American Women's Club of Hamburg Currents Magazine November/December 2013 | Page 7

FEATURE

R elief for Happier Holidays… Hopefully
by Marinell H.

The word “tips” caught my eye in Kara’s message regarding the theme for this issue. Over the years I’ve squirreled away helpful advice
from others, and learned lessons through experience. Putting just some of these into practice has made my holidays saner, more
manageable, and extra enjoyable.
1– Start early! With whatever you plan to buy, bake, make, decorate, etcetera.
2– Recycle presents. The scarf that isn’t your style could be perfect for Aunt Mathilde. Be
sure to mark who the present came from, so you don’t give it back to the same person.
3– Give the gift of time. Years ago friends and I became practical. Although price limits
were set, shopping took too long for presents that weren’t necessarily special. Instead,
we decided to spend time together. We’d meet, and treat each other to lunch, a wine,
coffee—you get my drift. Or during the Adventszeit we’d go to the Seemannskirche (sailor’s
churches) along Ditmar-Koel-Straße, just off of St. Pauli Hafenstraße. The Swedish,
Danish, Finnish, and Norwegian markets are not to be missed.
4– Check out Adventsmärkte (Advent markets) at local churches. Nearby is a small
Lutheran church that has its on the first Advent Saturday between 14:00 and 16:00. Yes,
it’s now a tradition for me. A small band plays carols in front of the church at 14:00,
setting the mood for the merriment inside. Wonderful crafts, condiments, and
preserves made by parishioners are sold, and at the rummage sale I always find
something, e.g. a lovely wooden plant stand for €5. Delicious Kaffee and Küchen
(cakes) are served, the atmosphere is gemütlich (cozy), and chatting with parishioners
who I’m now acquainted with certainly puts me in the spirit of the season.
Additionally, money raised helps the church fund.
5– Give sweet bread. Banana (or date, prune, pumpkin or lemon) nut, raisin o ?????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????)??????????????????Q'?e??????????????????????????????????????????????????)????????-??????????-??????????????????????7??????????}???I??????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????(?L? ??????????????a?????????????????$?????????'?e??????????????)?????????e??????????????????????????????????????????????????Q???)?????Q??????(?L?%?????????????)?????Q????????????)????????????????????)??????????????)???????????????????????????????=????????)?????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????(??L?1???????????????????????????????d????????)???????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????5???????????????????????????)
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