1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
Cosy cooking, tasty wine, gift puzzles and a common game for everyone, which we then play together in the evening.
2. How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
We are responsible for the appetizer this year. What exactly there will be has not yet been decided.
Carina: There used to always be schnitzel and croquettes - a feast for us children. For some years now, however, we have been cooking sisters and our partners a course together, my mother takes care of a delicious cheese platter for the late hunger in the evening.
3. The funniest experience that happened to you at Christmas:
Carina: When I didn't really want to believe in the Christ Child anymore, I saw it. Later it turned out that it was our neighbour with his white hair who put my Christmas present (a cool scooter) on the terrace and rang the bell.
Matthias: I had a similar event to Carina at Christmas. Our neighbour put a table tennis table in front of the door and in order to stall time, my mum had first tried to tell me that nobody would ring the bell at Christmas and I should definitely not open it. Later I was so scared that I didn't want to open the door alone anymore. The ping-pong table was of course the hit.
1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
Since my family is very Catholic except for my mother, my father and I mostly met with my family in church and started Christmas Eve after the service. But my father and I also got tired of squeezing us into the crowded service and standing in the back row. So a couple of years ago we started drinking some cold drinks in the pub next to the church and then just going to church for the organ after the service to discuss with everyone how the Mass changed to last year.
2. How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
With my parents and grandparents at Christmas (duck with plum sauce and bread dumplings), with my girlfriend's family on Christmas Day 1 (Polish specialities - too much :-D) and on Christmas Day 2 with my whole family (goose + cheese + red cabbage).
3.The funniest experience that happened to you at Christmas:
I was a Christmas in Costa Rica and celebrated together with locals at 36°C and was taught salsa dancing under the influence of a hunter and local spirits.
1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
On the 23rd of December I usually fetch a Christmas tree from my dad's friends' forest with my sister and father (so that the tree is still super fresh on Christmas Eve). And traditionally we discuss then whether we should take the most beautiful tree or times the ugliest tree. On the 23.12. I sleep also since I am small always at my grandmother's house and we then make a chocolate fondue.
2. How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
I always celebrate with my parents and sister on Christmas Eve. Then there will be raclette every year. Between the years there is always a big Christmas party with the whole family. Because there nobody has desire for 30 humans to cook we order or we have dinner at a restaurant all together somewhere.
3. The funniest experience, which happened to you at Christmas:
I can't remember that, but I still think the story is really cool. When I was learning to walk, my parents spent Christmas with friends. The friend was afraid that I would break the tree, run in or knock it over. I don't know. In any case, he put a rake in the ceiling and hung up the Christmas tree.
1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
It all started with gifts that were hidden somewhere deep in the conifers of the tree. Over the years this developed into a kind of "hide-and-seek game for the presents" - whereas my sister and I used to crawl behind every cupboard, we have now turned it around and send our parents looking for presents. What should not be missing? Fireplace and a good drop of whisky.
2. How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
Christmas Eve in the closest circle of the family and on Christmas Day 1 and 2 with the grandparents and in-laws.
3. The funniest experience that happened to you at Christmas:
My sister has been living in the Netherlands for 10 years and she makes a big bang every year.... "Waar wil je dat ik begin?"
1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
The day usually starts with an episode of Michel from Lönneberga. In the evening after the church we eat together until the puzzle round starts later. Michel, food and puzzle cups should not be missing at Christmas in any case.
2. How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
I celebrate Christmas Eve together with my parents and my brother. As far as food is concerned, there is no real tradition here, it is usually decided in the week before the feast. There has been everything from raclette to a miserable attempt by game - that has gone so far that there will probably be no more game Christmas on our plates. The last 2 years meat roulades are always highly in the course. After dinner the cosy part of the evening starts. We puzzle out who may unpack a gift, drink wine / beer and the one or other schnapps and guess before unpacking the gifts what could be in it.
3. The funniest experience that happened to you at Christmas:
I don't even have a concrete experience in mind. As soon as it goes to the cosy part of the evening, the funny pods usually come all by themselves.
1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
The traditional church visit must not be missing on Christmas Eve, although we are not really very religious and are probably the typical submarine Christians who only appear at Christmas. Furthermore, we have been dicing out for years who is allowed to unpack their gift next, which promises a long and very funny evening with a good wine or beer.
2.How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
I spend Christmas Eve with my parents, my sister and my grandpa. Raclette is also served. That's what we've been doing for ages. On Christmas Day 1st I am with my mum's family first, then with the parents-in-law's family and I spend the evening/night with friends. I use the 2nd Christmas day to relax with my girlfriend.
3.The funniest experience that happened to you on Christmas:
We are jerking off in the family of my mum and grandpa gives away very strange things every year for our pleasure.
1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
We celebrate Christmas a little differently each time. But what you can't miss is a long discussion about how to distribute presents in the most exciting way, a long walk on the water with your family, cozy music, lots of laughter and a fireplace.
2.How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
The 24th of December I spend with my family, we cook together, listen to relaxed music, try liqueurs which we should not drink and let the evening end by the fireplace. I usually spend the first Christmas day with my dad and my brother, after that I go to my boyfriend's family.
3.The funniest experience that happened to you at Christmas:
My brother and I made us the same Christmas present... Jackpot!
1.What are the Christmas traditions at home? What should never be missing?
The longest tradition I remember is actually decorating the Christmas tree together a few days before Christmas.
2.How do you celebrate Christmas this year? What will there be to eat? Who are you celebrating with?
This year the Christmas Eve and the presents will be postponed to the 25th. My mother and my sister are both nurses, so you have to adapt every year! But luckily on the 25th we are all together - my parents, my sister and I! 99,9% of the Christmas probability will be a traditional duck with red cabbage.
3.The funniest experience that happened to you at Christmas:
Now I have to swing a little. So my mother has 3 brothers with many children, who have even more children - so we are quite a big family. Every year we all meet one week before Christmas. We then weight so semi-traditionally; we put all the presents in the middle of the circle of chairs, then we throw the dice in turn. If you have a 6, you can take a gift, but you can't unpack it yet. When everyone has their gift, it is unpacked and inspected. In the second round, once you have rolled a 6, you are allowed to steal someone's gift and put your own in their hand. This can get hot! My aunt didn't recognize this principle until very late and was so sad about her loss for a year that she didn't want to play along the following years! Meanwhile she is pondering again, but her gifts are not a hit. Who can guess why?