Lucy got her own window today.

[NickAVD]

@xp29

From my side:
So, I'm originally from Germany. We there have the thing with the lights - but it is ways less. So you might have some lights on the balcony, or if you live on the countryside/ have your own house with a garden, put them on a pine tree outside or actually on your house. But not all over your house.
(Here in Chile, I live in a city, and people put them on their balconies. Often - I think: annoying - "disco-style" lights with blinking and "running" lights in all colors.)
Then, in Germany you get the gifts on December 24, usually after dinner or church (church is late for adults, and during afternoon for (little) kids). There are two traditions The "Weihnachtsmann" (like Santa Claus) and the "Christkind" (should symbolize baby Jesus, but is displayed as a beautiful, big female angel). The Northern part of Germany is more into the Weihnachtsmann, the Southern part (as well as Austria) have the "Christkind". With me grewing up in Bavaria which is in the South, and having a grandmother from Berlin which is in the North, I got something from both (The "cover story" was: Weihnachtsmann leaves something with my grandma and she sends it to me - that's why I get a parcel from here. Christkind is the one where the little gift you might get from your teacher before holiday comes, and of course where the gifts at home come from. Christkind picks up your wish list during the beginning of December.)
There are two different traditions on what to eat: Either there is a huge festive meal on December 24. Or it is the day after, December 25 instead, and December 24 is an intentionally simple meal usually consisting of Wiener sausages and potato salad (which are not prepared in any special, fancy way, but just the usual way).
Should symbolize Jesus was from a humble family - or, I guess that's the real reason, should make it easy for parents who have to use the time when kids are in church or are sent away under the disguise of whatever (walk the dog, pick up something from the neighbors...) so the parents have time to set up the gifts... and not much time is left to fix a fancy meal

And another thing: In Germany we have "Nikolaus". This is not (!) Santa Claus and not the Weihnachtsmann - that's the bishop St. Nikolaus, coming on December 6 or the late evening of December 5. He has a little gift, traditionally mandarin oranges, walnuts, a certain kind of cookies (Oblatenlebkuchen) and then maybe a little gift, but really a little thing like e.g. a small set of pencils, or a hair clip. This comes in a sack, which traditionally has the picture of Nikolaus on it. Nikolaus is completely dressed like a real bishop - no red-white winter hat!
Nikolaus also comes to schools. He comes with a golden book from which he reads what each kid has done good during the last year. It's also quite common to have him visiting at home. Usually, kids have to learn a poem or song before which they perform when he visits.
He might be accompanies by Krampus (especially in the Southern part of Germany and in Austria), that's his bad counterpart. Looks more or less like a daemon, can have black fur, horns and such, a chain with which he rattles - depends on how extreme you want it. Less extreme, it's a dirty man in worn-out clothes. Decades ago it was common that Krampus actually hit kids, really, and put them into a big sack. Now that's not seen as appropriate anymore and it's done in a more humorous way but the look is the same.


For Chile, I can't say much, as we have moved here for work (so, none of us is from here or has any family connection to here), and we don't have kids.

Thank you! It was very informative!

 

[xp29]

That is a tall, skinny tree lmao
But it looks awesome!

Thank you
We don't really have room for a big tree ..... the extra room is for my beardies

 

[ChileanTaco]

Wow that is quite interesting
Some of the names I recognized but didn't know the lore. Krampus for instance, thier was a movie here named that (I didn't watch it) but I had no idea it had a real lore. Now I'm intrigued, if I get time I'm going to do a little research

Yes, there is this (horror?) movie. They have exaggerated it a bit for that one from the pictures I saw (also didn't watch the movie) - like, you know, these movies with other things being more extreme, like the doll that in real life looks a bit scary is then ...or those exaggerated monster animals
If you look up pictures with "Nikolaus Krampus" then you see how it is done for kids. Here is a video showing it very well, the kid having to recite something, Nikolaus telling him about situations when he behaved well or not.
That resembles quite well an at-home visit of Niklaus and Krampus:

More for groups, when it's done at an event for kids, when your local church does it for their kids club:

They are talking in the dialect I grew up with.
(The fancy Nikolaus bishop dress is a must. That, and never-ever doing it with a "Santa Claus" hat. The fancy Krampus dress - that one is a good one, but if not available, can be reduced down to some old brown clothes, burlap, a rough chain from the hardware store and for the face just some burlap, "dirt" make-up.
The angel is very optional; it's just when you need a helper that person usually is dressed up as an angel.)

