Meet Elena
Instagram: @elenaeedg
My name is
Elena and I am born and raised in the north of Bavaria, Germany. My favorite
thing to do is traveling. Not just because of explore new places and check off
my bucketlist. I love to travel because of get to know other cultures, other
people (and food). Also I like to take pictures and edit them (this is a part
of my job as a designer anyway). Years ago I started an instagram account based
on those hobbies. For a super curious girl like me connecting with new people
from all around the globe is everything. Thanks to social media it is possible
to do that every single day. So I would say instagram is more and more a hobby
of mine, too. This year's Christmas is going to be my 21th.
2. What are your favorite Christmas traditions?
We have many
Christmas traditions in Germany. A lot of them even already start in November,
because we have to prepare for the time before the main Christmas celebrations.
That time reaches from the first to 24th of December and is called Advent.
As a child this was the most beautiful and exciting time of the year. That had
multiple reasons:
In mainly the south
of our country, children write to the ‚Christkind' asking for presents. We left
the letters on the windowsill at the beginning of or during Advent.
'Christkind' translates as 'The Christ Child' in English, but we don't think of
the Christkind as the baby Jesus! The Christkind is often described as a young
girl with 'Christ like' qualities.
You might also
write a letter to Weihnachtsmann in other parts of Germany. Some people say
that Father Christmas (Weihnachtsmann) and some say it is Christkind who brings
the presents on the 24th. For me and my little sister it was Christkind
bringing them.
As well as hoping
for presents from Christkind or Weihnachtsmann, we also hoped that 'der
Nikolaus' will bring you some small gifts, such as nuts and chocolate on the
6th December (St Nicholas's Day). He comes in the night between the 5th and the
6th and puts the presents into your shoes, which are placed by the door. He
might also knock on the door and the children will have to sing a song, play a
song on an instrument or tell a story to „Nikolaus“ before he gives them their
presents.
Also there are a
ton of different types of Advent calendars. As well as the traditional one made
of card that are used in many countries, there are DIY ones with 24 decorated
boxes or bags hanging from it. Each box or bag has a little present or sweets in
it.
Another type is
called a 'Adventskranz' and is a ring of fir branches that has four candles on
it. One candle is lit at the beginning of each week in Advent.
Of course a visit
of the well known Christmas Markets where all sorts of Christmas foods and
decorations are sold, is essential in Advent. People from all over the world
come to visit them and one of the most famous, in Nuremberg, is not that far
away of my hometown.
Another Christmas
Must-Have are “Plätzchen” (Christmas cookies). People are actually taking days
off from work to bake them. There are millions of recipes and a variety of
types! Famous ones are “Lebkuchen” (a traditional Christmas treat,
resembling gingerbread), “Stollen”
(a popular fruited yeast bread), “Dominosteine” or “Speculatius”.
Keep in mind that if
you want to impress your friends, you should minimum make 10 different types of
them and don’t forget that people would talk about your failed “Lebkuchen” for
years.
There are much more traditions but i think
that would be to much right now!
3. What does Christmas mean to you?
I don’t write
letters to the Christkind and there is no Nikolaus knocking on my door anymore.
While growing up the Christmas magic fades and other things like work and
stress are dominating the holidays. Moments of peace and calmness are rare. My advice for this christmas
season is to remember and create wonderful moments together. I look forward to
come together with my family, best and long unseen friends.
We should all take our time and remember those happy childhood memories.
For example, when the whole family was united and excited to light the first
candle on the “Adventskranz” and the first snow was falling. How the
grandparents enjoyed to see their presents getting unwrapped by their happy
grandchilds or yourself being nervous before the “Krippenspiel” (nativity play) in the church.
4. If you could share a single piece of advice with everyone this Christmas season, what would it be?
Remember that presents, snow and fairy lights should not
matter that much. Keep in mind that there are thousands out there who aren’t
able to celebrate the holidays in the same way.
Last year I was
shopping and about to spend my money on a present for my selfish self. Then a
disabled young man was crossing my way. He asked for money to support an aid
organization. I decided to give him the money for my present and I am sure that
it is spent in a better way now.
Hopefully I will
see him this time again…
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