Back in the Christmas of 1968, I was stationed in the US Army in Augsburg, Germany. It was lonely and I didn’t have any family nearby. I recall taking the Strassenbaum (streetcar) downtown and checking out the Christmas decorations. All the buildings were lit up like in America, and all the shops had a big Christmas sale going on.
I remember being surprised that they shut the downtown streets off to traffic. Couples and families got dressed up in their holiday finest and walked the streets enjoying the Christmas atmosphere. It was very similar to our country, but a lot more casual.
The biggest difference I recall was their depiction of Santa. St. Nicholas wore a long red overcoat with red pants and white fur trim. But Santa didn’t wear the typical “Santa hat”, he instead wore a big high Cardinal’s hat, bright red with white trim.
I suppose many of our western ideas of Christmas came through our ancestors who immigrated from Europe, so its not surprising to see such similarities. What is your experience with Christmas celebrations in another culture?
Tags: Christmas, Santa, tradition
The other week Anita and I went down to the Fire Barn here in Waterloo to watch our grand-kids’ reaction to their first visit with Santa Claus. Raegan, just short of two years old, was not very cooperative. She refused to sit on his lap or have her picture taken with him. She would observe from a distance, but that was the limit.
Of course, Santa was not going to harm her in any way, but she must have thought that in her mind. By the time Christmas actually gets here she will have seen Santa in many other situations and might change her mind by then. Its what we don’t understand that puts fear in our hearts.
So it is with God. When we don’t understand His ways or purposes, we tend to fear trusting Him. We try to hide from Him our real lives. That’s why its important that we understand that Jesus is the Light of the World and came to enlighten us in the ways of God. Let Him turn the light on for you this Christmas.
Tags: Christmas, fear, light, Santa
A kindergarten Sunday School teacher was working hard to get her class to focus on the story of Jesus’ birth, and to stop thinking about Santa Claus. She read the story over and over to them, and for good measure, taught them to sing ‘Silent Night’. Finally, she asked them to draw their own designs for Christmas cards.
One youngster had done a very fine job in drawing the baby in a manger, with Mary and Joseph and the animals; but the teacher noticed with anxiety that he had drawn a little fat man right beside the manger. She asked, “Jimmy, that isn’t Santa, is it?”
Jimmy answered indignantly, “Oh no, that’s Round John Virgin.”
Tags: Christmas, Santa
A kingerdarten Sunday school teacher was working hard to get her class to focus on the story of Jesus’ birth, and to stop thinking about Santa Claus. She read the story over and over to them, and for good measure, taught them to sing Silent Night. Finally, she asked them to draw their own designs for Christmas cards.
One youngster had done a very fine job in drawing the baby in a manger, with Mary and Joseph and the animals; but the teacher noticed with anxiety that he had drawn a little fat man right beside the manger. She asked, “Jimmy, that isn’t Santa, is it?”
Jimmy answered indignantly , “Of course not, that’s Round John Virgin.”
What humorous Christmas tales have you heard lately?
Tags: Christmas, Santa