In Bavaria and Austria we also have "Perchten", this is... how to describe it, a "mob of Krampus'" running around during evening/night. Only Krampus, no Nikolaus. That's more for adults or older kids as it can be more scary.

Btw.: Also like your tree.
We have a small, artificial one to be put on a table, just 30 cm high, the type with some burlap at the bottom. Added some decoration like nuts, little red-golden drums and such.

 

[NickAVD]

Yes, there is this (horror?) movie. They have exaggerated it a bit for that one from the pictures I saw (also didn't watch the movie) - like, you know, these movies with other things being more extreme, like the doll that in real life looks a bit scary is then ...or those exaggerated monster animals
If you look up pictures with "Nikolaus Krampus" then you see how it is done for kids. Here is a video showing it very well, the kid having to recite something, Nikolaus telling him about situations when he behaved well or not.
That resembles quite well an at-home visit of Niklaus and Krampus:

More for groups, when it's done at an event for kids, when your local church does it for their kids club:

They are talking in the dialect I grew up with.
(The fancy Nikolaus bishop dress is a must. That, and never-ever doing it with a "Santa Claus" hat. The fancy Krampus dress - that one is a good one, but if not available, can be reduced down to some old brown clothes, burlap, a rough chain from the hardware store and for the face just some burlap, "dirt" make-up.
The angel is very optional; it's just when you need a helper that person usually is dressed up as an angel.)

In Bavaria and Austria we also have "Perchten", this is... how to describe it, a "mob of Krampus'" running around during evening/night. Only Krampus, no Nikolaus. That's more for adults or older kids as it can be more scary.

Btw.: Also like your tree.
We have a small, artificial one to be put on a table, just 30 cm high, the type with some burlap at the bottom. Added some decoration like nuts, little red-golden drums and such.

This is an amazing tradition! Thank you for your story and video.
I couldn't even imagine such a tradition.
It seemed to me that I saw some mixture of pagan and Christian characters.
And Krampus is some kind of pagan character?
And I have always believed that the name Santa Claus comes from the unofficial German name for Saint Nicholas (Sint Nikolaas), or more accurately the abbreviation for Sinterklaas, who was a Greek Christian bishop famous for his generosity.
Although I may be wrong, I read about this somewhere a long time ago

 

[ChileanTaco]

It seemed to me that I saw some mixture of pagan and Christian characters.
And Krampus is some kind of pagan character?

Yes, it is a pagan character.
When used in a mob of "Perchten", its purpose is to drive away the old year. In more rare traditions, might be used after the beginning of the year to drive away the winter (rarely, because where this character is common, winter-like weather lasts long into spring, April likely, May not totally out of order, and sometimes longer*.).

*Funny thing: The region where I come from has the proverb of something being like "June snow" - a thing you're surprised it happened when it finally happened but in fact not totally out of order. Things that are rare but, well, happen once in a while.

And I have always believed that the name Santa Claus comes from the unofficial German name for Saint Nicholas (Sint Nikolaas), or more accurately the abbreviation for Sinterklaas, who was a Greek Christian bishop famous for his generosity.
Although I may be wrong, I read about this somewhere a long time ago

You are correct, it has something to do with that - the "Santa Claus" comes from St. Nikolaus (the bishop from Myra, that place which is now in Turkey).
But the "Santa Claus" derived from the same figure is more far away from the original Bishop than St. Nikolaus - the mitra (Bishop hat) that St. Nikolaus still has but is replaced by a winter hat in Santa Claus, the bishop dress still present in St. Nikolaus replaced by a red coat in Santa Claus, and St. Nikolaus still has the Bishop's crozier that is nowhere to find in Santa Claus. Also, appearing on December 6, which is the saint's day ("Namenstag") in the calendar.
So, the US "Santa Claus" is what in Germany is the "Weihnachtsmann" (coming on December 24 and 25, more in the Northern part of Germany and/or to protestant family children instead of the "Christkind" angel coming to children from catholic families/ in the Southern part of Germany).
The "Nikolaus" tradition with bishop-like appearance, December 5 or 6, nuts mandarin oranges and small toy as a gift is not present in the US, and also not very much outside of a few European countries.

