nobilis-Tanne" (abies procera) and always have real candles in it together with small electric lamps for those times when we are not able to observe the tree.
Sometimes we buy the tree with roots sometimes we buy a cut tree and put it into a post with water in it, to keep it fresh longer and avoid shedding of the needels.
Decoration varies from year to year, depending on our "mood" or taste...
We have copper, red, silver and gilden glas-globes as well as little woodden figures together with bows, glittering garlands and other stuff. A must is also the christmas pyramid for me on a side-table which has a big fan on top that is driven by the warmth of candles at the bottom and brings all stages into a move! It's entirely made from wood with the whole nativity set on three or four platforms (crib, sheperds, holy kings, angels) that runs like a merry-go-round, driven and lit by the candles' light.
Ralf
'Yes - of course the presents all come from the christma
Hi Ralf,
Sorry to interject at this point, but shouldn't it be 'Knecht Ruprecht'? Translated to English 'Knecht' = Serf. I also get a bit confused as there is the tradition of St Nicholas day (1st of December?), where children leave their shoes outside overnight, to find them filled with sweets the next morning. Who exactly is St Nicholas and where does he fit into all this?
Now, the christmas child brings gifts with Knecht Ruprecht's help? So is Knecht Ruprecht the fat bloke in the red suit, i.e. Father Christmas? Does anyone ever see the christmas child(and where), and is it meant to be an incarnation of the Baby Jesus?
From (vague) memory, once upon a time on christmas eve, children had to have their little christmas poem ready for Ruprecht, who, as I understand it, used to be the bloke with the big bag full of gifts and the 'twitch' (Rute). The poem would be carefully rehearsed as it was meant to be a welcome to Ruprecht, who would then decide if the child had been good or bad throughout the year - right? From memory, bad kids were meant to get the twitch and, if really bad, could even end up in Ruprechts bag to be whisked away, never to be seen or heard of again. Of course, Ruprecht would leave a new, good child from his big bag of goodies, in its place.
Now, surely this can't all be a construct of my imagination based on flawed memory? Tell me if I am correct with this? Perhaps different regions in Germany constructed their own folklore around Father Christmas and the Christ Child? Otherwise I will have to sue my parents for pre-christmas anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
Hi Ralf,
Sorry to interject at this point, but shouldn't it be 'Knecht Ruprecht'? Translated to English 'Knecht' = Serf. I also get a bit confused as there is the tradition of St Nicholas day (1st of December?), where children leave their shoes outside overnight, to find them filled with sweets the next morning. Who exactly is St Nicholas and where does he fit into all this?
Now, the christmas child brings gifts with Knecht Ruprecht's help? So is Knecht Ruprecht the fat bloke in the red suit, i.e. Father Christmas? Does anyone ever see the christmas child(and where), and is it meant to be an incarnation of the Baby Jesus?
From (vague) memory, once upon a time on christmas eve, children had to have their little christmas poem ready for Ruprecht, who, as I understand it, used to be the bloke with the big bag full of gifts and the 'twitch' (Rute). The poem would be carefully rehearsed as it was meant to be a welcome to Ruprecht, who would then decide if the child had been good or bad throughout the year - right? From memory, bad kids were meant to get the twitch and, if really bad, could even end up in Ruprechts bag to be whisked away, never to be seen or heard of again. Of course, Ruprecht would leave a new, good child from his big bag of goodies, in its place.
Now, surely this can't all be a construct of my imagination based on flawed memory? Tell me if I am correct with this? Perhaps different regions in Germany constructed their own folklore around Father Christmas and the Christ Child? Otherwise I will have to sue my parents for pre-christmas anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
whirlcool
Well-known member
I'll tell you, nobody does Christmas like the Germans! We have some friends in Germany and a few years ago we spent Christmas with them. We participated in the Christmas Cookie baking as well as decorating the tree on the 23rd and then locking the living room door until the 24th from the kinder.
We also went to the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremburg and had a wonderful time. Now we can't get thru a Christmas season without some Gluhwein. We picked up quite a few ornaments which we haven't seen here in the U.S. since the 1950s.
Here at home we don't decorate our tree until the 15th of Dec. I was amazed this year that I actually saw stores putting up Christmas stuff immediately after Labor Day!
We also went to the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremburg and had a wonderful time. Now we can't get thru a Christmas season without some Gluhwein. We picked up quite a few ornaments which we haven't seen here in the U.S. since the 1950s.
Here at home we don't decorate our tree until the 15th of Dec. I was amazed this year that I actually saw stores putting up Christmas stuff immediately after Labor Day!
Santa Claus / Sinterklaas
Although "Sinterklaas" has the same name as Santa Claus, he has nothing to do with Christmas. They have some things in common: they are both dressed in red and they come from far to bring presents for children. Sinterklaas comes from Spain and brings presents at 5 or 6 December and Santa, well I think that most Americans know more of this bloke than I do.
