GABFEST "ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS" for December, 2014

Ohhh, that Stollen looks great, and so do the cookies from your house! I have nothing but a beef stew I'm trying to rescue presently, from over-thickening. :((

I have to catch up with the posts! In the meantime, how about this: Christmas Time is Here

Do you care for another song? This time I'll post my own English translation with it. This song always sneds shivers down my back. I hope you like it.

www.youtube.com/watch

Freddy Quinn

Sankt Niklas war ein Seemann--- Saint Niklas was a sailor

1 ) In a winter's night I've seen a ship.

    The sail was made of silver, and the mast was made of gold.

    Many hundreds of candles were burning.

     I've seen the helmsman.

    So I knew I would be able to celebrate Christmas at home.

Chorus: Saint Niklas was a sailor

              He loved wind and sea

              And every year at Christmas time he comes millions of miles

             from the land of the stars.

             Saint Niklas was a sailor like hardly anyone else.

             Saint Niklas protect our boat from storm and cliffs and fire

             and any danger.

2 ) Storm blew for fourteen days. We were very frightened.

     I was on watch all alone, when the storm ceased.

    I've seen a ship and I've seen the helmsman.

    So I knew I would be able to celebrate Christmas at home.

Chorus: Saint Niklas was a sailor

              He loved wind and sea

              And every year at Christmas time he comes millions of miles

             from the land of the stars.

             Saint Niklas was a sailor like hardly anyone else.

             Saint Niklas protect our boat from storm and cliffs and fire

             and any danger.

I hope you are not already fed up with German Christmas songs but here are two others, both sung by Hermann Prey, a famous singer:

1: Kommet, Ihr Hirten (Come, all you shepherds)

www.youtube.com/watch

2: Tochter Zion, freue Dich (Daughter Zion, be happy)

www.youtube.com/watch

Not at all Bente.  One of the pleasures of the Gabfest for me always has been learning about other cultures.  You said something about the 24th being a special day in Germany.  Can you tell us more about that.

Unknown said:

Can you tell us more about that

Yes, June, of course!

When I was small, my grandparents took my brother and me for a walk in the afternoon of December 24th. When we were away, my parents used to decorate the tree and put the presents underneath the tree. Wen we were back, my brother and I played carols on our instruments ( both of us played the flute). And then, before dinner, we got our presents. I have to say, my family is not a Church-going-family, so we never went to church. But if you like to go, there are services at different hours of the day, from the early afternoon to midnight. I like the sound of the bells.

Nowadays the day goes a little differently: We get the tree inside in the morning, and if I don't have to work I decorate it in the early afternoon, while we are watching childrens-programme on TV (There are always nice films and fairytales on TV). Meanwhile my Dad does the cooking. Then putting on nice clothes and dinner. And after dinner we give the presents to the family (not many presents, just if we have by chance found something). Our tree usually has both "real" and electric candles. The real ones are only lighted on Christmas Eve. This is very special, and we take good care with a bucket of water nearby.

If I can think of anything else, I'll write again. Until then: Good night!

My cake, then I'll say goodnight too.

It is a church on a sandy beach on a high wave day in front of a decorated palm.  So I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. Bing Crosby of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGAosOoKFMs

WOW June, that is one amazing cake! At this angle, it almost looks like the church is on an island with the beach in the background with the waves. What a piece of art!

Hi all ... my post comes under the heading of 'better late than never' ... I made a last-minute Christmas cake for my dear Niece but it is yet to be decorated!  It is a new recipe from The Hairy Bikers & basically a light Genoa type but as none of us like glace cherries, I replaced them (& the candied peel) with dates & cranberries to go with all the other fruit ... have to say that it smelt delicious in my kitchen last night as it was cooking (does contain the ubiquitous Brandy) - here is a very unfancy pic

Hope I can catch up with you tomorrow & post my favourite Xmas song!

Good evening everybody. Just let you know that my cake is in the oven at this moment it has an hour and half to go! Bit of a disaster asi forgot the eggs so had to tip it back in the mixer andadd eggs! Terrible mess but hopefully will be Ok!!