 

[xp29]

Yes, there is this (horror?) movie. They have exaggerated it a bit for that one from the pictures I saw (also didn't watch the movie) - like, you know, these movies with other things being more extreme, like the doll that in real life looks a bit scary is then ...or those exaggerated monster animals
If you look up pictures with "Nikolaus Krampus" then you see how it is done for kids. Here is a video showing it very well, the kid having to recite something, Nikolaus telling him about situations when he behaved well or not.
That resembles quite well an at-home visit of Niklaus and Krampus:

More for groups, when it's done at an event for kids, when your local church does it for their kids club:

They are talking in the dialect I grew up with.
(The fancy Nikolaus bishop dress is a must. That, and never-ever doing it with a "Santa Claus" hat. The fancy Krampus dress - that one is a good one, but if not available, can be reduced down to some old brown clothes, burlap, a rough chain from the hardware store and for the face just some burlap, "dirt" make-up.
The angel is very optional; it's just when you need a helper that person usually is dressed up as an angel.)

In Bavaria and Austria we also have "Perchten", this is... how to describe it, a "mob of Krampus'" running around during evening/night. Only Krampus, no Nikolaus. That's more for adults or older kids as it can be more scary.

Btw.: Also like your tree.
We have a small, artificial one to be put on a table, just 30 cm high, the type with some burlap at the bottom. Added some decoration like nuts, little red-golden drums and such.

That would be terrifying for a kid (the first video)
In the 2nd I think I can see the 'mob' outside the window?

 

[xp29]

This is an amazing tradition! Thank you for your story and video.
I couldn't even imagine such a tradition.
It seemed to me that I saw some mixture of pagan and Christian characters.
And Krampus is some kind of pagan character?
And I have always believed that the name Santa Claus comes from the unofficial German name for Saint Nicholas (Sint Nikolaas), or more accurately the abbreviation for Sinterklaas, who was a Greek Christian bishop famous for his generosity.
Although I may be wrong, I read about this somewhere a long time ago

Same here, it is so different than anything we do here. It is quite fascinating though.

 

[ChileanTaco]

That would be terrifying for a kid (the first video)
In the 2nd I think I can see the 'mob' outside the window?

Terrifying: Yes, indeed it often is. As shown here, it's the usual way it's done. I also had once, I was not yet in school (5 years old? 4?) the above. The other times it was done in the more cheap way : You just hear the Nikolaus and Krampus leaving something on the door or in the basement - just some heavy boots and a chain are needed for the noise.
More extreme, but not longer seen as appropriate: Krampus puts the kid into his sack, carries it and pretends to take it home with him (at least to the door), kid is really beaten (and it's not just pretended with something soft like in the video).

The "mob" outside: Somewhat. But in the video, these are a few, you can order them whenever you need them, running along Nikolaus, not coming in - that way they might be present at events for children.
What I meant is "Perchtenlauf": There can be hundred of them, dozens for sure, and there is no Nikolaus, and they approach people. You find it online exactly under the term "Perchtenlauf". Usually carried out by clubs/associations usually found on the countryside (like: voluntary firefighters, local history association, brass music society...), and afterwards all the "Perchten" go drinking in a pub. This also you can't order for an event.

 

[xp29]

Terrifying: Yes, indeed it often is. As shown here, it's the usual way it's done. I also had once, I was not yet in school (5 years old? 4?) the above. The other times it was done in the more cheap way : You just hear the Nikolaus and Krampus leaving something on the door or in the basement - just some heavy boots and a chain are needed for the noise.
More extreme, but not longer seen as appropriate: Krampus puts the kid into his sack, carries it and pretends to take it home with him (at least to the door), kid is really beaten (and it's not just pretended with something soft like in the video).

The "mob" outside: Somewhat. But in the video, these are a few, you can order them whenever you need them, running along Nikolaus, not coming in - that way they might be present at events for children.
What I meant is "Perchtenlauf": There can be hundred of them, dozens for sure, and there is no Nikolaus, and they approach people. You find it online exactly under the term "Perchtenlauf". Usually carried out by clubs/associations usually found on the countryside (like: voluntary firefighters, local history association, brass music society...), and afterwards all the "Perchten" go drinking in a pub. This also you can't order for an event.

