12/24 DAY 5: Christmas Eve, DAS GROßE FRESSEN I (PIGGING OUT I)
CHRISTMAS EVE

At the unlikely hour of 8:00 am, Marita was ready to go shopping for food for Christmas. I needed to buy some stuff for the portion that I was cooking. I threw on my smoky clothes from the previous night and we drove through the small, quiet village (population 2,000?) to the butcher shop and finally to Minimall, the cleverly named grocery store, to shop for groceries.


A typical German breakfast; cheese plate not shown

Upon returning, we ate breakfast. Then I hung out, which was a necessary, because after about after about a lengthy two hour wait, I was finally able to pry Julia out of the bathroom so I could shower and dress before church. I guess perfection needs time.

CHURCH

We showed up at the 3:00 pm service intended for the ever restless children. The 150 year old wooden church was packed.

The sermon was really nice. Very cute. The pastor explained that he had a special guest, a sheep, which he held. The sheep whispered the story of Christmas to him. (Which first ended up being a recitation of how cold it was and how delicious the hay was… then turned into a story of the baby Jesus who was born in Bethlehem.)

The congregation sang two songs which I didn’t remotely recognize, and without notes on bars, I couldn’t chime in. Oh, well, I stood and looked pretty.

The service lasted about 30 minutes at which time we left the cramped, baby-filled space. Peter and I hoofed it the half mile back home.

TEA TIME & THE TREE

Upon returning, we enjoyed a laid back tea, Julia’s home made Christmas cookies and various fancy locally produced chocolates and truffles. When Marita does something, she does it right. She set out her finest China (English pattern that she’s had for like 30 years.)


Opa and Oma at tea time

After tea, we then put up the Christmas tree together. Peter explained that the tradition required that we listen to Rolling Stones and sip bourbon. Fine by me.


The Christmas tree

Live Christmas trees in Europe are typically shorter and squatter. They are not placed in water, so they are short lived. The traditional trees have only candles and ornaments. Since we had a small child, we opted to put ONE generous 100 lightbulb strand onto the tree followed by about a dozen or so candles that would remain unlit until later, once the lil’un was in bed.

I thought the tree was pretty, especially with the candles. I didn’t go near the tree as I am especially clumsy.

We opened up presents. While people give one another presents, it’s not nearly as commercial as in the United States. Just a few small tokens.

I gave Julia the “bomber” imitation leather blanket that I had gotten her in the ‘States and lugged all over the Czech republic. She seemed very happy with it, as were Peter and Marita with their wine sacks and imported liquid libations.

The Weihnachtsman (i.e. “Christmas man”) was good to me, too. I got from Oma a book on Rome, from Peter/Marita a book on Europe and from Julia candy and a very classy travel journal.

CHRISTMAS MEAL & AFTERHOURS

Later that night, we pigged out for the first time in the ceremony they call “Christmas.” The appetizer was a smoked salmon. Oma had made a traditional Eastern Europe stuffed cabbage, which is eaten with a red horseradish sauce. Marita served turkey, cabbage filled apples, red, fried potatoes and a gravy. Kind of like a Germanized Thanksgiving meal. Again, thoroughly delicious.


My plate

The meal ended with some Schnapps and more white wine. Julia and Sören were tired and went to bed. Peter, Marita and I talked, catching up on our lives. Peter went to bed, then Marita talked in depth about Opa and Julia, as well as about relationships, etc. She’s like an aunt to me and I thoroughly enjoyed talking. Inevitably, the bottle of white wine emptied and we hugged and went to bed around 3:00 am.
- posted by Matt @ 9:24 AM