I am Pennsylvania German and I can remember my grandmother would set up a little animal corral around the base of her Christmas tree. She had toy-sized white fencing. And stick leg sheep were always part of that display. A manger scene would have been set up in that fence too. The display was called a Putz. In Bethlehem, PA there is a putz set up for the public to see, at least there used to be in the 1970s when I still lived in that area. Every time I see a stickleg sheep, no matter how battered, I think of her. We had a few stickleg sheep but one of my brothers must have been given to them by my Mom. I could still find some on eBay. I always make Christmas stollen, sweet yeast bread with candied fruit, raisins and nuts in it. I ice it with white icing and colored sugar. We also make fruitcakes in addition to the stollen. We have the Christmas pickle too, but my daughter came up with that one from a friend. It isn't Pennsylvania German with us...
When I was a child, we would pop a big bowl of popcorn then string the popcorn kernels on thread to create a garland for the tree. Of course, we had to have a big bowl because some get eaten! 😏
Swedish Lutherans and Catholics in my family have the advent wreath tradition. So lovely to see the Advent calendars too. We are all more alike than not! Beautiful home. Blessings.
m micheals We are German Lutherans and we always set up an Advent Wreath in our church, which we will be doing this weekend. I live in a small German farm community in Iowa. I should say, the original settlers were Germans but a lot of them are gone of course. A lot are younger generation but our town has a mixture of new immigrants and has worked out nicely but a lot of the original traditions will be lost for ever.
In Sweden we have an official Christmas Calender recorded and broadcasted by SVT, the Swedish television. It´s a big fuzz about it, and engage often the whole family. You buy the paper/cardboard calender at any regular every day shop, and so you follow the story on TV from 1 december to 24th. The story is often written by some famous author and includes a mystery of some kind to be solved by the children in the serie. Of course it all ends happily on Christmas Eve. It is an honor to be an actor in the calender and at quiz shows there are often question about the calenders back in the years. Best wishes to the both of you.
The paper chains and Christmas tree are so attractive with the music notes on them. When I was a child we would make them out of aluminum foil backed with typing paper for strength and we would also string popcorn. The popcorn would smell so good when it hit the warm lights. Love your decorations everywhere. Your home looks so beautiful.
I like to think that some Germans who came to America had a fun sense of humour and thought that as a Christmas prank they would tell people about this pickle "tradition". My mother-in-law actually hides a pickle ornament on her tree in accordance with this "tradition" lol.
@@KirstenJoerg Maybe weekly when you post new videos you could show the lighted candles on the Advent wreath as we progress to Christmas. I visited Germany several years during the Christmas season and would thoroughly enjoy live trees and Advent wreaths in offices, stores and hotels (which are banned as safety hazards in the US). Lovely video; great crafts. Thank you.
Vivid Dreams - Love advent vlogs! But yes they do take additional planning in, time editing etc... K and J would have to start creating them right after summer holidays, just kidding 😉. This is lovely top, and as a newish follower there is so much to watch from the previous years still!
Your Christmas decorations look lovely....wherever we are in the world we can carry our traditions with us as part of our heritage it's good to see the mix of the English and German in your house
I'll ask my Granddaughter to help make those trees, I have a house full of kittens, so no paper chains for me. Some yrs after my father-in-law passed my mother-in-law gave me all their ornaments, there was a bird in with those, she's 94 now so I'm certain that bird is easily 50 yrs old. We've had the advent calendar here in the States for as long as I can remember. We had a pyramid too when I was a kid, not sure whatever happened to it, my mom Loved it. When I was in 8th grade, many many, many yrs ago, we had a class called home economics, we learned to sew an apron, I'm guessing back then it was all about making us the best housewife ever =^/
When I was young, I would decorate the bedroom I shared with my sister by making a green paper chain and then shaping it into a Christmas tree on our bedroom door. Then we’d decorate that tree with strings of paper lights and other small ornaments we made out of bits of Christmas wrapping paper. I’ve since shared this fun with our nieces. And in a few years, I will share it with my twin grand babies. Making your decorations guarantees a day of creativity, togetherness, and fun...not to mention wonderful memories that can be shared across the generations. Thank you for this video! It brought back such lovely memories! 🥰 from Courtney
Just also thought you might find it interesting that the four candles represent the four virtues: The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy and peace. The candles are lit in that order.
Oh, the paper chains! We used to do new ones every year and fill our room with those as children. Sometimes we used the wrapping papers of the previous years presents. It was lovely to remember all the present as we were making the chains.. Frohe Adventszeit!
Joyful! As a child we had a real tree with an angel on top. It was beautiful! Gaudy as all get out! Tinsel, garland, bulbs, and lit bulbs! Gorgeous! To each his own. Decorate with what you love and enjoy. It is those childhood memories that most of us hold dear. How ever and what ever you enjoy May peace and love find all of your homes. Belated Merry Christmas!
I love the rooster! Great ideas and the advent calendar reminded me of when I was a little girl in the early 60s' I'd go walking with my mom in the forest at the end of our street with a brown paper bag for collecting pinecones, pine cuttings and whatever else looked interesting, bring them home, and she'd do her Christmas magic. There was always an advent wreath and the comment that went something like this...'you don't need a lot of money for Christmas, just some creativity and glue'.
