HeAintThroughWithMeYet

I wish we would have snow like in the picture

Hello everyone,

 I just wanted to leave a little note to wish everyone of my blogging friends and reader’s a

Blessed, Peaceful, Healthy, and Successful 2008!

I try to get deeper into the Word at this time, because I am a slacker. But I received yesterday “The Daily Bible” and really like reading in it. It is my desire to get hooked on the Word so much but I am like Paul who said something like …I do the things I should’nt and I don’t do the things I should (Or somethings like this) and I am just your average Paul I reckon!
But I try to be better this time around!!!
I was on MomLovesBeingAtHome and she talked about that she uses this Bible and so I thought well lets see how much this one is. I found it on Amazon.com for 10 dollars advertised as good/new and was pleasantly surprised that it is really without any blemish!I started of course last night and it is easy to read.Also I have the cd collection that my Pastor gave to me and when I don’t understand something I can look it up, or read a commentary about it. I think that’s pretty cool!

But also lot’s of thing’s are going on in my life. Work is cruel lately with Christmas and now the “Return” day’s thereafter and than New Year’s Eve approaching and all the shopper’s are I believe in our Wal-Mart. Sometimes I think “Is there no other store in our area?” It seems the whole city is shopping here only. I know this isn’t the case but it sure feel’s like it!
Than the problems with my son are as always neverending and it took a toll on me.
To all that I got really sick with a bad case of stomach flu on Christmas Eve at about 1:30am. It lastest well over 24 hours.No, no I am not trying to excuse my lack of dicipline. But thats the “World” it get’s you when you just go with the flow. And I put a stop to it now!Enough said

Well almost all the kids age 2 and up will go early to bed and will be awakened by their parents at about 11:30pm to ring in the New Year with the family. My family was no different. Even little kids get a little sip of champagne at midnight. And in seconds a huge firework display starts all over the country. Everybody shoots off fireworks and we dont need no permission to do so!Below I copied and pasted where it all began and still to this day New Year’s Eve “Silvester” is a HUGE celebration where I am from!!!! 

New Year’s Celebrations in Germany
New Year’s Eve is celebrated with gaiety and zest by the people of Germany. People are in a full mood to enjoy and party hard. New Year’s celebration begins with the New Year’s Eve. Silvester is the New Year’s Eve in Germany. December 31st is the feast day of Saint Silvester and is so New Year’s Eve named after him. Silvester was a pope who lived in the fourth century. According to the German legends, he healed the leprosy and baptized the Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great. And also Silvester was the only pope to meet the acknowledged members of Jesus’s family.

New Year’s Eve is a noisy affair. These celebrations are all about dancing, singing, drinking and having a lavish meal. People like to spend time with their dear ones. Party places and restaurants are overcrowded with people. The huge New Year bash of Brandenburger Tor in Berlin is famous worldwide.

As soon as clock strikes 12 at night, people are seen hugging, kissing and wishing each other “Gutes Neues Jahr” or “Happy New Year”. Bells of churches start ringing loudly. Champagne and wine flow lavishly and fireworks light up the sky. Thus, New Year is welcomed in a merry way by the people of Germany.

Playing special New Year games is another feature of New Year’s celebrations. At homes, people enjoy the festive craze by watching special New Year programs. It is considered very auspicious by the people to have carp (a type of fish) or herring and toast made with champagne or sekt. Cabbage and carrots are also eaten to bring in financial stability. For Silvester, lentil (or split pea) soup with wieners is very popular. It is prepared a few days before the New Year. People also share meat and cheese fondue with family and friends as the New Year feast.

I found that on the web isn’t that the truth for many of us???

And still my son is gone, and yet I found peace with this situation.

I wont enable him any longer. I realised that with all the taking him back and letting him run his life, I was only enabling him to screw it up some more. Today on the way to church I received a call from him. He was saying that he will stop by on Christmas day. That he will bring his girlfriend with him.
I told him….NO! He can come and visit with us, but alone. At this time I dont need to meet girlfriends of him. I would like to spend time with him, and I think him alone is sufficient at this time.
He explained that the girlfriend already bought me a gift. But again I told him, I didnt ask for nothing, and I dont want nothing. If he likes to see us, we are more than happy to see him, but alone. And that he needs to learn to respect our wishes.
Perhaps to some it doesnt sound right, but if you would know the situation we are in with him, you probably would agree!

