Thursday, January 7, 2021

Christmas in lockdown


Since December 16th we have been in our second lockdown here in Germany. Similar to the first one in March, we suspected beforehand it might happen but then it still seemed to be announced very last minute. I wasn't really meeting up with people anyway due to Covid-19 restrictions, although I had planned to meet a friend in her garden for a mulled wine and another friend for a playdate. Both had to be cancelled once the official lockdown started. Since then hubby and I have been at home with Mini most of the time. We get as much as possible delivered to us. We only leave the house for walks or to go to the playground. Life can feel quite repetitve at times! Like I mentioned in this post I was determined to make Christmas special despite being in lockdown.

This was our fist Christmas away from both of our familes and the first one where Mini, who is now almost 3, had a basic understanding of what was going on. It actually feels a bit surreal being on the "other side" of the experience. There is a certain amount of responsibilty in making sure that Santa's presents arrive, are hidden and then are wrapped and under the tree on time! At one stage in December I realised that Mini knew all about Santa and presents but didn't know about the birth of Christ! We didn't have her baptised but I still have been trying to teach her a basic understanding about God and the Catholic faith. Luckily I had a nativity book which we read. The next day she told me her doll was called "Baby Jesus". I couldn't help laughing when I heard her say "Baby Jesus, do you want to build a snowman?"

A women I knew was collecting stuff to bring to a local womens shelter and when she mentioned there was a 2 year old there at the moment, I was able to use it as an opportunity to go through some of Mini's old toys and clothes and ask her to help pick out some things I could give to the little girl who didn't have as much. I'm trying to raise her to be grateful for what she has and also be charitable to others. Apart from that I also tried get into the Christmas spirt as much as possible myself! We decorated the tree (although that was put up already in November), we baked cookies, read wintery stories and sang and danced along to Christmas songs as often as possible.

We celebrated both Christmas eve (which is the main day here in Germany) and Christmas day (which I'm more used being the main day coming from Ireland). It ended up being a really nice Christmas. We didn't have to fall in line with anyone else's schedule or timings, so that made the day very relaxed for one. We opened presents, wore out Christmas pjs and watched movies. We weren't able to get a turkey delieverd unforuntaltey so we had roast chicken but it was very tasty anyway! I also found a jar of sweet mincemeat so was able to bake my favourite Christmas dessert, mince tart!

I also celebrated a birthday myself over Christmas. It was a little disappointing, I'm not going to lie. Last year I had been able to meet a bunch of close friends and go for birthday brunch and this year I wasn't able to meet anyone due to the pandemic. We had a cake though and I drank my favourite wine so that was still nice. Hopefilly next year I'll be able to have a much bigger celebration!
I'd love to hear from my readers, how was your Christmas?

12 comments:

  1. Hi there! I have been a reader for years and thought I would respond to your question because we spent our Christmas in Galway Ireland! We're Americans and have been living here for a year and a half while my husband did his masters degree at NUIG. Anyway, our Christmas was very similar to yours, with all of the restrictions(that I'm sure you know about from family here). We spent a quiet day at home with our two kids, although we were able to attend a short Christmas Day service at our church. Then we got to take a quick trip to Killarney for a few nights right after Christmas before the travel ban went back into effect. I hope your family there and in Ireland are doing ok despite everything, and cheers to 2021!

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    1. Hi Michelle, thanks for commenting- it's always nice to hear from my readers! My family are all well thanks. Living with all the restrictions is hard going and this lockdown feels very long, but here's hoping things will improve soon for everyone!

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  2. It sounds like you made the best of things and had a nice Christmas despite everything. Sorry your birthday was disappointing, but at least there was cake. Cake makes up for a lot, I feel ;-)

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    1. Thanks Bev, yes cake makes up for a lot! I have been eating soo much chocolate in lockdown..but whatever helps I say! Wishing you all the best for 2021 :)

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  3. Hey! I relate so much to this post--trying to make Christmas magic during the pandemic and teach BG about Jesus despite not going to church (she is actually very interested). We would pass by a manger while driving and she'd exclaim "I see God!" And at first I was terribly confused and just said "That's nice sweetheart"馃榿. My birthday is also in December and I too love ladies brunches (had a big one last year) and missed it this year. XOXO

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    1. "I see God!" - Aw, that's so sweet any funny! I hope you had a nice birthday despite everything. Hopefully by the end of this year we'll be able to have a ladies brunch again :-) x

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  4. Oh my gosh, "baby Jesus, do you want to build a snowman?" Is my new favorite thing. It seems that you did the best with what you had, in lockdown. It looks lovely! We had a quiet Christmas, but it was still festive. We ran out of time to make the turkey on Christmas Day, so had it the next day and instead had the Christmas Tuna Melts. Bryce made a coconut custard pie, but forgot to add the coconut milk to the custard, so we called it Milk Pie. It wasn't terrible, but those mishaps seemed an appropriate way to have COVID Christmas, ha.
    Happy New Year to you and yours!

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    1. Thanks Jess! I used to be a lot more particular about things needing to be a certain way- for instance that we should eat certain foods like turkey on Christmas day but I've gotten way more flexible about stuff like that now thankfully. Christmas tuna melts sounds yummy! Hope you have a great 2021!

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  6. Atenci贸n

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    En la venta de su m茅dula 贸sea (贸rganos renales) a los ri帽ones, test铆culos y contacto 100% en serio. correo electr贸nico; blacksburgclinic@gmail.com
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    Los pacientes actualmente necesitan un trasplante de ri帽贸n.
    Busque oportunidades para vender el efectivo de sus ri帽ones para ayudar a financiarlo
    Compraremos el tuyo
    Ri帽贸n por 1.000.000 euros
    H铆gado: 800.000 Euros p
    Ovarios: 350.000 euros
    Cerebro ocho: 550.000 €




    envianos un email

    correo electr贸nico;
    correo electr贸nico; blacksburgclinic@gmail.com

    WhatsApp: Preg煤ntame

    Sinceramente
    Cl铆nica Blacksburg

    Tenga en cuenta que solo los donantes con un certificado de donante v谩lido pueden postularse, para saber m谩s sobre el certificado cont谩ctenos para obtener informaci贸n..

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