| With the holidays right around the
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| | the Nikolaus, or Weinachtsmann (Santa
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| corner, it's hard not to reminisce our
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| | Claus) came. Leading up to Nikolaustag,
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| childhood memories and holidays of
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| | we children would have to behave very
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| yesteryear. In each culture, there are
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| | well, because St. Nikolaus could 'see
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| differing values and traditions which are
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| | everything' we did. And the night before
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| celebrated in different ways.During the
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| | December 6th, we would have to clean our
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| 70's, growing up 'German' in Europe was
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| | winter boots meticulously to put outside
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| one of the most fascinating and magical
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| | our doors. Why the heck would we clean
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| decades. Having strong German roots, our
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| | our boots and place them outside our
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| family participated in many German
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| | doors? Well, I'll tell you why - if we
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| Christmas traditions. One of those
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| | were good, and our boots were really
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| traditions was Advent. The Advent, or
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| | clean, St. Nikolaus would stuff our boots
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| Christmas calendar, is picture-box
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| | with candies, little toys and chocolates.
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| calendar decorated with wintry &
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| | If we were bad, we would receive a bundle
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| Christmas scenes, biblical characters and
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| | of switches or lumps of coal.Unknown to
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| 'St. Nicolas.' On the face of the
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| | popular American custom, the
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| calendar, are 24 small doors, each
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| | 'Weinachtsmann' was conceived by
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| containing a small chocolate - one opened
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| | German-American Illustrator, Thomas Nast,
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| each day for the holiday season. The
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| | who created the Christmas image of Santa
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| December 24th door, which is the
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| | in America - which, ultimately set a
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| 'Heiligabend' (Christmas Eve) is usually
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| | precedent for the permanent, symbolic
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| the largest door on the calendar and most
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| | establishment of Santa
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| often contains a chocolate Nativity. As
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| | Claus.Traditionally, German Christmas is
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| children, we relished in this fun, and
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| | observed through 'Heilige Drei Konige
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| tasty feature of the holiday season.But
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| | Tag,' or Three Kings Day (also known as
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| Advent wasn't simply comprised of the
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| | the Magi or the Wise Men). In some parts
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| Holiday Calendar, we also partook in the
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| | of Europe, such as Austria, Germany and
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| Advent Wreath, or 'Adventskranz' which
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| | Switzerland, the Letters C + M + B
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| was beautifully displayed on tables
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| | (Caspar, Melchor, and Balthazar - and,
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| throughout the house. Wreathes held 4
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| | 'Christus mansionem benedicat,' meaning
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| candles; the first candle being lit the
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| | 'Christ bless this house.') are etched
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| fourth Sunday before Christmas, and
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| | with chalk above doorways and home
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| another one each Sunday thereafter.
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| | entrances on January 6th. Of course, this
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| Around the evergreen wreath of candles,
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| | is the epitome of the 12 Days of
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| our family would gather as each candle
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| | ChristmasFinally, on the 'Kristkind
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| was meticulously lit. My mom would recite
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| | Abend' (Christ Child Eve or Christmas
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| a simple, German passage each time she
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| | Eve), aside from the Weinachts Baum
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| would light a candle:"Advent, Advent
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| | (Christmas Tree custom started by Martin
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| Ein Kerzlein brent.
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| | Luther), families receive 'Bunte Teller,'
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| Erst Eins,
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| | or colored plates filled with oranges,
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| den Zwei,
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| | candies, Marzipan (comprised of almonds
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| den Drei,
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| | and suger), Lebkuchen (gingerbread),
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| den Vier -
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| | Stollen (fruit bread) and an assortment
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| den steht der Kristkind vor der
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| | of chocolates and other goods. Before any
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| tur."Which translates into, 'Advent,
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| | gifts are exchanged, Christmas Carols
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| Advent, a candle burns. First one, then
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| | like Stille Nacht (Silent Night from
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| two, then three, then four - then stands
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| | Austrian composer Franz Gruber) are sung
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| the Christ Child before the door.'For you
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| | by the tree.To this day, I am still
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| see, in Germany, it is the 'Kristkind'
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| | amazed at the profound effects of
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| (Christ Child) who brings gifts on
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| | Christmas' past have had on me. As a
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| Christmas Eve.Another childhood pastime
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| | child, the holiday was mystical and
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| was St. Nikolaustag (St. Nicholas Day)
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| | magical, as an adult, its beautiful
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| was a fun and lighthearted tradition
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| | memories are forever etched in my heart
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| whereby children everywhere anxiously
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| | and soul.Wishing all a happy,
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| awaited the arrival of December 6th when
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| | memory-filled, holiday season!
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