I decided not to buy any gifts for my son which would only money thrown out the window. I decided to start having a relationship with my grandson which I have never seen expect on one picture when he was a few days old.
I am already in contact with the mother of the child and hopefully we will meet after Christmas and I can finally hold that little baby in my arms. So I think my money spent on this little one is better than on my son.

On another note, I am so blessed!
My Pastor and his wife gave me a beautiful fruitbasket with apple butter and a candle and of course fruit in it. And today my Pastor gave me a 4 cd “Quick Verse” collection. I already got it donwloaded on my pc and it is wonderful. It is so much to learn from and to read and read. I just love it! For some reason however, I havent found the Bible yet on it. That to me is funny!

I received a bunch of cards after our service. And we had our little “Linger Longer” which we have once a month. The church was so nice decorated with candles and wreaths and lights. Yep its Christmas time you all!!!!!!!!!!

When I came home and made me a pot of coffee and than sat down to call my mom. In Germany as I wrote before we celebrate Christmas on the 24th. And usually I call my mom on the 24th. But this year I cant because I have to work tomorrow. And I dont know when I will get off. I know for a fact that I work at least until 6pm which would be than midnight in Germany. So I told her I will call her on the 25th.
My Mom is sicker than before, I could hardly understand what she was saying to me on the phone. Her voice got really bad from this last surgery. She told me she needs to go back for the same surgery AGAIN on January 4th, 2008.
They AGAIN have to open her throat and do something so she can breathe.
I am very concerned about how long I will have her around. But I am also happy because I know my Mom is saved and we will meet again when my time comes. That is truly a comfort to me.

My husband on the other side is upset with God for taking his mom. This morning I asked him if he would like to go with me to church. Is reply was ” I will never set a foot in a church again” How sad!
I told him his mom would be very upset the way he talks and feels. Because I know how often she told him to go to church with me. And he always gave her the same excuse ” I cant because I work nightshift and I have to get up at 4:30pm on Sundays, Mom”. 
I know my husband going through a rough time this year and especially right now with Christmas. We always receieved a card and/or gifts from her. And he always called her on Christmas day. And now this is nomore. Everything has changed!

All I can do is pray for him and my son at this time. I leave it to the Lord to work in both their hearts and turn them towards him.

Well you all, thats all for now.

I wish you all a blessed Christmas

Love and Blessings
Andrea

I dont know what is wrong with my son, but I truly believe he needs psychological help.

Let’s go back a few years.

My son wouldnt hold a job down longer than a week. And either he was fired or he just quit. He moved in and out of my house several times. Everytime he moved out he moved in with the same guy I used to know.

So one day he again came to my house and asked with tears to let him back home. That he saw his mistakes and that he wont do this EVER again to me. So my husband and I said “OK, one more time!”

We told him, that he has to keep a job down and if he cant do this, than he has to go to Lynchburg, VA to a place called “workforce” where he will finish his GED and learn a trade. Of course he didnt keep the job.
So when I found out (which always takes me extra long) I made an appointment with him for the “Workforce”
He was accepted and in April of 2005 I dropped him off. The rules were that he has to stay on campus for 3 months, after that that he could go home every weekend. The Ged and learning of a trade  would take about 1 Year and half. He also in having a roof over his head and food, etc. he also was paid. Not much but enough to go out to the movies or buy some extra items he want.
It was a nice place. I can only recommend it.

Of course after about 6 weeks, my son wanted to come back home.
I told him “No, you stay there or walk in the opposite direction”
Who wouldve known, he walked in the opposite direction and ended up in Fredericksburg, VA. There he somehow lived with a guy for a little while, than the guy went on a trip for a few days.
My son found the guys checkbook and started writing checks and forging the man’s signature on it.

The only thing I know is….one day in early September I receive a call from Rappahannock detention center. My son on the phone crying saying “Mom, you need to come up here and pay a $400.oo dollar bail.
I told him “NO!” “you put yourself into this mess, now get yourself back out!”
Of course many calls followed also from Bailbonds people, but I always declined.
Letters from him telling me how much he loves me, and that he is getting insane in this place, and that I need to get him out before it is to late.
I visited him once and it was heartbreaking to me. To see my only child in a glass cage isnt what a mother wants to see.

After 90 days they released him on his own recognances. He came home on December 17th, 2005!
What a joy, I thought the boy learned something from this. Because who in their right mind want to go back to a place like that? So he was home, he found a job with Subway two days later. He quickly learned the job, and seemed to be happy……..especially when he met his first real girlfriend.
I was shocked because she was 21 years old and she was 37 years old. I didnt like it at all. But at least he didnt do anything wrong at the time. And if I wouldve forbid it, he probably had done it anyways, so that was my thinking at the time.