Love the trees. You can also roll up sheet music paper, tie with wide satin ribbons and display them in a straight sided glass container as table decor. Cut the paper to different heights....Especially nice for a musician's home or for choir parties.
I made a paper chain with the tops of knorr soup packages.In the 60's the tops were gold, I stapled them together and placed them on our aluminum Christmas tree when was silver. We also made chains from wrapping paper and construction paper.
Love the mushroom ornament and your nativity scene in the candle arch! We celebrate Advent at church. Each week, a couple gets up and reads a devotion prepared by our pastor and lights a candle that is fastened into a tall white metal stand. Last year, we discovered the box that held our Christmas ornaments had a hole in it from either cracking from the weather or a mouse chewed through the box, and since the warmer weather here in Missouri is very humid, some of the ornaments molded from the water vapor that entered the box. I was just sick when I discovered that many of the ornaments that we had picked up on vacation for years and made by hand, some that our son had made at school growing up were ruined and I had to throw them out. It's good that you have these videos to remember your lovely Christmas decorations.
Living in England, I always buy German advent calendars because they are the most beautiful & detailed. I thought they stopped at day 24 because the makers think we would be too busy on the 25th to open a door. I’m very glad to learn the real reason is in Germany you open presents on Xmas Eve. You are both putting back the magic into Advent & Xmas in this difficult year. Love you both 😘
I took 2 years of German in high school. I can remember how to count, how to ash how you are, how to ask for food and water, and a few other basic phrases.......I think I need to go live with you for a bit...just to refresh my memory ❤️ Guten Nacht!
You have inspired me to decorate! I've been super depressed under lock down and not in the mood, but I'm getting twinges! Your decorations are lovely! Especially the window one! Didn't catch the name , but the cut-out nativity with the lights is beautiful!
Thank you so much! I lived in Germany for a year. In Darmstadt, and I took my Christmas pickles for my tree with me from America. My family is Dutch, German, English, Scottish, and Italian... and our Christmas very German! Christmas Eve is our big day. I also always have my Dutch wooden shoes full of German candy every year!
Old music books would work as well. My granddaughter loves using construction paper because of all the "colours of the rainbow". Such a sweet video...just love you both.
You two are the epitome of cozy! I love your beautiful German ornaments and the DIY crafts. Thank you again for sharing with us your special ways of celebrating the Holidays 😍
When my daughter was young when I gave her an advent calendar with the chocolate I’d have to keep an eye on it so she wouldn’t open up all the doors and eat all at once.😂
I just totally love you guys always a smile on my face when I see your videos. There is something so charming about you and your mannerisms a lovely couple. Oh yes really like the decorations too. Love and best wishes from Scotland x
Good evening ! We still have such birds , my grandmother bought 3 boxes of Christmas tree ornaments in 60 s , made in Germany . All of the ornaments are alive let's say :) but the paint sheds :(
YES never too old for an advent calender. I always get one every year. 😇❤️❤️❤️ And so many beautiful decoration elements from Germany. We really have some wonderful traditions here. 😍
We always had chocolate advent calendars for our children and now our daughter is keeping up the tradition with her children. They have fabric ones with little pockets for each day and she tucks a little treat in the pocket every day for them. Her husband's family is German and they open presents with them on Christmas Eve and then come to us for Christmas Day! I so enjoy your videos, they are very uplifting and joyful. Thank you for sharing your lovely traditions with us!
It's good to see you too are in from the cold and settled well where you're at! May the wind always be at the back and the sun lighting upon your path :-)
In the 50s and 60s it was called domestic science. Cookery, household duties etc. I wasn't very good at it!! I left school and I love cooking etc, school just wasn't for me!!?? Love your ideas, thanks xxxxxooooo
Of course, we liked your video! We love you two. Always with your beautiful kind smile Kirsten and following you and Jeorg's lovely adventures. Enjoy your holidays together and I wish us all a healthy, happy and God-blessed New Year. (Edited for spelling errors ;)
The Advent Wreath - reminds me of a children's programme called Blue Peter. Every year they made a hanging decoration to hold four candles for the four weeks before Christmas. Obviously, not as luxurious as yours!
So warm and bright. Each piece is a joy indeed. You remind me to ready our advent candles. Thanks! A lovely carousel is on my list to search for this season.
What fun crafts to do watching a Christmas movie and sipping mulled wine! Those German decorations are stunning. The quality of workmanship is obvious.
Love the look of the paper chain you could almost have it as a decoration for all year round they look lovely in your home. As well as the tree which I might give a go myself :) (edit) Oh my goodness just got to watch the rest of the video and those new birds rooster and toadstool are so beautiful. The tradition of candles is something that I wish English history had as a tradition.
Advent calendars have 24 windows in the U.K. too. Growing up in the 70s, we always had paper ones with a picture behind each window; none of this chocolate or, nowadays, Lego/gin/tea/beauty items - even cheeses! I'm hoping my husband has bought me one of the traditional picture ones this year, I've had my eye on some lovely German ones on Amazon for some time 😀
That was a lovley video the chains are great remember making them with coloured crepe paper with my brother and four of us sisters as far back as 1951. Love the trees also i might try that. The advent calender of the nutcracker is lovley and oh the marzipan. Thank you for showing us your lovley decorations.take care.
Your snug looks beautiful, so warm and cozy with the soft lights. Love the painting over the fire. I am so reminded of Christmas of my childhood with my family who were German descendants. I have also been enamoured of England most of my life, so watching two Germans living in England is so well suited for me.
