By ROXANNE LOW
alltherage@thestar.com.my

SINCE I arrived in Germany earlier this year for my exchange programme, I have had the chance to experience the four seasons: the colourful spring, sunny summer, wet and gloomy autumn and now finally the cold winter.

Although I have experienced the winter weather during family vacations before, this however is my first time experiencing the weather for an extended period, which is why I still feel over the moon whenever it starts to snow.

I enjoy looking at the scenery covered in pure white snow; it is simply mesmerising. Beautiful as it is, the snow also can also be very messy, especially when it starts to melt and freeze again, making the road and walkway slippery and dangerous. And when it starts to snow heavily, we see people come out of their houses with shovels to clear the walkway for pedestrians and cyclists, and this task could be quite a pain when one has to do it everyday.

Markets everywhere
The Christmas celebration here is quite interesting and since the beginning of the month, one can easily find Christmas markets in all parts of Germany – from small towns like Itzehoe (where I live) to big cities like Hamburg and Berlin. I was at a Christmas market in Hamburg, and there were such a huge crowd there that I had to struggle my way through the market. These markets here totally evoke the Christmas mood in everyone.

These Christmas markets are open every day throughout December and you can find many food stalls selling local fares such sausages, champignons (mushroom), Schmalzkuchen (German donuts) and crepes and also drink stalls selling Gluhwein (red wine heated with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, sugar, citrus and vanilla pod). They also have stalls selling Christmas decorative items and gifts.

Celebrating St Nikolaus
The Germans celebrate St. Nikolaus Day on December 6, to remember the death of Nikolaus of Myra on that day in 346. He was known for giving gifts to children who behaved well and traditionally, German children will put out their boots, shoes or stockings by their doors the night before for St. Nikolaus to leave them gifts. Usually, the children also polish their boots, to show that they have been good.

Guess what? I woke up early that morning and found a huge red socks filled with all kinds of chocolates hanging outside my bedroom door!

Everyone in Germany also celebrates Heiliger Abend (Christmas eve) as it’s the last day of Advent and the start of Christmas season. This Christmas, I attended a service at the church in the afternoon and celebrated Christmas with at my host’s uncle’s house. We had a Santa Claus, called Weihnachtsman in German and this was one special Christmas that I will always remember and cherish a lot.

Frohe weihnachten (happy holidays) all the way from Germany!