Than he found out that she is pregnant by him. And she found out that he is a pathological liar. He told her lies about everything and to many to mention here. She broke up with him and decided she can have the baby on her own.
He was in love with her a lot and it hurt him deeply that she wouldnt wanted him nomore. But I did understand her too!

Still he worked the same job for a while now, and doing good at it.
I was once again proud of him!(for keeping the job that is!)

He still till two weeks ago did ok, we had some issues about phonebills, about certain Dvd’s I didnt wanted in my house. But he kept going to work and even worked double shifts, came in early, left late. A really good employee, this is what the manager the store confirmed when I got there last Wednesday.

In the meantime, the Ex-girlfreind took him to court and he was ordered to pay child support. He came home and told me “Mom, I dont know how to do that all. I still have to pay Fredericksburg for another year, and now $405.00 dollars a month child support. “
I told him, you have to do what other man do when they got woman pregnant, you have to get s second job. You have responsibilities now and you have to take care of them.
Oh by the way, because of his crime he lost his driver license and cant obtain a state ID because of not having a curent green card. He also has issues to get a green card because of what he did. But it was all in the making to get his situation straightened out.
Anyways, he said without an ID I cant get another job. I said well than you have to really budget your money until you have a ID.
 
It was I think three days before Thanksgiving when he told us that he has two tickets to see the Hokies in Charlottesville. He asked my husband to go with him, but he didnt want to. So a day later he told me about this girl Heather. And that he will take her to the game. He also said you gonna be surprised I got a haircut ( I always told him to keep his long hair groomed, working in the food business and all). When he came home the day before Thanksgiving I almost had heart failure. His haircut looked like those neo-nazi stuff. I cant even explain it. But I was in shock. He asked me “Dont you like it?” I said “It is you who has to walk around with that hair, not me!”

He went to the game, and came back about three days later. In the middle of the night he tried to “run away” I caught him with a hamper full of clothes trying to sneak out the door. I told him if this is one of your escapes, you take everything with you, not only this.
So he brought his clothes back upstairs and said he just going out for a little while with that girl Heather.

He never came back!

Last monday was the last time I spoke to him on the phone. He told me he would be home that evening and pay me for the overage on the cellphone and the housephone. He never came home, I never heard from him again.
So on tuesday morning I got his phoneline suspended. On wednesday afternoon, I went to his job. His manager told me he never showed up for work the passed two days.
The manager also told me the girl my son is hanging out with is bad news but thats all he could tell me.

The day later I called the job and asked for him again thinking he might came back. And the Manager told me that my son was two hours prior in the store and turned in his keys to the store. She said she never forget the look on his face. She said something was wrong but she couldnt pinpoint it.  I asked if she thought he was doing drugs? She said she didnt know. The only thing she said was…that she never saw him look like that, his whole demeanor was changed. He used to be such a nice person to be around (she didnt know about his lies)
She wrote my number down and promised me if she hears anything she would call.
I called her back yesterday and she hasnt heard a word from him.

I am at my wits end with him. I believe the boy needs some serious counseling.

I also know since the government cant collect on his debt, and child support isnt paid, it wont be long before they issue a warrant for his arrest. He had one more year to go to pay everything back, and move on with his life.
And he throws all away for what??????????????

I dont know!

My son is not saved. And I ask everyone who reads this to put him in your prayers. Let him see the light before it is to late. I am afraid that this is getting way to much for him, and that he sees no way out. I dont know where to look for him. But every day that passes is a day lost. My church is praying and please join us in prayers!!
Thank you

I received the “One Liners” in an email and had to pass them on! 

26 BEAUTIFUL ONE LINERS 1. Give God what’s right — not what’s left. 2. Man’s way leads to a hopeless end — God’s way leads to an endless hope. 3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. 4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone. 5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma–but never let him     be the period. 6. Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period. 7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift. 8. When praying, don’t give God instructions - just report for duty. 9. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church. 10. We don’t change God’s message — His message changes us. 11. The church is prayer-conditioned. 12 When God ordains, He sustains. 13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning. 14. Plan ahead — It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. 15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position. 16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible. 17. Exercise daily — walk with the Lord. 18. Never give the devil a ride — he will always want to drive. 19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it. 20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back. 21. He who angers you controls you. 22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop. 23. Give Satan an inch & he’ll be a ruler. 24. Be ye fishers of men — you catch them & He’ll clean them. 25. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. 26. Read the Bible — It will scare the hell out of you.       LORD, God, bless all people in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day….) What we do in life echoes in eternity….