What a sweet video! Beautiful DIY. Just discovered my boyfriend grew up with an Advent wreath (parents were from Germany) As children, the candle would be lit on Sunday and they would sit around it and get Christmas cookies and sing Christmas songs Advent calendars with chocolates seem to be everywhere in Canada How nice that you each have your own..no fighting over who’s turn it is! Another great video and take care 🇨🇦 🎄
You two are a"breath of fresh air" in this crazy world we are all enduring. I have an English Scot heritage and have enjoyed all your trips to England's beautiful sights. Love your home and your decor ideas. It is a lovely place full of special things. So enjoying your Christmas videos. My son and I are making paper chains tomorrow using strips of Sunday comics. When I see you two I remember the cliche, " Isn't love grand!" Sent from the USA with Christmas wishes.
Your decorations are so lovely. We have a German heritage in the city close to me. Cullman has a sister city in Germany called Frankweiler. We also enjoy Advent calendars. Thank you for sharing.
I could have purchased 100's of the twirling, candle lit, wooden merry go round (not sure), when I lived outside if Solvang (a Danish community in California), but I didn't appreciate their beauty at the time. Now, I see how beautiful and symbolic they are. I will have to look for a few! All of the items you shared today were simply precious and I shall remember this video for years to come! USA
My parents went to Solvang on one of their vacations years ago. My mother bought “ wooden shoes” sterling silver earrings for me. They are cute and I still wear them.
🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲 What a beautiful, beautiful video So relaxing sharing your cosy home with you .. especially at this time of year. Lots of wonderful ideas for gifts and decorations ... Loved the birds The rooster looked so " chunky" And cute ! 😁 Hope you both enjoy the rest of your week .... can't wait for the next video. 💕 🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲
You brought me back to my childhood today! We used to make this kinds of garlands in the kindergarten and the small grades in school. Also during communism there was nothing much in shops, so you had to DIY most of the time. In Bulgaria we also give gifts on 24th, after the special dinner (at least in my family it always been like that) . But during the communism Christmas was forbiden and officially gifts were given on New Year's eve with "Grandpa Frost". 😄 Most people were celebrating at home though. So kids will get 2 times gifts 😄 24th was and still is family dinner and on 25th it's extended family and friends time, big lunches, dinners, visits... Also on 25th, people with the Christ in their name (Kristina, Hristo etc) will celebrate their name day- so party time with gifts once again! We never had advent calendars though... Didn't know they exist till some years ago. Your crafts and Xmas decorations are beautiful! Have a very cosy Christmas season time! ❤️
That was just lovely Kirsten&Joerg as a child I loved making the chain decorations.The 🐔 is absolutely gorgeous.Your German decorations at the end of the video are so beautiful.Thanks so much for the lovely video your house is looking beautiful 😍
My family the Schwaglers ate from Hamberg Germany. They came to America in the early 1900s. We are a tough outspoken group. My grandfather was a Hugh man 6'3 270 pounds and would fight anyone that passed him off. We all loved swimming and beer! Anyway, my grandparents and parents have all passed, so I got my fix watching you lovebirds!
I remember the advent wreath from grade school. Each morning all grades would file into the hall and we’d light a candle, one the first week, two candles the second week and so on. The candles were white except the fourth candle was pink. We’d say morning prayers and sing Christmas carols. I loved everything about it. I have an advent calendar that is getting quite old. It’ has little paper doors you open for each day of advent beginning December 1st. Behind each door is a special picture for that day. The last day has a picture of the Christ child. I love it as well. Thank you for sharing your traditions and reminding me of my own. THAT ROOSTER IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you both so much for this trip down memory lane! The German Christmas decorations are very much cherished memories of my childhood, and I have been re-integrating many of them into my holiday festivities once again. As always, your collection is a unique blend of tradition and whimsy, and such a treat to take in.
This little Kansas farm girl made the paper chains for our field fir tree we cut from the timber. We also strung popcorn for the tree then hung it out after Christmas fir the birds to eat! W detail activity and memory. Love the triangle music tree. We made trees out of the old readers digest magazines by folding the corners of each page and gluing covers together to form.
Kirsten yug a lovely video loved your German Christmas decorations in the catholic church Advent reef will be at the altar and every Sunday a candle would be light and they are different colours beautiful I will get my one out and use the battery candles from Sunday thank you and bless you both 🙏🎄
Loved this video, spent the weekend , making homemade paper chains with Elsie my 5 yr old granddaughter, we also made other decorations and she helped me make a couple of wreaths , so much fun, making homemade decorations , making my table decorations next weekend , really enjoyed your video, hope your both well 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎉🎉🎄
I miss florists shops - the scent of the flowers was divine. They were in every high street once upon a time, certainly when and where I grew up (London, 60s/70s). I think their demise began when supermarkets started to sell flowers. Love you, K and J!
Yes, hard to find them here in the countryside. Luckily in Germany they are everywhere, even in the smallest village which is nice. They are important as people also buy fresh flowers when they visit the cemetery.
