Ten days until Christmas.

So, the Christmas countdown narrows to barely ten days! I have not even had the time to enjoy the Christmas decorations in my small home.

Living in Germany enables one to indulge in countless Christmas traditions of which the Christmas market is one of my favorites. I have come to know that the original German Christmas markets were actually just winter markets which lasted for a couple of days. Nowadays, however, the Christmas markets run from before the first Sunday of Advent until a couple of days before Christmas. One of the most beautiful Christmas markets is in the city of Nuremberg. Most Christmas markets are placed in market squares where a church is usually also to be found. One of the original reasons for doing this was to attract more church goers to the Christmas market. There was a tale however, that in 1616, the priest in Nuremberg became unhappy when, due to the people flocking the Christmas market, they were no longer able to attend the church service.

 

In German, the original and traditional name for a Christmas market is „Christkindlsmarkt“  (Christ Child Market) which has transformed to be known as the „Weihnachtsmarkt“ these days. Traditionally, presents were exchanged on December 6 in Germany, which is the day of Saint Nicholas – now commercialized as Santa Claus (the once jolly elf tranformed by a popular soda company into a huge bearded guy in red suit), coming perhaps from the Dutch term „Sinterklaas“. Nicholas is said to be a bishop from Turkey who gave gifts to children. I remember when I was living in Holland, my thesis supervisors dressed up as „Sinterklaas“ and his side-kick „Zwarte Piet“ (Black Pete) on the 6th of December and went from one laboratory to another to give goodies to their hard-working thesis students. Of course, I got loads of them. (I must have worked pretty hard). It was the reformist Martin Luther who suggested that children receive presents not from Nicholas but from the Christ child. Therefore, the tradition of gift-giving changed from Saint Nicholas´ Day to Christmas eve or Christmas day.

What  I especially love about German Christmas markets is that it gives you a festive, nostalgic feeling about Christmas. It is a special time for friends to get together. In fact, personally, I intentionally meet friends I never get to see the whole year round due to our busy schedules during the Christmas season, at the Christmas market. The Christmas market has a lot to offer like food and drinks ranging from a selection of various German sausages, candied nuts, roasted chestnuts, chocolate-coated fruits, steamed buns, Christmas cookies, Christmas punch and hot chocolate. It also offers traditional hand-carved crafts made of wood, nativity scenes, candles and Christmas decorations. There are even musicians that play Christmas songs and sing Christmas carols. This year, during my first visit to the Christmas market, I was treated to a performance of an old gentleman playing the Barcarole (one of my favorite classics) on his antique-looking stringed instrument whose name I do not even know. What a delight that has been for me!

Since the period of the Christmas market happens to fall at the same time as the four weeks of advent, Christmas markets sort of brings me closer to memories of my childhood when I used to celebrate Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent this year, someone sent me a greeting of a “Happy first Sunday of Advent”. I was thrilled, but to which I responded how unfortunate it is that Advent seems to have faded away in observance.

The four weeks of Advent is actually a season of anticipation. It is a season in which a period of great expectation is commemorated. Oh how wonderful it is to await the coming of the Savior! The expectant heart opens up to such high hopes that the birth of the Messiah brings.

⁶ For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

– Isaiah 9:6-7

I understand that the celebration of Advent is nowhere to be found in Scripture. It has not been directly observed as an event or occasion to be celebrated. However, we should remember that since the beginning of time, after the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, the period of Advent has begun. God´s people has from then on waited for their Savior to come. Now that He has come, it is only fit to celebrate His coming everyday of our lives. Nonetheless, one special day is given to emphasize the significance and uniqueness of His coming – Christmas Day. The celebration of Christmas is also not to be found in Scripture. In fact, the bible is silent about the exact birthdate of the Christ Child. There are even arguments that Christians should not celebrate Christmas because its origin is tied down to Pagan celebrations of the day of the Roman sun god which falls on the 25th of December. In my opinion, however, it does not matter when we celebrate Christmas. God always has a way of turning something evil (even the vilest of evil such as the death of the Son of God in the most unimaginable cruel way) into good (Salvation of man through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross). December 25 might not be the actual birthdate of Jesus and December 25 might have originally been a day whereby pagans worshipped the sun god. Nonetheless, reserving a special date one day within a whole year to remember that God sent His very own Son to this world to save us would be the least we can do to remind the rest of the world about the greatest gift that came to be and ever will be. The month leading up to this special day is the season of Advent – of remembering what great hope and joy we ought to have for the coming of the world´s Savior – Jesus Christ. Thus, Christmas markets are special. This might be naive, unfounded, flawed theology to some. I don´t care. All I care about is that, my heart is set up to such high hopes (Advent) because my Savior has come for me in the form of man (Christmas). Therefore, I will continue to celebrate Advent and Christmas within my heart – with Christmas markets or without Christmas markets. I, however, of course prefer the former.

With that said, I wish everyone a very blessed Christmas. May we truly remember the reason for celebrating this season – Jesus Christ.