Above you see a pic from the Christmas Market where I come from Mannheim/Germany

And I know there are many more names for this celebration.

I just want to talk about the tradition we had in my home when I was a kid in Germany.

We had two livingrooms, one more like a familyroom, and the other more formal. My dad nought a tree on the morning of the december 24th. Of course I couldnt be around, I have no idea what they did with me, I cant remember that anymore.

Anyways, my dad brought the tree home and put it in the formal livingroom. From than on the door was locked. Now of course I know my parents decorated the tree, and wrapped gifts. My mom placed her beautiful dishes on the table in there with fruit like oranges, apples, and lots of nuts. Also my Mom baked a lot starting in the beginning of November. Sometimes as early as late October.
All the women in my family bake like there is no tomorrow. But I think my mom’s cookies and cakes where the best! And they still would be if she still could do all those things!
She made all different kinds of cookies, and cakes, and especially her Stollen was out of this world. I lie not when I tell you my mom’s Stollen weight over 8 pounds.
I can never bake or cook like she can/could.

The baking part of Christmas was wonderful to me as a child. I was there she worked hard baking cookies deep into the night on the weekends. She couldnt bake on the weekdays cause she worked but her weekends where occcupied by baking for several weeks.
Then every cookie was placed in a tin can layer after layer with parchment paper in between the layers. Than the tin cans where hidden from me. Thats just how they did it in my family…LOL While she baked she had a few misfit cookies, and I was allowed to eat them. But after they where in the tin cans nobody wa allowed to touch them till Advent.
On each sunday of Advent my mom brought a huge plate out with cookies on it. Than we could eat them through the week from this plate. But we dare didnt eat from the tin cans. Or did we????
Well, thats the fun about Christmas………you got nothing better to do than to try to find those tin cans in the house,  in the
basement. Wherever she was hiding it, we surely searched and found! LOL

So back to December 24th. After the tree was decorated in the morning and everything was in place the door to that formal livingroom was locked.

Of course kids dont like that locked door when they know something is hidden from them. So all day long this is going through your mind …What could be behind this door that they dont want me to see (I am talking little kids, of course older kids know whats behind it).
We had our lunch at about 1pm. Than at about 4pm somebody rang bells. Soft sounding bells. Of course it was my dad, but at that time I didnt know it. And my mom looked always very surprised when she heard the bells. And than she said “let’s go and see what is going on” And there we walked towards the formal livingroom and the door was wide open.

And my dad stood on the side of the room and the christmas tree was lit up!
And lots of shiny, glittery packages where underneath. All kinds of colors, wrapped so beautiful. They went through a lot to make the best christmas each and every year. I was you can say a only child, since my brother is 15 years older than me.
So I was the “little princess”

Anyways, we went into that room, but I couldnt just go and rip open packages. NO!
There we sat down on a beautiful decorated table and we had coffee (for me chocolate) and Stollen. And than after all that, my dad got up and brought a package to me. And they watched me open it and my eyes lighting up.
And than the next package until they all were opened.
We read all the christmas cards together. And of course my parents exchanged gifts. But honestly I didnt pay no attention to that! I was busy playing with my stuff.

Well we sat in that room for sometime.  Than I dont know after a a couple hours or so, my mom served potato salad and wiener wuerstchen (hot dogs).

And than it was late enough for me to go to bed!

Now in Germany as I said before we celebrate christmas on the 24th in the evening. So all our businesses close down at noon on the 24th. And the 25th, and the 26th are holidays, which means all businesses in Germany are closed besides gas stations and restaurants. But all groceriestores and other retailers are closed!

So for my family and lots of other german families means this is a time of family gatherings. On the 25th it was ritual that we went to my grandparents house and all the my uncles, aunts, and cousins came too. We had a huge feast, and more gifts for all.

On the 26th my mom my mom stood in the kitchen again all morning for our Christmas Dinner. And we had also a huge dinner either she made turkey, or she made three different kind of roasts. Like a pork, beef, and calve roasts with all the fixings. And than it was over.
The 27th everything went back to normal in our house. But of course I had my new toys, and clothes and whatnots.

Out tree got picked up on the 7th of January. That is the day after the another holiday called “the holy three kings” but we dont celebrated that. For us it was just a holiday. My family werent christians, so they did not celebrate that!

Thats all Folks!

Next story…………… perhaps about New Years Eve in Germany, if anyone is interested????

Love and many Blessings in Christ Jesus our Saviour

And dont forget……….JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON!