Memory lane, we made different coloured paper chains as children in the fifties. On Christmas Eve my mum and dad would be so busy. We would go to the market first to buy our tree, turkey fruit and veg then when we arrived home us six kids would make the paper chains and help decorate the tree, was precious, while mum started to make the mince pies and sausage rolls. Kirsten and jeorge, what a lovely idea in sharing this with us, I expect us oldies will be remembering. Thank you so much. And I love the trees Jeorge and the advent wreath, we have a similar Christmas wreath in the Church of England. 💝🎉🎁🍷🎄🌹
Your home is lovely! You have certainly given me some inspiration to make those Christmas trees with the sheet music for the top of my piano. Thank you so much Kirsten and Joerg for inviting us into your lives and sharing your traditions, decor and bakes with us. 😊
Beautiful. Just beautiful. I love everything. We have tons of Advent Calendars here in the U.S. I have never heard of a pickle in the tree. Thank you again for sharing. It is truly a wonderful treat to see your videos. You guys are the best.
Home economics is what is called in the US! I positively loved those classes and 60 years later I still utilize those skills and make some of the recipes. I loved your paper chain project. They are so fun to make and can be changed up with different papers. Fun, fun, fun ❤️❣️
Back in the 1980's our class was called Home Ec...short for Home Economics. It was either split into cooking for one semester and home management (as in budgeting/finances) the other semester...or sewing and home management. I chose the cooking version, but now wish I had taken the sewing class. Our teacher was Mrs. Walls...she was a big lady in height and weight and we adored her. We all called her Grandma Walls. Special memories during a simpler time. Love the music sheet paper chain... I will have to make them and hang them up around the piano. 🎄🎄🎄
Sewing and modelmaking etc. at school we would call Handicrafts. I think that's what you were mentioning at the beginning. Lovely, lovely vlog again! Thankyou! XXX
Lovely and fun as always. Growing up in Nebraska, but not of German descent, we had advent candles, advent calendars, and homemade decorations. We didn’t have store bought tree decorations until I was a teenager. We always made our own. That was in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s. We had little money but lots of love. Merry Christmas to all of you reading this. May love and kindness be your guide. Blessings, Mary
Remember making Christmas paper chains at school ,it was very enjoyable with the other children .good teamwork .loved seeing you both making your Christmas decorations. They are so good .take care both of you .🙂🌲🌲🦌🦌🎄
I live in the US and have always heard of a Christmas pickle although we never had one growing up. I think there’s some good luck for the one who first finds it on the tree. Your ornaments and decorations are all so beautiful! Thank you for the lovely diys. You two are the sweetest!
I know, it's funny as it's not a German tradition at all. It was introduced to the US many many years ago as a marketing trick making people believe we would do this in Germany so they could sell pickles for the trees. Nobody in Germany knows anything about it though.
That candle arch is stunning. Love the pyramid, paper chains, paper Christmas trees, the advent wreath, and calendars. I have to buy two advent calendars as I always eat one before Christmas.
I am 65 and can remember having an advent calendar each year. Opening a picture window each day
I get my nutcrackers and arches directly from Germany because they have been making them for centuries. They are treasures for sure.
Brings back memories of making paper chain's as a young child in the early 60s with coloured gummed paper strips
I am Pennsylvania German and I can remember my grandmother would set up a little animal corral around the base of her Christmas tree. She had toy-sized white fencing. And stick leg sheep were always part of that display. A manger scene would have been set up in that fence too. The display was called a Putz. In Bethlehem, PA there is a putz set up for the public to see, at least there used to be in the 1970s when I still lived in that area. Every time I see a stickleg sheep, no matter how battered, I think of her. We had a few stickleg sheep but one of my brothers must have been given to them by my Mom. I could still find some on eBay. I always make Christmas stollen, sweet yeast bread with candied fruit, raisins and nuts in it. I ice it with white icing and colored sugar. We also make fruitcakes in addition to the stollen. We have the Christmas pickle too, but my daughter came up with that one from a friend. It isn't Pennsylvania German with us...
When I was a child, we would pop a big bowl of popcorn then string the popcorn kernels on thread to create a garland for the tree. Of course, we had to have a big bowl because some get eaten! 😏
Everything is just beautiful!!!! I’m Italian Catholic and we celebrate Advent too. Love a traditional Christmas. ❤️🎅🏻
Thanks so much Tonya.
Me too
You are the sweetest couple. Your love shines through in your videos. Loved this so much.
Swedish Lutherans and Catholics in my family have the advent wreath tradition. So lovely to see the Advent calendars too. We are all more alike than not! Beautiful home. Blessings.
m micheals We are German Lutherans and we always set up an Advent Wreath in our church, which we will be doing this weekend. I live in a small German farm community in Iowa. I should say, the original settlers were Germans but a lot of them are gone of course. A lot are younger generation but our town has a mixture of new immigrants and has worked out nicely but a lot of the original traditions will be lost for ever.
In Sweden we have an official Christmas Calender recorded and broadcasted by SVT, the Swedish television. It´s a big fuzz about it, and engage often the whole family. You buy the paper/cardboard calender at any regular every day shop, and so you follow the story on TV from 1 december to 24th. The story is often written by some famous author and includes a mystery of some kind to be solved by the children in the serie. Of course it all ends happily on Christmas Eve. It is an honor to be an actor in the calender and at quiz shows there are often question about the calenders back in the years. Best wishes to the both of you.
That sounds delightful!
