Tags
Christmas Eve, Diana Schwenk, family, friends, growing up, happy, joy, kids, love, memories, Perry Como, Rouladen, Santa
Come on, hurry! Let’s go upstairs and change. Santa won’t come if we’re watching for him! ~ Mom
My mother prodded us up the stairs into the bathroom.
CRASH! BOOM! BANG!
Noises filtered upstairs as we got dressed for our traditional German Christmas Eve celebrations.
“We don’t have a chimney, how will Santa get in?” we wondered, “and where’s Dad?”
“Santa will figure it out, be quiet and get dressed,” Mom urged.
Our dining room table, rescued from someone’s garbage years ago had been stripped of multiple layers of paint and restored to its original beauty by my parents.
It was decked out with Rouladen and Rote Kohl for dinner.
A wreath with four advent candles flickered as Perry Como crooned Christmas songs from the old console stereo.
The tree lit up the room in a soft, colourful glow, the Angel was perched at the very top and presents were stacked below.
Seated around the table were Mom, Dad, Michael and me.
Some Christmases we were joined by Onkel Karl, Tante Stella, Eva and Jim.
Christmas was magical – maybe because we celebrated Christmas Eve
when it was dark and the lights were colourful and everything was shining
especially our smiles.
talktodiana 
Lovely memories…I did not know you were German. I have wonderful memories in Germany with my Onkel Franz, and Tante Lene and Rosa my mothers brother and sisters and their families. My mother was from Frankfurt. I am half German – my dad met my mom while stationed in Germany. Guten Abend mein Freund!
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Danke schoen und Frohes Weinachten! I’m first generation Canadian. My parents are from Berlin. Thanks for sharing your story my dear!
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I think it is wonderful that we are all have such interesting heritages. My husbands, grandfather came from Ontario, Canada, he was actually first generation Canadian, his parents were from Scotland. Maybe that is why he is drawn to Canada? Can you speak fluent German? Sadly I don’t. My mother wanted to perfect her English, so very seldom spoke it around the house.
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Yes, German was my first language. English is my dominant language now though and although I speak and understand German I think in English and sometimes struggle for the German words. Maybe he’s drawn to Canada because our money is so colourful and we have loonies and twonies eh?
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That explains a lot then about him!! LOL
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Ahh, those sweet memories of Christmases past when you were little kids.
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Yeah Christmas is for kids – it’s so magical.
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Do have a german heritage?
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yes. My parents are from Berlin and I’m first generation Canadian.
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Lovely post Diana… sounds very similar to how ours were… thanks for the reminder…
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Thanks for stopping by and reading it BullDog!
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Ah now this post has got me into the Christmas spirit – wonderful. Thanks Diana!
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You’re welcome Julie! Thanks for your wonderful words and thoughts always. ❤
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I know you don’t do awards so don’t you lift a finger for this. Just wanted to let you know! 🙂 http://ohyesshesabitchbutnotyours.com/2012/12/03/one-lovely-blog-award/
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Very sweet of you – thank you so much!
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Sweet! I remember asking my folks how Santa would get into our house since we had no chimney in Las Vegas. Mom said he came in through the swamp cooler.
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haha! Apparently ours got through the oil furnance pipe and out through the filter on the furnace?? 🙂
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Santa has amazing abilities – sounds plausible
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After all he delivers all the presents in one night to all the children in the world and carries them all in one bag on his sled…
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Exactly – duct work is simple stuff.
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especially when you’re magical. 🙂
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Magic is definitely a plus. 🙂
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Beautiful. I love to hear about how people celebrate the holidays!!
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haha Perry Como still has the power to make me long for my bed and sleep!
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What a lovely holiday memory ❤ Beautiful!
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Thanks Mrs F! My folks sure went to a lot of trouble to make Christmas and Santa come to life for us!
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