Andrea

Yes all this names above somehow reminds everyone on Christmas. But are they right?? What have this guys to do with the birth of Christ??? Nothing!

It started for me many years ago in Germany. Tradition has it in Germany that kids put out their shoe, or boot, or sock in front of the door on the evening of December 5th. Than when they get up on the morning of Decemebr 6th, the boot, shoe, or sock is filled with candy, little toys, even school supplies. And supposedly Santa Claus, St. Nick, Nikolaus,  or some call him Weihnachtsmann filled those items.

Also in some families the “Nikolaus” comes to your home in the late evening of December 6th. he carries a sack filled with stuff. He has a “rute” which he might whip the bad kids with (never happened as I know of) and he has the “book” in this book is it written if you were a good or bad kid through the year. Of course the parent had already a meeting with Nikolaus prior to him coming to your house and he is well aware of the things you did bad and good. But for some reason the “good” always outweighs and than he tells you to pick some items out from his sack.
Trust most kids don’t want to get to close to him!
I remember one evening on December 6, 1966, I was 4 years old. Always when our doorbell rang I was the first to open it. Often my Mom told me not to do it, but did I listen?  OH NO!
So on this evening the doorbell rang and again Iw as the first one there. Pushing the little button to open the downstairs door. Than of course I was nosy who is coming to visit. And here as I looked out in the hallway From the stairs I saw a tip of a red hat……………… NIKOLAUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………….

don’t ask me why, but I was so scared, I ran into our spare bedroom and was hiding until my parents came and got me out.
And I had to face the Nikolaus.
He stood there big and tall, and said to me

“What are you hiding for????”
I wasn’t able to answer.
He said ” Where you a good kid?”
No answer from me!
He said ” Come to me!”
My parents where absolutly of no help to me, he stood between me and my parents. So I couldn’t even hide behind my mom. Than he started telling me while he was looking in the book……”I heard you aren’t listening to your parents, when they told you so many times to stay away from that door. You always the first one there and let everyone in the house! Is that true?”
And I said “yes Nikolaus, that is true! But it wont happen again I swear!!!”
I remember this went on for a little while, but now over 40 years later I really don’t remember in detail his conversation with me.
But I do remember that I didnt want any candy, or toys from his sack when he told me to get some out.
I remember very much how scared I was. This big guy, with the “rute” and that sack, and this voice….his voice was very very scary to me!
But he wouldn’t let go of me, I had to come to him and pull out something from that sack. So after I pulled out the first thing, and wanted to leave, he told me to pull more stuff out. All the while I was so scared!!!
He finally left, and we never had another Nikolaus in our house.

I remember my Mom had to promise me each year after that, that she wont tell Nikolaus that I was bad, and that I didn’t want any toys or candies from him.
So my Mom made it a tradition after that, that on December 6th., we drive around in our car and watch all those Nikolaus’s when they went to visit other kids.
But still we put every year on the 5th a boot out in front of the door, and every morning of the 6th it was filled with goodies for me.

Of course one day I had a child, and when he was about 4 years old, I ordered me a Nikolaus. He called me the day before and got the report what my son did good and bad over the year. Right before his arrival he called so I could put the toys and candy outside and he put it in his sack before he knocked on the door.
And when he came and talked to my son, all this came abck to my mind how I felt and how happy I was when he left…HaHa.
And my son acted the same way I did………scared, sick to the stomach.

IT IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!

Now see here in the states Santa comes on the 25th to bring all the stuff, sliding through a chimney.

But in Germany our Christmas where we exchange gifts are on the late afternoon or early evening of December 24th. And those gifts are not brought by Nikolaus or Santa Claus….NO…..they are brought by the Christ Child “Christkindl”

And below I copied and pasted the ” The Legend of

 The Man behind the Legends:               

St. Nicholas is revered by many faiths and traditions and is honored and loved world wide. The man behind Santa Claus was a Christian Bishop in Myra, a seaside town in what is now Western Turkey in the early Fourth Century A.D. Upon this known fact have grown many legends. Legends are stories about a historical figure which often embellish and expand far beyond the actual facts, though they may contain some elements of truth. Bishop Nicholas is mentioned by Methodius (d. 311) and John Chrysostom (d. 407) in his Liturgy, and a Sixth Century abbot, Nicholas of Sion, is believed to have written his biography and about his miracles, many of which involved saving children from tragedy.