The paper chains and Christmas tree are so attractive with the music notes on them. When I was a child we would make them out of aluminum foil backed with typing paper for strength and we would also string popcorn. The popcorn would smell so good when it hit the warm lights. Love your decorations everywhere. Your home looks so beautiful.
I like to think that some Germans who came to America had a fun sense of humour and thought that as a Christmas prank they would tell people about this pickle "tradition". My mother-in-law actually hides a pickle ornament on her tree in accordance with this "tradition" lol.
Would be lovely if you could do an Advent Vlogmas, a little daily dose of the gentle magic you both are 🎄🏡🎄
Awww thank you, wish that would be possible. However, Joerg is working long hours during the week so we won't be able to do it I'm afraid.
@@KirstenJoerg Maybe weekly when you post new videos you could show the lighted candles on the Advent wreath as we progress to Christmas. I visited Germany several years during the Christmas season and would thoroughly enjoy live trees and Advent wreaths in offices, stores and hotels (which are banned as safety hazards in the US). Lovely video; great crafts. Thank you.
Vivid Dreams - Love advent vlogs! But yes they do take additional planning in, time editing etc... K and J would have to start creating them right after summer holidays, just kidding 😉. This is lovely top, and as a newish follower there is so much to watch from the previous years still!
Your Christmas decorations look lovely....wherever we are in the world we can carry our traditions with us as part of our heritage it's good to see the mix of the English and German in your house
Thanks so much!
English and German goes together very well, as I can see... :--))
I'll ask my Granddaughter to help make those trees, I have a house full of kittens, so no paper chains for me. Some yrs after my father-in-law passed my mother-in-law gave me all their ornaments, there was a bird in with those, she's 94 now so I'm certain that bird is easily 50 yrs old. We've had the advent calendar here in the States for as long as I can remember. We had a pyramid too when I was a kid, not sure whatever happened to it, my mom Loved it. When I was in 8th grade, many many, many yrs ago, we had a class called home economics, we learned to sew an apron, I'm guessing back then it was all about making us the best housewife ever =^/
When I was young, I would decorate the bedroom I shared with my sister by making a green paper chain and then shaping it into a Christmas tree on our bedroom door. Then we’d decorate that tree with strings of paper lights and other small ornaments we made out of bits of Christmas wrapping paper. I’ve since shared this fun with our nieces. And in a few years, I will share it with my twin grand babies. Making your decorations guarantees a day of creativity, togetherness, and fun...not to mention wonderful memories that can be shared across the generations. Thank you for this video! It brought back such lovely memories! 🥰 from Courtney
Just also thought you might find it interesting that the four candles represent the four virtues: The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy and peace. The candles are lit in that order.
Are you sure you don’t mean 4 Fork Handles.... nod to the two Ronnies comedy sketch.
@@rowan7658 ha ha ha ha!
Oh, the paper chains! We used to do new ones every year and fill our room with those as children. Sometimes we used the wrapping papers of the previous years presents. It was lovely to remember all the present as we were making the chains.. Frohe Adventszeit!
I made paper chain in my Soviet childhood.))))
Joyful! As a child we had a real tree with an angel on top. It was beautiful! Gaudy as all get out! Tinsel, garland, bulbs, and lit bulbs! Gorgeous! To each his own. Decorate with what you love and enjoy. It is those childhood memories that most of us hold dear. How ever and what ever you enjoy May peace and love find all of your homes. Belated Merry Christmas!
I love the rooster! Great ideas and the advent calendar reminded me of when I was a little girl in the early 60s' I'd go walking with my mom in the forest at the end of our street with a brown paper bag for collecting pinecones, pine cuttings and whatever else looked interesting, bring them home, and she'd do her Christmas magic. There was always an advent wreath and the comment that went something like this...'you don't need a lot of money for Christmas, just some creativity and glue'.
My school called the class home economics,we did a little sewing and cooking when we did crafting it was an art class.
Love the trees. You can also roll up sheet music paper, tie with wide satin ribbons and display them in a straight sided glass container as table decor. Cut the paper to different heights....Especially nice for a musician's home or for choir parties.
I made a paper chain with the tops of knorr soup packages.In the 60's the tops were gold, I stapled them together and placed them on our aluminum Christmas tree when was silver. We also made chains from wrapping paper and construction paper.
Love the mushroom ornament and your nativity scene in the candle arch! We celebrate Advent at church. Each week, a couple gets up and reads a devotion prepared by our pastor and lights a candle that is fastened into a tall white metal stand. Last year, we discovered the box that held our Christmas ornaments had a hole in it from either cracking from the weather or a mouse chewed through the box, and since the warmer weather here in Missouri is very humid, some of the ornaments molded from the water vapor that entered the box. I was just sick when I discovered that many of the ornaments that we had picked up on vacation for years and made by hand, some that our son had made at school growing up were ruined and I had to throw them out. It's good that you have these videos to remember your lovely Christmas decorations.
Living in England, I always buy German advent calendars because they are the most beautiful & detailed. I thought they stopped at day 24 because the makers think we would be too busy on the 25th to open a door. I’m very glad to learn the real reason is in Germany you open presents on Xmas Eve. You are both putting back the magic into Advent & Xmas in this difficult year. Love you both 😘
I took 2 years of German in high school. I can remember how to count, how to ash how you are, how to ask for food and water, and a few other basic phrases.......I think I need to go live with you for a bit...just to refresh my memory ❤️ Guten Nacht!
