Monday, December 7, 2009

Our little German Christmas Tree





This is our Christmas tree in Germany for this year. From what I learned most Germans put their tree up on Christmas Eve, the children go to bed and on Christmas morning the magic of Christmas begins. They also put real candles on their trees and light them for short periods of time, I have fire issues so I put candle lights on.  I have never really had a chance to see a German tree, since they put them up so late and we are in the States by then. I'm pretty sure we are the only ones in Bremen with a fake tree! But my house is decorated and it feels like the holidays are upon us. 

How about you did you get your tree up? 

30 comments:

Menopausal New Mom said...

I think I would skip the genuine candle thing too! Sounds dangerous. And by the way, your tree is gorgeous and festive, perfect!

Boozy Tooth said...

Have I told you lately that I love you, Frau?

What a pretty tree.... and those silly Germans need to quit tempting fate with live candles and real evergreens and chit. You know?

Why is the song "Disco Inferno (Burn Baby Burn) cycling in my head now? Sheesh.

Merry Christmas!

♥ Alix

Deidra said...

Your tree looks beautiful! I love your candle lights. I was always curious about the tradition of adding real candles to a Christmas tree. I guess it means someone is always near the tree...to keep an eye on it.

preppyplayer said...

I love how the tree still looks like a German style tree (electric candles) without the danger!
We have our tree and will put it up tonight and decorate it all week. We both hate dealing with the lights (worst job) so we kinda see who will give in first and just put them on. This explains why it takes a week to decorate tree.
I guess you heard about my girl's knee. I feel so bad for her. After all her hard work, last ten minutes of last practice. ACL, MCL, AND meniscus. 6-9 months of rehab. sucks.

Andrea said...

I am pretty sure I am the only one in the states who purposefully leaves her tree up year round and adds ornaments even in summer. I go in and flip the lights on and sit looking at my tree. It reminds me of the blessings of the year and the giving spirit I need to have "all" year round.
Blessings, andrea

Sheryl said...

I love your tree. I wouldn't seem like Christmas if we put it up Christmas eve. Usually we put our up the first weekend of December, but something happened this weekend, it didn't get done - next weekend.

Beth A. said...

Your tree looks great. I like the candle lights. Yes you have a OCD fear of anything that might be a fire danger. But, it is okay and so far works for you. Our tree is up but only with Lights on. Still dealing with the T.V. issue in basement. It has consumed me. Love ya,

rachel... said...

I love the idea of putting the tree up on xmas eve (thinking of moving to Germany!)!

As it is, I *attempted* to put our tree up this weekend. It's huge and heavy and an enormous pain! And half the branches weren't lighting up! So, I had to search all over town looking for xmas lights (apparently, there is some kind of shortage of xmas tree lights the first week in December!) to put on our PRE-LIT tree (kind of defeats the purpose, huh?) and had to settle for buying the outdoor icicle kind and then tediously wrapping all the little tendrils around each branch! But, it's lit, anyway, and we might get the ornaments on by xmas eve, after all.

Sorry you asked, aren't you?

Your tree looks great!!!

Ina in Alaska said...

My trees are up! They are all artificial. And like Andrea, one of them, the biggest lighted one, stays up all year! After Christmas it goes downstairs to the family room! xoxo

Melissa said...

Your tree is great Frau! I'm with you on the candle lights though.. real candles on a real tree just scare the crap out of me!

Lee said...

That tree is gorgeous!! I love seeing everyone's trees. I'll take a picture of my menorah...

Kristina P. said...

We have one fake tree. Put it up on Thanksgiving!

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

Lovely Frau!
Are you adding popcorn garland...
always love those tiny candles!
Merry Christmas darling~

Anonymous said...

i love it! mine is up- should put a picture up...

Anonymous said...

ps- how the heck are you supposed to a) put the christmas tree up on the 24th, b) set out the gifts, c) do christmas dinner, d)midnight mass...are you supposed to like NOT sleep that day?

honeypiehorse said...

