Dear You,
I have to admit that I am still not in the Christmas spirit at all (though Berlin's merchants try to cure me in every possible way - which makes me even grumpier...)
So I made a list of what might help:
1. Drawing or crafting your own Christmas cards.
Above you see a feeble attempt of mine: Knut, my little red Fiat 500, makes an effort to put a spell on me. I check out the giving-is-better-than-getting-mood - but only for the Christmas Season! - and fulfill his dream: I write his name with "C" (you remember, we live in the quarter with many gay people, and Knut is a bit effeminate, even might insist soon on being called Trans-porter).
And no: the Christmas tree is still in the woods.
2. Buy a Christmas cactus.
(Never two: you might find it hard to use the plural)
3. Take an evening bummel across the Ku'damm.
.jpg "©Brigitta Huegel")
You see the smaller one of the two towers of Egon Eiermann, built 1957 as appendix to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächntiskirche, which was partly destroyed in World War II - they keep it that way to remind us.
.jpg "©Brigitta Huegel")
.jpg "©Brigitta Huegel")
Sorry - I am not that needy for Christmas spirit - out! out! - it must be the Tower of Babel - so many international tongues, so many hands grabbing what they can get (I've nothing against Kitsch in small portions, it warms the heart - but this is too much for me).
Next time I might show you a few of the over 80 Christmas markets we have in Berlin - that might help even me to sing Jingle Bells....
PS: Hope nobody is offended by my little joke on
Supersaturated comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteAlready, Joanne? But as I saw in your header, you have snow for a much longer time - is that the reason?
DeleteI love your card, and had a good chuckle at #2: "(Never two: you might find it hard to use the plural)." Isn't that the truth! As for the holiday season, yes, too soon, and already too much. I try my best to stay out of the shops this time of year--all of them, so I don't have to hear the Chipmunks sing about Christmas one.more.time.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sue - I like to draw, one of the few things that make me absolutely forget everything. even the outcome. And as you say: the shops are maddening - though I think the festive lights in the streets are very beautiful.
DeleteSuch a simple and charming card, just what I like, and all the more admirable for being created by yourself.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mise, that you like (to quote Miss Mapp) "My little daubs". :-)
DeleteI find it hard to enjoy Christmas with almost all of my family so far away but I do still have a good time. There are the gifts I sent to them ( I am ahead of the game there) and the ones I have ready for my son and his dog. I have all my Christmas movies queued up and I have been watching them since Thanksgiving. And there is my Christmas music. So I am in the mood. I would love to know more about the towers of Egon Eiermann. Maybe a future post from you? In the meantime I'll search for it on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine, Emma, that it is not easy to get into a festive mood when most of the dearest are far away, though music and films create spirit and atmosphere. (I always read Charlotte MacLeod's "Rest You Merry" with Professor Shandy on my own; and for all "St. Nikolaus in Not" by Timmermann - and it is a family joke that at another story husband always (!) falls deeply asleep, while I read lively and sonorously).
DeleteTo prepare gifts is thinking of one's dear, by imagining what might delight them we are connected.
To have the presents already collected and sent, is what I call very well organized!
To write a post about Egon Eiermann is a good idea, thank you - I might (in the new year, I think).
I completely understand you! Britta, lately when I walk into certain stores, I feel something approaching vertigo. It's too much. Too overwhelming. Too visually noisy. Ugh, it makes me ill.
ReplyDeleteBUT.
I am absolutely in love with your Christmas card. So elegantly charming! That, and I can get on board with. *jingle bells, jingle bells ...*
It is the sense that they want to manipulate us via our feelings which makes me stubborn. The idea of Christmas - or: the 25th as the Day of Light - is beautiful. The hype makes me nervous, the expectations to perfection.
DeleteThank you that you love my card - for me drawing is a super form of meditation - I really forget about (sweet little) Me. And look with attention at the things I draw.
Self-forgetting is the gift of the Light.
DeleteI love your card! The photos are intriguing --dramatic even, especially Käthe Wohlfahrt. It has a crisp feeling to it that I always associate with the season.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Geo.! Crisp I like too, but Käthe gives a bit too much of overpowering Christmas..-stuff --- some single items are very nice, but in that flood I cannot even try a tunnel-type vision...
DeleteI sometimes translate too, Britta, for governments and international bodies. Alas, I speak no German, only English and Irish.
ReplyDeleteWow - that's great, Mise! Maybe in a case I have in mind (but it is nor ready yet - some dreams need time) we might work together. If you want to see what I translated, you are kindly invited to have a look at brigittahuegel.de
DeleteBritta... The card is the perfect Christmas greeting ... Especially since it is your own original! Not much shopping to do ... Definitely want to avoid the hustle and bustle! A bit of this and that as far as decorating... Depending on the warm glow of Christmas to come from within! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, thank you so much! I am a bit behind with all the blogs, mine too - too much to do at the moment, a lot of visitors, learning Italian - all that takes time, but soon I'll be back in blogland and will visit you all.
DeleteI wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!