Jesus is the reason for the season! Love your advent decorations, especially the arched one with the candles. Merry Christmas from 🇨🇦
Memories of my childhood in the 70s - we always made paper chains in school to decorate the classroom. Many blessings to you from Virginia, USA 😊
Thanks so much Carol - hope you're well.
Red and green construction paper. Oh the memories.
I’m from Virginia too. I was ten in 1970. I loved my childhood. Take care, Caroline.🙂
You have inspired me to decorate! I've been super depressed under lock down and not in the mood, but I'm getting twinges! Your decorations are lovely! Especially the window one! Didn't catch the name , but the cut-out nativity with the lights is beautiful!
thank you so much - I'm 75 and don't decorate for Christmas anymore so I enjoy the holiday vicariously through your videos.
Homemade is the best kind of Christmas! I love this video 🎄🎄🎄
Thanks so much!
Thank you so much! I lived in Germany for a year. In Darmstadt, and I took my Christmas pickles for my tree with me from America. My family is Dutch, German, English, Scottish, and Italian... and our Christmas very German! Christmas Eve is our big day. I also always have my Dutch wooden shoes full of German candy every year!
@@ritaking8827 Awww the Dutch wooden shoes are perfect for sweet treats, love this.
Having Joerg talk us through arts and crafts is giving me serious Bob Ross vibes. I can’t be the only one who thinks this. 🥰😍❤️
Had to Google him lol.
@@KirstenJoerg I love watching him paint and his voice is so nice, patient, optimistic and calming. Just like yours and Joergs! ❤️🦌🦃🌲🍄
@@elizabethanne8729 He is the best!
I agree, and they both make "happy little trees". ❤
Old music books would work as well. My granddaughter loves using construction paper because of all the "colours of the rainbow". Such a sweet video...just love you both.
Oh yes!! Thanks so much!
Here in the US we used to call it Home Economics-or Home Ec. Nowadays they call it family and consumer science.
You two are the epitome of cozy! I love your beautiful German ornaments and the DIY crafts. Thank you again for sharing with us your special ways of celebrating the Holidays 😍
When my daughter was young when I gave her an advent calendar with the chocolate I’d have to keep an eye on it so she wouldn’t open up all the doors and eat all at once.😂
lol
no need to open doors or windows to get the chocolate, you can get them from behind
My son took German language in High School so every year they sold advent calendars. I loved them.
I just totally love you guys always a smile on my face when I see your videos. There is something so charming about you and your mannerisms a lovely couple. Oh yes really like the decorations too. Love and best wishes from Scotland x
Good evening ! We still have such birds , my grandmother bought 3 boxes of Christmas tree ornaments in 60 s , made in Germany . All of the ornaments are alive let's say :) but the paint sheds :(
YES never too old for an advent calender. I always get one every year. 😇❤️❤️❤️ And so many beautiful decoration elements from Germany. We really have some wonderful traditions here. 😍
Thank you for sharing your beautiful Christmas activities..delightful!
That is the best Rooster!! ❤️❤️
We always had chocolate advent calendars for our children and now our daughter is keeping up the tradition with her children. They have fabric ones with little pockets for each day and she tucks a little treat in the pocket every day for them. Her husband's family is German and they open presents with them on Christmas Eve and then come to us for Christmas Day! I so enjoy your videos, they are very uplifting and joyful. Thank you for sharing your lovely traditions with us!
It's good to see you too are in from the cold and settled well where you're at! May the wind always be at the back and the sun lighting upon your path :-)
It is fun to see different cultures in respect to celebrating the holidays. Thank you☺️🌲
Again a lovely video...I got in the mood for X‐mas more and more .🌲
Dankeschön!
In the 50s and 60s it was called domestic science. Cookery, household duties etc. I wasn't very good at it!! I left school and I love cooking etc, school just wasn't for me!!?? Love your ideas, thanks xxxxxooooo
I so hated it, actually it was such a nightmare for me. I enjoyed going to school but this subject was hell.
I just love the Advent wreath!
Thank you!
Of course, we liked your video! We love you two. Always with your beautiful kind smile Kirsten and following you and Jeorg's lovely adventures. Enjoy your holidays together and I wish us all a healthy, happy and God-blessed New Year. (Edited for spelling errors ;)
The Advent Wreath - reminds me of a children's programme called Blue Peter. Every year they made a hanging decoration to hold four candles for the four weeks before Christmas. Obviously, not as luxurious as yours!
Love the ornaments, especially the rooster.
So warm and bright. Each piece is a joy indeed. You remind me to ready our advent candles. Thanks! A lovely carousel is on my list to search for this season.
Thanks so much!
What fun crafts to do watching a Christmas movie and sipping mulled wine! Those German decorations are stunning. The quality of workmanship is obvious.
🎼 Santa Klaus is coming to town 🎼
Joy,
Lights, Smiles, Candies,
Bells, Music, Candles,
Love and Warm Hearts, yes
I love Christmas Time ❤
Love the look of the paper chain you could almost have it as a decoration for all year round they look lovely in your home. As well as the tree which I might give a go myself :) (edit) Oh my goodness just got to watch the rest of the video and those new birds rooster and toadstool are so beautiful. The tradition of candles is something that I wish English history had as a tradition.
Thanks so much Helen!
