Putting up my Christmas decorations
Over the weekend I put up my Christmas decorations. I grew up in Saxony, where most of the classic German Christmas decorations come from, like Schwibbögen, Nutcrackers, Räuchermännchen and Pyramiden.
As a kid, I loved it so much. Once December started, I helped my parents decorate our home, and almost every window on the street had the soft glow of a Schwibbogen.
When I moved to Bavaria for university, I was disappointed by how different it felt. Only a few windows had the warm light of a Schwibbogen. Most others were either dark or decorated with br…
Putting up my Christmas decorations
Over the weekend I put up my Christmas decorations. I grew up in Saxony, where most of the classic German Christmas decorations come from, like Schwibbögen, Nutcrackers, Räuchermännchen and Pyramiden.
As a kid, I loved it so much. Once December started, I helped my parents decorate our home, and almost every window on the street had the soft glow of a Schwibbogen.
When I moved to Bavaria for university, I was disappointed by how different it felt. Only a few windows had the warm light of a Schwibbogen. Most others were either dark or decorated with bright LED strips. It felt louder and less cozy.
That first Christmas away from home, I started my own collection to bring a bit of home with me. I liked the idea of turning my apartment into a small familiar Christmas world. Since I buy traditional handmade pieces, the collection grows slowly, which makes it feel even more meaningful.
As I write this I can smell the pleasant smoke from a Räuchermännchen. It’s a small thing, but it makes the whole place feel right.