CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY WITH FAMILY

What a wonderful week it has been. I (Eileen) love Christmas, and I love my family. This week we have had our daughter and her family visiting with us. It has been so special to celebrate a German Christmas with them and to visit with other family members through the miracle of technology. (Most of the photos shown below taken by my son-in law Steve)

Our family members rented an available apartment in our building. This was the view from where they were staying looking down on our apartment. We turned the lights on the Christmas tree outside our apartment so they could find us.

My son-in law served his mission while a young man in Hamburg, Germany.  This past week we took the train to Hamburg and spent several days visiting the area where he served years ago.  We were able to spend some time with a woman named Suzanna who was baptized while he was a missionary.  All of us attended a performance of the Lion King. The dialogue for the play was in German, however the production was so well done, that even the non-German speakers in our group enjoyed it. 

This theater has been showing The Lion King for years

We took the Lion King ferry across the river in order to attend the performance

We visited the Christmas markets in Frankfurt and Hamburg with our family.  The Christmas markets in Europe are delightful. The Weihnachtsmarkt is a street market that originated in Germany going back to the Late Middle Ages.  Beautifully decorated wooden stalls, offer gifts from throughout the world and delicious yuletide treats.  Christmas music is played overhead through loudspeakers.  A large manger scene is displayed.  It is a feast for all of the senses. Sadly due to the terroristic act in Berlin this past week at the Christmas market, much caution was exercised in the things we did and the timing of the places we went.  There was a strong police presence with large police vans blocking all of the entrances to the market. It is sobering to think that during a time when we sing “Peace on Earth Good Will to Men” that evil men are thinking of ways to cause chaos in the world.

Hamburg Christmas Market

Police guarding entrance to market

Christmas stalls in Frankfurt

This is a real BBQ

Train Station in Hamburg

Flags at half mast after the terrorism in Berlin

The town Hall behind the market

Christmas gifts for sale

Entertaining themselves on the train

Chasing pigeons is always a favorite past time for boys

The cathedral at Worms, Germany. It was here that Martin Luther defending his beliefs. 

The cathedral in Worms from the 12th and 13th century

While in Hamburg our grandchildren were able to attend a children’s bakery held on a boat.  For a little over 2 dollars/child they were able to cut out and decorate close to a dozen sugar cookies.  There was a large group of young children there the same time as our grandchildren. I was amazed at how well all of the children acted and what a wonderful opportunity for children to be taught by professional bakers how to make Christmas cookies.

Grandchildren making cookies

On Christmas Eve Russell and I took the metro down to the main square in Frankfurt to listen to the Pealing of the Bells.  This is a Christmas Eve Frankfurt tradition, when thousands of people gather on the Römer to hear bells. On the 24th, the bells begin ringing at 17:00. At this time, 50 bells from 10 of the downtown churches rang together for 30 minutes. There were70 tons of metal ringing away, but amazingly, all in relative harmony. It was a beautiful way to usher in Christmas. 

 On Christmas Day we went to church and listened to the messages in both spoken word and music.  As I looked around the congregation I was especially touched this day while pondering the meaning of Christmas.  I have gotten to know several women in our congregation who have lost loved ones. One woman lost a daughter in her 30s just 18 months ago, another woman I visit teach had her husband pass away at age 45 on Christmas Day.  Several have lost babies while infants.  I was thinking about what a blessing it is to know for a surety that through the atonement of Jesus Christ all who have lived will be resurrected. We will see our loved ones again after this life.  I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves all of his children. I am grateful for Jesus Christ, my elder brother and Savior. 

Eileen and Russell, photo taken by my 7 year old granddaughter