Lovely German traditions, very interesting ! Loved all your ideas, so fun ! Thanks, until next time.
This takes me back about 50 years making coloured paper chains for Christmas at school.
Advent calendars have 24 windows in the U.K. too. Growing up in the 70s, we always had paper ones with a picture behind each window; none of this chocolate or, nowadays, Lego/gin/tea/beauty items - even cheeses! I'm hoping my husband has bought me one of the traditional picture ones this year, I've had my eye on some lovely German ones on Amazon for some time 😀
That was a lovley video the chains are great remember making them with coloured crepe paper with my brother and four of us sisters as far back as 1951. Love the trees also i might try that. The advent calender of the nutcracker is lovley and oh the marzipan. Thank you for showing us your lovley decorations.take care.
Your snug looks beautiful, so warm and cozy with the soft lights. Love the painting over the fire. I am so reminded of Christmas of my childhood with my family who were German descendants. I have also been enamoured of England most of my life, so watching two Germans living in England is so well suited for me.
I remember making paper chains when I was young in the 60s. Happy days.
The beautiful Christmas tree near by, the two of you crafting holiday decorations in co ordinating checkered shirts: Utterly Charming!
What a sweet video! Beautiful DIY.
Just discovered my boyfriend grew up with an Advent wreath (parents were from Germany)
As children, the candle would be lit on Sunday and they would sit around it and get Christmas cookies and sing Christmas songs
Advent calendars with chocolates seem to be everywhere in Canada
How nice that you each have your own..no fighting over who’s turn it is!
Another great video and take care 🇨🇦 🎄
You two are a"breath of fresh air" in this crazy world we are all enduring. I have an English Scot heritage and have enjoyed all your trips to England's beautiful sights. Love your home and your decor ideas. It is a lovely place full of special things. So enjoying your Christmas videos. My son and I are making paper chains tomorrow using strips of Sunday comics. When I see you two I remember the cliche, " Isn't love grand!" Sent from the USA with Christmas wishes.
Kirsten & Joerg,
I love all of your Ornaments from Germany . My favorite was the candle arch! 👩🏻🍳❤️🤗
Your decorations are so lovely. We have a German heritage in the city close to me. Cullman has a sister city in Germany called Frankweiler. We also enjoy Advent calendars. Thank you for sharing.
What a fun and lovely video! Loved the diy,s, and your beautiful decorations! Thank you for sharing! 🎄❤️
I could have purchased 100's of the twirling, candle lit, wooden merry go round (not sure), when I lived outside if Solvang (a Danish community in California), but I didn't appreciate their beauty at the time. Now, I see how beautiful and symbolic they are. I will have to look for a few! All of the items you shared today were simply precious and I shall remember this video for years to come! USA
My parents went to Solvang on one of their vacations years ago. My mother bought “ wooden shoes” sterling silver earrings for me. They are cute and I still wear them.
Beautiful, love it all. My mother in law was German, brings back previous memories. Thank you 💕
🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲🌟🌲
What a beautiful, beautiful video
So relaxing sharing your cosy home
with you .. especially at this time of year.
Lots of wonderful ideas for gifts
and decorations ... Loved the birds
The rooster looked so " chunky"
And cute ! 😁
Hope you both enjoy the rest of your week .... can't wait for the next video. 💕
🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲🎅🌲
You brought me back to my childhood today! We used to make this kinds of garlands in the kindergarten and the small grades in school. Also during communism there was nothing much in shops, so you had to DIY most of the time. In Bulgaria we also give gifts on 24th, after the special dinner (at least in my family it always been like that) . But during the communism Christmas was forbiden and officially gifts were given on New Year's eve with "Grandpa Frost". 😄 Most people were celebrating at home though. So kids will get 2 times gifts 😄 24th was and still is family dinner and on 25th it's extended family and friends time, big lunches, dinners, visits... Also on 25th, people with the Christ in their name (Kristina, Hristo etc) will celebrate their name day- so party time with gifts once again! We never had advent calendars though... Didn't know they exist till some years ago.
Your crafts and Xmas decorations are beautiful! Have a very cosy Christmas season time! ❤️
Just yesterday I was planning to hang music note ornaments on my tree! You read my mind? 😮
Everything looks lovely and is helping put me in the Christmas spirit.
Me too! 🎄🎄🎄
That was just lovely Kirsten&Joerg as a child I loved making the chain decorations.The 🐔 is absolutely gorgeous.Your German decorations at the end of the video are so beautiful.Thanks so much for the lovely video your house is looking beautiful 😍
Thanks so much Catherine!
My family the Schwaglers ate from Hamberg Germany. They came to America in the early 1900s. We are a tough outspoken group. My grandfather was a Hugh man 6'3 270 pounds and would fight anyone that passed him off. We all loved swimming and beer! Anyway, my grandparents and parents have all passed, so I got my fix watching you lovebirds!
I remember the advent wreath from grade school. Each morning all grades would file into the hall and we’d light a candle, one the first week, two candles the second week and so on. The candles were white except the fourth candle was pink. We’d say morning prayers and sing Christmas carols. I loved everything about it. I have an advent calendar that is getting quite old. It’ has little paper doors you open for each day of advent beginning December 1st. Behind each door is a special picture for that day. The last day has a picture of the Christ child. I love it as well. Thank you for sharing your traditions and reminding me of my own. THAT ROOSTER IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you both so much for this trip down memory lane! The German Christmas decorations are very much cherished memories of my childhood, and I have been re-integrating many of them into my holiday festivities once again. As always, your collection is a unique blend of tradition and whimsy, and such a treat to take in.