Perhaps no other saint has been as widely loved as Nicholas. He is honored by Greek and Russian Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and even Reformed Protestantism. Justinian named a church for him in Constantinope in the sixth century and about 1000 A. D. he was revered in Germany by Otto 2 (whose wife was Greek Orthodox). When the Saracens took the city, the Italians moved his relics to Bari in Italy in 1087. He is considered the Patron Saint of Moscow as well as many other places. In the Middle Ages, 400 churches were named for him in England alone. His image was used on Byzantine seals and icons more than any other saint, and he was a favorite subject of medieval artist and liturgical plays.

 Born at Patar in Lycia in Asia Minor, orphaned at a very early age, he was raised by his Uncle in a Monastery. His parents died of a plague, leaving him very wealthy – but he gave it all away secretly to the poor and the needy. This was done in creative ways. For example, he bought a carpet from a man at a ridiculously high price. Then he gave the carpet to the man’s wife as a gift.

The best know tale of his generosity concerns three girls whose impoverished father had no money for their marriage dowries, and who faced slavery as a result. Nicholas tossed bags of gold coins through girl’s windows at night. Some versions have him dropping the third bag of coins down the chimney. Each of the girls was able to marry as a result of these gifts from nowhere. Nicholas wanted to become a monk, but as a result of a dream where Jesus gave him a jeweled copy of the four gospels, he became a priest, tradition has it at the age of 17.

Nicholas may have made a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine. Perhaps on the journey home, there was a fierce storm during which he saved three sailors by appearing and stilling the storm.

The Bishop at Myra had recently died, and there was disagreement on the selection of a new bishop. During a time of fasting and prayer, came the revelation of an angel that they were to make a man named Nicholas, a stranger, who would be the first to arrive for morning prayers, the new Bishop. Young Nicholas was made the Bishop of Myra.

Nicholas was a good choice. He was known for his piety and zeal for the faith, as well as his concern for children, the needy and the poor. Some miracles were attributed to him and the nick-name the Wonder Worker as well. He would soon become known for his courage. He was imprisoned and tortured during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian and his Regent Maximan somewhere between 303 and 311 A.D., but Nicholas continued to teach even in chains, refusing to renounce Christ, despite imprisonment and torture.

 When Constantine became Emperor, Christianity suddenly became the official religion of the Roman Empire in 313 A.D. Nicholas was released and returned to his flock. One of the oldest accounts of Nicholas has him saving three innocent soldiers who had been condemned to death by appearing in the Emperor’s dreams interceding in their behalf.

One miracle frequently attributed to St. Nicholas is the Children in the Brime Tubs. Supposably an evil innkeeper had murder three boys and hid their remains in tubs of salt. St. Nicholas was said to have restored them to life, and brought the innkeeper to repentance. It would seem that this story orginated through a misunderstanding of Icon pictures of Nicholas baptizing three figures in a large tub. Eastern Icons showed the principle figures as larger, and so the figures in the tub, being smaller were thought to be three boys. This miracle is frequently mentioned in the middle ages.

Soon after this, the Council of Nicaea met in 325 A.D. to deal with Arius and his false teachings about Christ’s Divinity. While the records do not show him as having attended, tradition suggests he was not only there, but had slapped Arius in the face for his heresy, was temporarily defrocked and then restored by miraculous revelation. If not there, at least, according to one account, Myra alone was untouched by the filth of this heresy due to the faithful teaching of its bishop, Nicholas.

Nicholas died on December 6th, in 342 A.D. That day has become his feast day. A European custom in the Middle ages was the election of a boy as Bishop on Nicholas’ feast day (Dec. 6th) who would reign until Holy Innocent’s day (Dec. 28th) when he would have to preach a sermon!

Another tradition of remembering Nicholas by giving anonymous gifts to children and the poor as gifts coming from him developed in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands – similar to the gifts given by of the Three Kings in Spain on Epiphany Eve (Jan. 6th). It is thought by some that this gift giving custom originally replaced a pagan yuletide celebration of Woden, coming on horseback with gifts.

 With the Reformation’s break from Roman Catholicism, “St. Nicholas” became “Pere Noel” (France) “Father Christmas” (England) “Christkindl” (German Lutherans), “Grandfather Frost” (under Russian Communism – he was pictured wearing blue) and “Sinterklaas” (Dutch) – the mispronunciation of the latter in America became “Santa Claus”.

The fat jolly Santa with his red suit we know was the creation of an Illustration by Thomas Nash in 1864 and 1878, and Haddon Sundblom’s illustrations for Cola-Cola from 1931 to 1964, both drawing from Clement Moore’s Poem “Twas the Night before Christmas” in the 1823.

