Silent Night, Holy Night ...

Christmas Eve is always special. Liturgically, it is when the Christmas decorations should go up, the figures should begin to gather round the household Nativity scene and the family gather to celebrate the coming of Christ into the world. Here, in Germany, we have had the Weinachtsmarkte in almost every city and town throughout Advent, but now people are thinking of celebrating the feast itself.

It may surprise some to know that what in Britain, Australia, South Africa, the US and Canada, is regarded as a "traditional" Christmas Dinner, is not necessarily the meal in Germany. Here it tends to be more along the lines of what a family favours. The Monk has, however, succeeded in introducing a traditional English Christmas Pudding to this small corner of the Taunus which causes some confusion and amusement - since "pudding" in Germany means a vanilla sauce ...

However you keep it, I wish everyone reading this a very blessed Christmas and a great year to come.

May the peace of the Christ child be with you now and always.