We do civil war reenactments here. There are clubs like you mentioned. They go all out for it. Authentic uniforms and artillery and such. I have a buddy that has a prosthetic leg. When the cannon fires he clicks the button to release it and kicks it off. He hops around acting like the cannon got it, it scares the crap out of the little kids.

 

[ChileanTaco]

We do civil war reenactments here. There are clubs like you mentioned. They go all out for it. Authentic uniforms and artillery and such. I have a buddy that has a prosthetic leg. When the cannon fires he clicks the button to release it and kicks it off. He hops around acting like the cannon got it, it scares the crap out of the little kids.

I know that one (what (civil) war reenactment is) - but in Germany, this is not done and would be seen as weird by most people (btw., I don't see it as weird). Neither found as clubs, nor be done in school/ for school outings as I know it from UK.

These "historic" clubs in Germany are about something else: Dancing, singing folk songs, "Brauchtumspflege" (local customs like those songs, dances, certain festivities like "Maibaumaufstellen" or the "Perchtenlauf", encouraging young people to participate too) and maybe promoting the usage of dialect.
In some cases there might be reenactment but then it's about medieval things, or the Celts and such. Rather found, however, in towns or old cities than on the countryside as one might need a castle or other historic building to perform.

The thing with the prosthetic leg I personally think is cool and it's my kind of humor - and also as I'm a quite pragmatic person, so I'd say if you need something, why not use it for a special effect?

 

[IAmAMirage]

The thing with the prosthetic leg I personally think is cool and it's my kind of humor - and also as I'm a quite pragmatic person, so I'd say if you need something, why not use it for a special effect?

I tend to have quite a dark/unsavory sense of humor lol

 

[beardie]

I think @beardie should have a best Christmas tree contest this year Ours is pretty simple but I know some folks go all out. It would be fun to see them all.

I'd love to, but I don't have time this season to manage much. Lots going on with the "real life" stuff.... daughters in school, one very active with Karate (tournaments, etc.), assessing my current career path, getting a new car, mother-in-law visiting for Christmas, etc. So much all seems to be converging.... while also trying to have a good holiday season!

@xp29 , However! An informal competition could be managed by a user! Creating a basic poll for images that people have submitted (maybe first post is the images with "A", "B", "C", etc. listed for them.

 

[xp29]

I know that one (what (civil) war reenactment is) - but in Germany, this is not done and would be seen as weird by most people (btw., I don't see it as weird). Neither found as clubs, nor be done in school/ for school outings as I know it from UK.

These "historic" clubs in Germany are about something else: Dancing, singing folk songs, "Brauchtumspflege" (local customs like those songs, dances, certain festivities like "Maibaumaufstellen" or the "Perchtenlauf", encouraging young people to participate too) and maybe promoting the usage of dialect.
In some cases there might be reenactment but then it's about medieval things, or the Celts and such. Rather found, however, in towns or old cities than on the countryside as one might need a castle or other historic building to perform.

The thing with the prosthetic leg I personally think is cool and it's my kind of humor - and also as I'm a quite pragmatic person, so I'd say if you need something, why not use it for a special effect?

I agree it's my kind of humor also

 

[xp29]

I'd love to, but I don't have time this season to manage much. Lots going on with the "real life" stuff.... daughters in school, one very active with Karate (tournaments, etc.), assessing my current career path, getting a new car, mother-in-law visiting for Christmas, etc. So much all seems to be converging.... while also trying to have a good holiday season!

@xp29 , However! An informal competition could be managed by a user! Creating a basic poll for images that people have submitted (maybe first post is the images with "A", "B", "C", etc. listed for them.

Wow you are a busy dude
I hope you and your family have a GREAT holiday

 

[LarryTheLizard]

We had to move Lucy to make room for the Christmas tree
We moved her to a window across the room.
I think she thinks it's her Christmas gift
She hasn't left that ledge in hours. View attachment 94558 View attachment 94559 View attachment 94560 View attachment 94561
The tree so far. It isn't finished yet but I kindda like the clocks behind it
View attachment 94562 View attachment 94564

Your Christmas tree is beautiful! And Lucy is adorable