Though obscured by Santa and Reindeer and much of the modern Christmas celebration, behind the legends of St. Nicholas was a kind and pious man, who loved and served the Lord Jesus Christ, and who loved and cared for those in need, especially children, a man whose example we ought to follow.

I told this story at a church children’s Christmas party dressed up as St. Nicholas, with a long white gown; a red tunic with a green jewelled Bible (with an Orthodox cross) and three gold balls (with The Chi-Rho, Jerusalem and Latin crosses on them) sewn on as emblems, and with Jingle Bells on the hem; a white Cloak with red trim in the front; and a 12″ Bishop’s miter with a red cross and gold fish on the front – all home made. I also wore a Santa Wig and beard. After telling the story of St. Nicholas – gifts were passed out to the children.

Merry Christmas 1999 —- Barry McWilliams (eldrbarry) Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, Lake Stevens, Wa

So now you know what Nikolaus aka Santa Claus means to me.

                                                                  You all have a blessed Christmas Season!!!

Love Andrea

 

For most Christians, the Christmas season begins on the Sunday closest to November 30th…the Feast Day of Saint Andrew, one of the Twelve Apostles. This Sunday is known as the First Day of Advent, a four-week period during which Christians prepare for the celebration of Christmas. The word “advent” is Latin for “coming towards” (“ad” meaning “towards” and “ven” or “vent” being the core of the Latin verb “veno,” which means “to come”). In this context, Advent refers to the coming of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.

The four Sundays immediately preceding Christmas are traditionally represented by the four candles found on Christmas wreaths. This season was once observed very strictly. Fasting was ordained, church organs remained silent for the first two Sundays, and marriages were prohibited from taking place during the entire period. On the other hand, folk customs did not always match the severity of Church. In Ancient Rome, for example, the last days of Advent were celebrated by Calabrian “pifferari” or bagpipers, who swarmed through the city playing at shrines erected in honor of the Virgin Mary. This music was symbolic of that played by the shepherds who, according to tradition, offered such a melodic tribute to the Baby Jesus.

In old Normandy during the time of Advent, farmers would send forth their children, armed with flaming torches, to drive away pests. Only children younger than twelve years old were considered innocent enough to perform this service, which involved setting fire to bundles of hay, lighting piles of straw placed under trees, and engaging in chants intended to banish mice, caterpillars, moles and other destructive animals. In some areas, Advent was the time when a maiden could determine the identity of her future husband. Taking a number of onions, she would carve each one with the name of a fancied spouse and then place the onions near the fire. The name engraved on whichever onion sprouted first would be the lucky suitor. In certain parts of England, poor women would carry a pair of dolls during the last week of Advent…one dressed as Jesus and one dressed as the Virgin Mary. Everyone to whom they showed the dolls was expected to contribute a halfpenny, or risk a very nasty dose of bad luck.

According to old German tradition, on the first Sunday of Advent, the children should write their Christmas letter to the Christ Child. Accompanied by Angels, it is Christkindl…the Christ Child…who will bring the Christmas tree, together with all the good things to be found both on and beneath it.

To those of the Christian faith, the Christmas season reaches its climax at Midnight Mass (or other religious services) on Christmas Eve. Churches are decorated with candles, lights, evergreen branches and bright-red Poinettias. Christmas carols are sung and readings are given from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew. Priests and ministers deliver sermons to their congregations about the coming of Christ and the need for peace and understanding between all nations of the world. Most churches also hold services on Christmas Day.

The Christmas season ends on Epiphany or January 6th. In Western churches, Epiphany marks the coming of the Wise Men to the Christ Child. Among Eastern Christians, this day is the celebration of Jesus’ baptism. Epiphany falls on the twelfth day after Christmas. The tradition of Advent, being a relatively recent Christmas ritual of German origin, is celebrated primarily in the German-speaking areas of Europe and particularly in the protestant German areas of the United States.

In many countries, people use special Advent Calendars to keep track of the twenty-four days prior to Christmas. An Advent Calendar usually displays a colorful Christmas scene with each date printed upon a flap. One flap is lifted per day to uncover a holiday picture or Biblical verse.

Advent Calendars were first used in the Nineteenth Century and originated (as stated above) from the protestant area of Germany. Protestant Christian families made a chalk line for every day in December until the arrival of Christmas Eve. Before long, commercial entrepreneurs began replacing the ephemeral lines of chalk with printed calendars. The first known Advent Calendar dates from 1851 and the first printed version was made by Gerhard Lang, a Swabian parishioner from Maulbronn in Germany.

