Sun, 13 Dec 1998 - Do the Polar Choke

Hi.
 I haven't done one of these mass-mailings in a while... and there is 
actually a really good reason for that, as it  would read something like 
this;   "And so I was doin' this like, shreddin' 360 when I tried to cop a 
grab on my board when I just TOTALLY wiped out and ate some serious snow, 
dude, and I was like wow man what happened?!".... and so on.
 No great new travel stories or anything. Let's just say that almost 
everything is going the way I had planned and hoped for for this winter. I 
have bought my season ski pass (affectionately known as the HAPPY PASS), I 
have a car, and I have a job with hours that both allow me to sleep in 
front of a fireplace and get paid for it, and to go snowboarding any darn 
time I want. I just went up on the slopes for the 15th time so far this 
year on thursday. (Yes I'm keeping accurate track.) Apparently so far we 
are having the best season they've had 'round these parts since '81. There 
is enough snow to choke a polar bear.
 Ever watch Ren and Stimpy? Ever seen the one where Ren puts on the happy 
helmet and sings a song? It goes "Happy happy joy joy happy happy joy 
joy... the little furry creatures of nature, they don't know that they're 
ugly, that's very funny..." and so on and so forth. So let's just say that 
I've got the happy helmet on.
 So that's why I haven't done a mass-mailing lately... because I really 
hate to appear smug. :) :) :) :) :) :) :)))))))))))
 I've included an article about German Christmas along with this one... 
it's only semi-interesting, but I was bored.

	lovemike


 JETZT KOMMT DIE STAADE ZEIT, die i a so mog" (Now comes the quiet time I 
love so well) is the beginning of an ode by the German poet Helmut Zopfl. 
It refers to the four weeks leading up to Christmas, known as Advent. On 
the four Sundays during this period, the Adventssonntage, Germans put up 
the Adventskranz, a pine-bough wreath with seasonal decorations and four 
candles, which are lit successively. Advent is supposed to be a time for 
introspection and preporation for the high holy days.
 Nowadays, the first Lebkuchen (gingerbread) appear in the shops by 
mid-september. Once Oktoberfest is over, you can buy the first chocolate 
Santas. Somewhere in in November the Christmas decorations go up in the 
shopping precincts and the Muzac turns to carolling. On the first weekend 
of Advent, the Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindlmarkt opens, and in Munich it 
becomes well nigh impossible  to cross Marienplatz or other affected 
spaces without much jostling. So much for quiet introspection!
 As in much of the rest of the world, the children ask each day, "Mama, 
ist nicht bald Weihnachten?" (Mama is it Christmas yet?). They count down 
the days on their Adventskalender, a calender which features a little door 
to open every day from the 1st to 24th of December. Originally there was 
just a picture behind each door, usually of Christmas pleasures  to come. 
Nowadays, it's usually a piece of chocolate  "um die Wartezeit zu 
versussen" (to sweeten the waiting time).
 Another way of getting into die Weihnachtsstimmung (Christmas spirit) is 
by baking batches of special Christmas cookies (Weihnachtsplatzchen), or 
as Bavarians say: Platzl backen. The whole family can help, and children 
just love messing around with dough and icing. Traditionally, the cookies 
are then hidden, to ensure they last until Christmas Eve.
 In Germany, Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) is the day of celebration. The 
family gathers for supper, and awaits the Bescherung, the long-awaited 
distribution of the presents. Each family has it's own ritual: The 
tinkling of a little bell, announcing the coming of the Christkind, a loud 
hoopla said to come from the  Weihnachtsmann. The candles on the 
Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas tree) are lit, and the tree glitters with gold, 
silver, and glass ornaments. Many families put up a Krippe (creche). The 
word really means manger with the baby Jesus, but, of course it includes 
Mary and Joseph, ox and donkey, shepherds, sheep and angels as well.
  Christmas is also called "das Fest der Liebe" (the celebration of love), 
and on the 24th and 25th relatives are visited, and sumptuos, rich meals 
are served. A traditional dish is roast goose. Oddly enough, to fleece 
someone is known as "ausnehmen wie eine Weihnachtsgans" (to pluck like a 
Christmas goose). Odder still, "eine schone Bescherung" does not mean a 
particularly lovely way of giving gifts, but sarcastically stands for a 
fine mess. You won't find eggnog at a German Christmas, but if it's really 
cold outside Gluhwein (Hot, spiced wine) goes very well with Christmas 
cookies.
 There is no tradition of carolling in Germany, but on January 6th, 
Epiphany (Dreikonigstag), the Sternsinger, children dressed as the three 
Magi, or holy kings, will walk from house to house, singing hymns and 
collecting money for charity. They leave a chalk mark on each door, with 
the year and the letters C-B-M. They stand for Caspar, Melchior and 
Balthasar, the names of the three kings. But they also stand for the Latin 
"Christus mansionem benedicat" (may Christ bless this house). But by the 
time the Sternsinger are doing their rounds, the holiday season is over. 
All that is left is anticipation of the next. Oh well, Fashing is just 
around the corner, then Easter, then...


  An article from 'Munich Found', a German magazine published in English 
for Native Engish speakers.