Here is Sinterklaas arriving in Amsterdam on November 18, 2007. See that "Independent Outlet"? That used to be an Electrolux vacuum cleaner shop long ago.
Although "Sinterklaas" has the same name as Santa Claus, he has nothing to do with Christmas. They have some things in common: they are both dressed in red and they come from far to bring presents for children. Sinterklaas comes from Spain and brings presents at 5 or 6 December and Santa, well I think that most Americans know more of this bloke than I do.
Here is Sinterklaas arriving in Amsterdam on November 18, 2007. See that "Independent Outlet"? That used to be an Electrolux vacuum cleaner shop long ago.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Who remembers the Glass Wax stencils (50's-60's) for your windows at Christmas? There was this company that made this product called Glass Wax. They sold wintertime stencils that you could use to put on your window, rub glass wax on it. When dried, you pulled the stencil off and you had a nice design on your window. When the season was over you just cleaned the window and the design came right off.
Glass Wax had a particular smell to it, when I saw the windows in front of the tree in Glamwales second tree photo I immediately thought of the Glass Wax stencils.
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=11768
Glass Wax had a particular smell to it, when I saw the windows in front of the tree in Glamwales second tree photo I immediately thought of the Glass Wax stencils.
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=11768
spiceman1957
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Blue, Blue Christmas
My partner put up the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. Its
the first real tree that I have had in 10 years.
View attachment 12-4-2007-19-59-47--Spiceman1957.jpg
My partner put up the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. Its
the first real tree that I have had in 10 years.
View attachment 12-4-2007-19-59-47--Spiceman1957.jpg
spiceman1957
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- Nov 9, 2006
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Let try that again
Here are my tree's
Here are the 3 tree's I put up starting the day after Thanksgiving starting in the living room:
Here are the 3 tree's I put up starting the day after Thanksgiving starting in the living room:
Dining Room
Tree #2
Tree #2
Den
Tree #3
Tree #3
lederstiefel1
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Hi Rapunzel and all of you!
Well, first I have to say: What wonderful trees you have!!!
Yes, Rapunzel, Sinterklaas is in Germany the 6th December and is called "Sankt Nikolaus Tag" or just "Nikolaus-Tag" when people (adults and children) put a boot outside the entrance door to get some presents (cookies, nuts, oranges, apples and chocolate as well as small gifts like watches or matchbox cars or other stuff) from him. It's said he's coming along on a sledge together with Knecht Ruprecht (Serf Rupert) and he is said to be the re-incarnation of Saint Nicolas of Myra in Turkey (today Demre near Antalya) who lived there during the 3rd and 4th century.
He has a hugh book where he can find all the good and bad deeds a child has done during the year and so he gives them more or less presents and the worst will be beaten by Knecht Ruprecht with the twitch and will get no presents at all!
During my childhood Saint Nicolas and Serf Ruprecht came every year until I found out that it was the neighbours of us in full costumes...lol
Serf Rupert also has to carry the big bag into the homes for Saint Nicolas, who looks like on your photo from Amsterdam, with all the goodies and presents in for the good children, and has to listen together with St. Nicolas to each child's X-mas carol or X-mas poem before Niclolas refers to his big book and the goodies to see what needs to be done...!
Serf Rupert (= Knecht Ruprecht) is correct but I found a translation in a dictionary wich said Knight Rupert, so I thought I was wrong...
But Serf Rupert is not the "Father Christmas"!
Knecht Ruprecht comes in a brown frock and is the twitch, book and bag carrier and even sometimes a beater; he is Santa's Little Helper for the harder work!
One year I was the only child in the neighbourhood who did not get any present from Saint Nicolas but got the twitch and had to keep it one year as a warning next to my bed! My mom says it was for always quarreling with my younger sister...!
The wide range of imaginations and tales about Ruprecht and his different names in different parts of German speaking countries are to be read in WIKIPEDIA but are way too much to type here...!
You are absolutely correct, Rapunzel, about the actions of Serf Rupert! He could take the child away (and never to be seen again) in HIS bag (an empty one which he carries along) to be punished later by "Krampus" the cruel helper of Serf Rupert (for the bloody work like ripping and whipping) who was said to be the slaughter of bad children, waiting somewhere in the woods, awaiting little victims!
Rapunzel, you are also right to say that the Christmas-Child is supposed to be the re-incarnation of the Jesus-Child (at about the age of 10-12 years).
In Germany St. Nicolas comes on a sledge, torn by dears or elks, and not, like St. Martin (9th November), on a horseback.
The American Santa or Father Christmas is a newly introduced person by industry and advertisements, due to the americanization of the German society during the last 50 years.
Concerning your comments on German X-mas, Allan, you are so right!
During the Advent-Time (1. Advent Sunday until 24th December) we are making x-mas cookies and cakes, go to x-mas markets to have Glühwein (mulled wine) and buy all the presents for the feast (night of 24th December).