This little Kansas farm girl made the paper chains for our field fir tree we cut from the timber. We also strung popcorn for the tree then hung it out after Christmas fir the birds to eat! W detail activity and memory. Love the triangle music tree. We made trees out of the old readers digest magazines by folding the corners of each page and gluing covers together to form.
Kirsten yug a lovely video loved your German Christmas decorations in the catholic church Advent reef will be at the altar and every Sunday a candle would be light and they are different colours beautiful I will get my one out and use the battery candles from Sunday thank you and bless you both 🙏🎄
Loved this video, spent the weekend , making homemade paper chains with Elsie my 5 yr old granddaughter, we also made other decorations and she helped me make a couple of wreaths , so much fun, making homemade decorations , making my table decorations next weekend , really enjoyed your video, hope your both well 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎉🎉🎄
I miss florists shops - the scent of the flowers was divine. They were in every high street once upon a time, certainly when and where I grew up (London, 60s/70s). I think their demise began when supermarkets started to sell flowers. Love you, K and J!
Yes, hard to find them here in the countryside. Luckily in Germany they are everywhere, even in the smallest village which is nice. They are important as people also buy fresh flowers when they visit the cemetery.
Memory lane, we made different coloured paper chains as children in the fifties. On Christmas Eve my mum and dad would be so busy. We would go to the market first to buy our tree, turkey fruit and veg then when we arrived home us six kids would make the paper chains and help decorate the tree, was precious, while mum started to make the mince pies and sausage rolls. Kirsten and jeorge, what a lovely idea in sharing this with us, I expect us oldies will be remembering. Thank you so much. And I love the trees Jeorge and the advent wreath, we have a similar Christmas wreath in the Church of England. 💝🎉🎁🍷🎄🌹
You are so welcome Christine!
You two make my heart melt such a lovely couple.🎅🤶Xxx
Your home is lovely! You have certainly given me some inspiration to make those Christmas trees with the sheet music for the top of my piano. Thank you so much Kirsten and Joerg for inviting us into your lives and sharing your traditions, decor and bakes with us. 😊
Thanks so much Kathy! Those paper trees would look absolutely lovely on a piano.
We call it home economics in the U.K. Xx
I love your advent calendar. I am Baptist. We have an advent calendar with Bible verses. It is traditions like these I love celebrating and sharing! 😊
The pyramid!! I need one of those. The advent calendars are beautiful as well. Everything looks so lovely ❤️💚❤️
Beautiful. Just beautiful. I love everything. We have tons of Advent Calendars here in the U.S. I have never heard of a pickle in the tree. Thank you again for sharing. It is truly a wonderful treat to see your videos. You guys are the best.
Home economics is what is called in the US! I positively loved those classes and 60 years later I still utilize those skills and make some of the recipes. I loved your paper chain project. They are so fun to make and can be changed up with different papers. Fun, fun, fun ❤️❣️
In the USA we had something called home economics u would learn cooking sewing crafts and other things
I find it so interesting to discover how other countries decorate for the holidays, incorporating their traditions .
Back in the 1980's our class was called Home Ec...short for Home Economics. It was either split into cooking for one semester and home management (as in budgeting/finances) the other semester...or sewing and home management. I chose the cooking version, but now wish I had taken the sewing class. Our teacher was Mrs. Walls...she was a big lady in height and weight and we adored her. We all called her Grandma Walls. Special memories during a simpler time. Love the music sheet paper chain... I will have to make them and hang them up around the piano. 🎄🎄🎄
Sewing and modelmaking etc. at school we would call Handicrafts. I think that's what you were mentioning at the beginning. Lovely, lovely vlog again! Thankyou! XXX
Thats what I miss the most: DIY with my mother in the weeks before Christmas. Straw stars, foil chains or foil porcupine stars...
Lovely and fun as always. Growing up in Nebraska, but not of German descent, we had advent candles, advent calendars, and homemade decorations. We didn’t have store bought tree decorations until I was a teenager. We always made our own. That was in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s. We had little money but lots of love. Merry Christmas to all of you reading this. May love and kindness be your guide. Blessings, Mary
Remember making Christmas paper chains at school ,it was very enjoyable with the other children .good teamwork .loved seeing you both making your Christmas decorations. They are so good .take care both of you .🙂🌲🌲🦌🦌🎄
I live in the US and have always heard of a Christmas pickle although we never had one growing up. I think there’s some good luck for the one who first finds it on the tree. Your ornaments and decorations are all so beautiful! Thank you for the lovely diys. You two are the sweetest!
I know, it's funny as it's not a German tradition at all. It was introduced to the US many many years ago as a marketing trick making people believe we would do this in Germany so they could sell pickles for the trees. Nobody in Germany knows anything about it though.
Your decorations are gorgeous they must be hard to put away I’d want to keep them up all year
I love everything you did. The nativity arch is gorgeous!!!!
That candle arch is stunning. Love the pyramid, paper chains, paper Christmas trees, the advent wreath, and calendars. I have to buy two advent calendars as I always eat one before Christmas.
The ornaments are so beautiful..loving the toad stool. The clips work well.