Sehr schoen.

Unknown said...

Ya... I put mine up yesterday- Norwegians like to wait until the 23rd... too much work for only a couple of days... Looks great...
& home for the holidays... I am jealous!

Sonya said...

I LOVE your beautiful german christmas tree!!! love love love the ornaments! I shop in germany for my ornaments now..I cried when I saw wat the dutch had to offer..they seriously decorate their tree to match their homes! One person told me I had to many mismatched ornaments on my tree..I had to resist the urge to drop kick her out my door.

Nancy C said...

I'm so glad those are fake candles. We put our tree up super early this year, which is a major break.

We also buy our tree from the volunteer fire department, and they let the kids play on the truck. Their little minds are blown.

christina said...

Such a pretty tree! We usually put ours up December 1st but haven't around to to it yet. We have a fake tree for inside and a real tree for outside that I decorate with snacks for the birds. And NO candles for us. I am a fire phobe and you hear reports every Christmas of people almost burning their houses down because their trees fell over or they left the tree or a wreath unattended. Very scary.

The Germans actually have all their main action on Christmas Eve, so traditionally they send the kids out of the room late afternoon, decorate the tree and then let the kids back in to open their presents. All very exhausting! Some people ring a little bell to signal that the Christkind or the Weihnachtsmann (depends where you live and what religion you are) has been there. So on the 25th it's just a nice dinner but no gift giving.

Joanna Jenkins said...

YOur candle lights are wonderful! Great job on the decorating. It looks so happy and festive!
Thanks for sharing.
xo

Traci said...

I think the candle lights was a good call -- I would never feel safe with the candles (of course, I've been known to be a little paranoid!)

It looks like you are full-on in the holiday spirit now. We did ours this weekend, too. I've heard of waiting until Christmas Eve which sounds special but I am a Christmas junkie and could NEVER wait that long.
Merry Christmas!
:-)

Liz Mays said...

Your tree just looks absolutely beautiful!

Matty said...

I like the candle look.

We don't have our tree yet, let alone put up. If it were me, it would be up by now, but my wife doesn't like the hassle and tried to keep it all as brief as possible.

Expats Again said...

The kids put up theirs in the states today. I'm headed back to Munich on Wednesday & then we fly to Australia for the holidays. Looking at your tree makes me want a German one next year! Thanks got posting the photo!

Barrett said...

I love those lights! I cannot imagine putting up a tree on Christmas eve. If I lived in Germany, I would have to have one of those little tiny trees that takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. I have two trees up (artificial too!) and am having trouble with the lights. On one, the entire middle section isn't working and on the other one there is a section out on the front. I may be sticking some candles on there!

Cristin said...

Our tree went up the day after Thanksgiving. And the kids' favorite ornament? The Christmas Pickle! That's a German thing right?

Laura said...

My (german) brother-in-law has (just a few) real candles on his tree. It is lovely, but makes me nervous! We were very American this year and put up our tree the day after thanksgiving! I was worried I would not find any for sale, but went to the local baumarkt and found tons!

TBM said...

That is lovely. I finally found our tree and the ornaments. Now all is left is to simmer up some more gluhwein and bake a few cookies for the weekend. I like your candle lights! Wish I had thought to pick some up when I was in Germany a couple of weeks back.

Anonymous said...

Hello Frau, I live in Delmenhorst near Bremen - not far away from you and I work in Bremen.

It is right that we put up the christmas tree on christmas eve (normally), but I do it 2 days before. But we all light it only on Dec 24th first. I use electric candles and all people I know too :-) Some do even put up fake trees, but sorry - I hate that! Its plastic and chemical..no way.

But the German christmas party doesnt start on Dec 25th, its celebrated on Dec 24th already - in the evening. Often the families go to church and after that we change gifts. Then..dinner, just a small one because there is enough to eat the next 2 christmas days.

Enjoy your christmas holidays in USA! Sorry for bad English
Keia

PS: Alix - we are not silly. Not nice to write such words.