A Spin on the Traditional

Traditions. They are familiar and you look forward to them. They are what make home, home. This has been one of the harder parts of living in Vienna. There are different traditions. Now, this isn't a bad thing. Different traditions broaden our horizons and help us create our own. I never realized how much these traditions varied until I talked a little bit with Oliver and others over here.

So, here are a few tidbits I have learned:

1. There is a celebration of the advent each Sunday. They light one candle on that day each week to count down to Christmas, so by the end of the month four candles have been lit for the four weeks of December. And many use gorgeous candle wreaths. I am in love with them and I want one!

2. Krampus. Have you ever heard of Krampus? Well he is the evil Santa Claus. On the night of December 5, all the children shine their shoes and put them out for Saint Nikolaus. If the children have been good and their shoes are clean, their shoes are filled with oranges and nuts and candy. If they were bad and haven't shined their shoes, Krampus visits them and fills their shoes with coal! Similar to the American Santa Claus' naughty and nice list.

3. When I think of Christmas at home I always think of my mom's amazing sugar cookies. When Oliver thinks of Christmas at home he thinks of Stollen, German Christmas cake. It's made of raisins, almonds, and all sorts of goodies and the longer you let it sit, the better it gets! (I have never come across a cake that could do that...)

4. Remember getting up at 4am and running to get mom and dad so you could see what Santa had brought? Remember not being able to sleep on Christmas Eve in anticipation for the next morning? Well, children experience Christmas morning a little differently over here. Santa visits on Christmas Eve and presents are opened on Christmas Eve. Usually one parent will go on a walk with the kids or distract them in some way and Santa will come for a visit so when everyone gets back, it's time to open the goodies that have been left!

It is going to be exciting to see how Oliver and I will blend our two ideas of Christmas to make it our own! What are some of your Christmas traditions?