When Lang had been a child, his mother had made him an Advent Calendar with twenty-four “wibbele” or little candles. Later, while affiliated with the printing office of Reichhold & Lang, Lang published a series of miniature colored pictures which could be affixed to a piece of cardboard…one for every day in December. This first printed Advent Calendar, which had no windows to open, was marketed in 1908.

The celebration of Advent quickly became very popular during the early decades of the Twenthieth Century. Despite Lang’s success, however, he was forced to close his business in the 1930s because of World War II. This put an end to the observance of Advent in many German homes, as well as impeding the growth and spread of the tradition.

The first printed version of the Advent Calendar which appeared after the war was marketed by Richard Sellmer in 1946 and the tradition gradually regained popularity. Advent Calendars continue to be printed today.

Toward the end of the Nineteenth Century, Advent Clocks or Advent Candles began to make an appearance in many German homes. On an Advent Candle, the dates appear in a row down the side. Each evening, the Candle is lit and then burned down to the next date. By Christmas Day, the entire Candle has melted.

In some homes, it is customary to keep twenty-four candles…one for each night from December 1st through Christmas Eve. One candle is lit for a short period of time on December 1st and then a new candle is added each day for the twenty-four day period. The more usual practice in those homes which use Advent Candles, however, is to have only four candles…one for each of the four weeks prior to Christmas. One candle is lit the first week, two the second week, and so on. Often, the candles are placed upon a wreath which forms the centerpiece of the dining room table.

In Denmark, the Christmas season begins on December 1st with the lighting of the Advent Candle. The candle is marked with the customary twenty-four lines…one for each day prior to Christmas. To the Danish people, the burning of the Advent Candle represents the waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ.

The Advent Wreath is a Lutheran custom which originated in Eastern Germany. Advent Wreaths are round…having no beginning and no ending… sybolizing God’s eternity and mercy, of which every season of Advent is a new reminder. It is also likened to the circle of life.

The Advent Wreath is made of evergreens to symbolize the everlasting God and immortality of humankind. Evergreens also represent the victory of life through darkness and challenge. The fact that an evergreen can live through Winter signifies the strength of life itself. Green is also the color of the Church, representative of hope and new life. Four candles…three of purple or violet, symbolizing penance, sorrow, longing and expectation, and one candle of rose or pink to represent hope and coming joy…are placed within the wreath as symbols of the four weeks of Advent. These are replaced with white candles for the Christmas Season which ends with Epiphany. Wreaths are an ancient symbol of victory and to Christians, symbolize the fulfillment of time in the coming of Christ and the glory of his birth.

More than just a decorative touch for the wall or door, wreaths have existed in various forms since the time of the ancient Romans and are steeped with age-old traditions. Wreaths are, in essence, an eternal part of the festive season. In ancient Greece, a coral wreath was awarded to victors in sporting events, in much the same way that today’s Olympic champions are awarded gold medals. Wreaths were, and still are, a sign of victory and, in Roman times, were often hung upon doors of those victorious in battle, thus advertising their status.

In a religious sense, the Advent Wreath has a place in Catholic tradition. This special wreath is created with four candles, as detailed above. One candle is lit each Friday of Advent accompanied by a prayer. In this manner, the wreath is representative of the coming Christmas celebrations. Scandinavian wreaths also feature candles, which illuminate the Winter nights and offer a promise of hope for the future light of Spring. It was once believed that the wreath and candles would encourage the Norse God of Light to turn the world back toward the direction of the Sun.

Pagan Mid-Winter rituals often featured a wreath of evergreen with four candles. The candles were placed in each of the four directions to represent the elements of earth, wind, water and fire. Rites were solemnly performed in order to ensure the continuance of the circle of life symbolized by the evergreen wreath. Their decorative value is also believed to have been derived by ancient tradition. In much the same way as house numbers are used today, so did wreaths featuring different floral arrangement identify different families and houses.

 

 Since I live in the US, lots of people never knew why I have a Advent Wreath. Now you see this is a deep rooted tradition where I come from. And I kept it going here too. Every year at the last Sunday in November I light my first candle.

The next post I will explain why we in Germany have a “Santa Claus” and why he comes on December 6th and not on December 24 th or 25th like in the US.

Santa Claus has a total different meaning in Germany than here. More to come about that.

I wish you all a blessed Advent seasonAndrea

I am a Christian

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin’.”
I’m whispering “I was lost,
Now I ‘m found and forgiven.”

 By Carol Wimmer

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