German Traditional Christmas

Let’s get together and celebrate the 4th Sunday of advent with a German touch. Yes, it means you bundle up to enjoy some hot Gluenwein and apple cider outside in front of the fire. Like the real Christkindle-market in the streets of Munich, we will try to keep you warm and happy with some hearty food from the grill and steaming pots. Bratwurst and saucerkraut with soft pretzel. Stew with cornbread Roasted chestnuts.
Bring a Lantern to light up the place. It also helps to find your way back home after the 3rd Hunter’s tea, our specialty of house.
Last week before Christmas, we got an invitation from my host mom’s friend. Fortunately, we were invited to a traditional German Christmas dinner and party.
That was a windy and cold day. Before we went, Jackie gave me an early Christmas gift－a pair of gloves. Because today we will have party outside of the house, everybody wore as many clothes as they can. Her friend has a big farm with 150 sheep, chickens, dogs and peacocks. We arrived the house in the afternoon so the sun was still shiny. The sunshine passed through the branches among the old oak trees. The alternating black and white with a little big golden sunshine colored the grass like the fell leaves colored the land. How awesome it was. In front of this breath-taking beautiful atmosphere, I felt calm and comfy as an old farm boy……………………with sheep fecal stuff sticking under the bottom of my sneakers.
Entering the house, the host kindly took our coats and passed us a cup of apple cider (A kind of hot drink made by apple and spices). The hot fluid warmed me up really. Later, many people came with Christmas gift and a warm smile. Sooner later, our dinner started. We had a big pot of stew, which was served with southern traditional corn bread. The stew was a little bit spicy but delicious. Also, we had German juicy sausage with sour cabbage and pretzel. I liked the sour cabbage. It tasted a little bit like Taiwanese pickled cabbage. It was good to eat with salted sausage. For desert, we had German cherry and apple biscuit. The juicy fruit with crispy creamy biscuit was really fascinating.
After dinner, I sat with other people in front of the burning wood stove. The smoothly warm light made the whole room kinds of Christmas festival atmosphere.
Outside of the house, the full moon with moonlight spoiled upon the house and people. People hold their Hunter’s tea (a kind of mixed alcohol) and talked happily. I met many people who can speak a little bit Chinese. It made me a little bit homesick but also let me feel like home here. Moon and wind whispered around my ears “ Merry Christmas! Good night!”