Ringing in the New Year

Happy New Year from Bonn!

Unfortunately, time ran away from me before I was able to post anything about the Chrismtas holiday in Germany. But, better late than never right?

Germany is well-known for its Christmas Markets…and don’t think that I didn’t enjoy every minute of walking through one.

The tradition of Christmas markets dates back to a time when regular seasonal markets took place throughout the year. The Christmas Markets were essentially a “Winter Market.” Today, each year, Christmas markets spring up around Germany in the weeks before the holidays, signaling the beginning of Advent. Wooden Huts decorated with lights turn town squares and city marketplaces into little “Winter Wonderlands.” These markets serve as a festive meeting place for tourists and locals. With the Glühwein (Hot Wine) and smell of fresh baked goods and greasy sausages in the air, one can not help but get into the Christmas spirit.

Each market is different in the atmosphere it has to offer, each specializing in local traditions and products. In the past, only local tradesmen were allowed to sell their goods at the markets. It’s amazing how many traditional German handicrafts can be found during the weeks before Christmas. You name it – Nutcrackers, wooden ornaments, wreaths, Santa Clauses, etc. However, I also seem to think that the Christmas markets allow for a time when small stores can bring their "junk" that they sell inside and bring it outside.

Usually, the Christmas markets were held around the city’s main church to attract church-goers. But way back when, they were so enticing that a priest in Nürnberg in 1616 complained that he could not hold the afternoon service on Christmas Eve because no one attended it. Of the 3-4 different Christmas markets I attended, you could see a steeple in at least one direction of the market.

Did you know:

Religious reformer Martin Luther instituted new customs for Christmas. Before Luther, the exchanging of presents took place on the saint days of St. Nicholas, December 6, or of St. Martin, on November 11. It was Luther who suggested that children receive presents from “the Christ child,” hence the name “Christkindlsmarkt,” a popular name for the Christmas markets. Many locals during the time before Santa Clause bought all of their Christmas presents at these markets. Now many markets are called “Weihnachtsmarkt” – Christmas Market.

I had some pictures, but I'm not sure what happened to them. So, I can't show you any of the pictures that I took at the Christmas Markets. Imagine: Lots of Little Huts...Lots of food....Lots of Hot Wine and Punch...Lots of toys...Lots of Music. The picture above is from a website.

The New Year has started off well for me. I was able to go home for Christmas and spend time with friends and family...time which was defnitely not long enough. The New Year also allowed me to see my frist snow fall this season - which happened on 25 January 2006. It's hard to believe that after going to both Kansas and Colorado for the Holidays that I had yet to see snow.

Speaking of Colorado, my wonderful friends threw me a Surprise Party for my return. It was so wonderful to have everyone I know in one place. I cried when they turned the lights in the basement. I had no clue about the party. Everyone did such a good job of not letting on that they were going to see me. I figured that I had let everyone know that I was coming into town and if they wanted to see me then they would let me know. Goodness...I never knew how lucky I was to have such wonderful people care about me they way that my friends do in the Springs.


The Girls





The Boys - I'm not sure I know everyone in this picture





My dear friend Angie with who I worked with at USADA. She and her husband are nicely storing my stuff (and I have a lot of stuff) in their basement until my return.





I lived with Lindsay in Colorado. She was my slum lord...er...I mean land lord...er...I mean best roommate ever!



New Years was quite fun too. Spent it with friends which was much to my enjoyment.

The Girls on New Year's Eve

The weather has been pretty cold in Bonn. I think we are getting a backlash of the freezing temperatures that Russia and eastern Europe were getting. It's been cold..but not too too cold. Cold enough, though, for me to opt to take the bus instead of my bike to work. Some days you just don't feel like freezing your @$$ off. Luckily, this week it has started to warm up a bit.

It's also been cold enough that a bird wanted to come into my place to warm up. Actually, he was flying and flew into my window. It was a loud bang which I wasn't sure what it was at first. After looking outside and seeing feathers flying all over the place, I looked on the ground there was a large bird. It wasn't a small bird like a sparrow. It was rather large. Anyways, it wasn't dead, but I wasn't sure how hurt it was. I couldn't get ahold of my neighbors, Verena and Mark. So, I went to get my camera. When I came back, though, the bird was gone. Birds flying into windows happened twice to me when I lived with Lindsay in Colorado Springs. Do I attract birds?