We light another candle each Advent-Sunday on the Advent-Chaplet and the kids open a door every day on their Advent-Calendar...
Everybody sends Christmas cards (and nowadays even e-mails) and packages to friends and family-members abroad!
The air smells from cinnamom, almonds, chocolate, orange peel, roast-apples, bees-wax candles, fir-trees, cookies (Christstollen, Lebkuchen, Pfefferkuchen, Speculatius, Honigkuchen, Heidesandplätzchen, etc.) and hugh roast ducks, geese and turkeys...
We have carp and fondue, roasts and lamb-lettuce, dumplings, cabbage and Sauerkraut and other yummy food in that time!
Oh, what a wonderful time...
Ralf
Well, first I have to say: What wonderful trees you have!!!
Yes, Rapunzel, Sinterklaas is in Germany the 6th December and is called "Sankt Nikolaus Tag" or just "Nikolaus-Tag" when people (adults and children) put a boot outside the entrance door to get some presents (cookies, nuts, oranges, apples and chocolate as well as small gifts like watches or matchbox cars or other stuff) from him. It's said he's coming along on a sledge together with Knecht Ruprecht (Serf Rupert) and he is said to be the re-incarnation of Saint Nicolas of Myra in Turkey (today Demre near Antalya) who lived there during the 3rd and 4th century.
He has a hugh book where he can find all the good and bad deeds a child has done during the year and so he gives them more or less presents and the worst will be beaten by Knecht Ruprecht with the twitch and will get no presents at all!
During my childhood Saint Nicolas and Serf Ruprecht came every year until I found out that it was the neighbours of us in full costumes...lol
Serf Rupert also has to carry the big bag into the homes for Saint Nicolas, who looks like on your photo from Amsterdam, with all the goodies and presents in for the good children, and has to listen together with St. Nicolas to each child's X-mas carol or X-mas poem before Niclolas refers to his big book and the goodies to see what needs to be done...!
Serf Rupert (= Knecht Ruprecht) is correct but I found a translation in a dictionary wich said Knight Rupert, so I thought I was wrong...
But Serf Rupert is not the "Father Christmas"!
Knecht Ruprecht comes in a brown frock and is the twitch, book and bag carrier and even sometimes a beater; he is Santa's Little Helper for the harder work!
One year I was the only child in the neighbourhood who did not get any present from Saint Nicolas but got the twitch and had to keep it one year as a warning next to my bed! My mom says it was for always quarreling with my younger sister...!
The wide range of imaginations and tales about Ruprecht and his different names in different parts of German speaking countries are to be read in WIKIPEDIA but are way too much to type here...!
You are absolutely correct, Rapunzel, about the actions of Serf Rupert! He could take the child away (and never to be seen again) in HIS bag (an empty one which he carries along) to be punished later by "Krampus" the cruel helper of Serf Rupert (for the bloody work like ripping and whipping) who was said to be the slaughter of bad children, waiting somewhere in the woods, awaiting little victims!
Rapunzel, you are also right to say that the Christmas-Child is supposed to be the re-incarnation of the Jesus-Child (at about the age of 10-12 years).
In Germany St. Nicolas comes on a sledge, torn by dears or elks, and not, like St. Martin (9th November), on a horseback.
The American Santa or Father Christmas is a newly introduced person by industry and advertisements, due to the americanization of the German society during the last 50 years.
Concerning your comments on German X-mas, Allan, you are so right!
During the Advent-Time (1. Advent Sunday until 24th December) we are making x-mas cookies and cakes, go to x-mas markets to have Glühwein (mulled wine) and buy all the presents for the feast (night of 24th December).
We light another candle each Advent-Sunday on the Advent-Chaplet and the kids open a door every day on their Advent-Calendar...
Everybody sends Christmas cards (and nowadays even e-mails) and packages to friends and family-members abroad!
The air smells from cinnamom, almonds, chocolate, orange peel, roast-apples, bees-wax candles, fir-trees, cookies (Christstollen, Lebkuchen, Pfefferkuchen, Speculatius, Honigkuchen, Heidesandplätzchen, etc.) and hugh roast ducks, geese and turkeys...
We have carp and fondue, roasts and lamb-lettuce, dumplings, cabbage and Sauerkraut and other yummy food in that time!
Oh, what a wonderful time...
Ralf
toggleswitch
Well-known member
Fabulous!
Now who can tell us WHY we do Christmas trees and where the tradition came from?
Now who can tell us WHY we do Christmas trees and where the tradition came from?
seamusuk
Well-known member
Being as...
Im not really religious and dont have kids I dont bother normally.....
However I have to say the "tree" Gary posted is the sort that could be appropiate lol!!
Seamus
Im not really religious and dont have kids I dont bother normally.....
However I have to say the "tree" Gary posted is the sort that could be appropiate lol!!
Seamus
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