One of them already assembles the decoration as soon as “Last Christmas” sounds for the first time somewhere, the other one quickly makes a few spaces at the last minute on the 23rd … We have people from the Ebersberg district for our “Bunter Advent” series asked how they celebrate the days from December 1st and what should definitely not be missing.
At Carolina Veranen-Phillips, Christmas has always been an intercultural celebration. Her father is Finnish, her mother is French. She was born in Portugal. That all these cultures mix at Christmas – quite normal for them. Finnish decoration, French champagne and bacalhau – a traditional Portuguese fish dish. Today there is another influence. After a number of trips, the author met her husband in Spain, a native of Australia. Together with their first child, they then moved to Munich, where their second child followed a year later.
Today the family lives in Poing. The relationship to all the countries is important to them. That’s why they spend Christmas every now and then in France, Finland or Australia. There is then celebrated according to the tradition of the respective country. Only in Germany is Christmas a mix of all countries. It starts with eating. “I always try to accommodate all cultures”. In addition to foie gras – a traditional French goose liver – there is the typical Finnish beetroot salad “Rosolli” and Christmas ham – a leg of ham – made from an Australian recipe.
After dinner there is singing, playing with the children and celebrating. The music playlist – how could it be otherwise – a mixture of French, Australian and Finnish. It is then only difficult when giving presents. In France the gifts are already available on December 24th, in Australia on the morning of December 25th. Most of the time, however – for the sake of the children – the dad has to give in.
Between her time in Munich and now in Poing, Veranen-Phillips lived with her family in Tokyo for two years, due to work. That is why you can find Japanese influence in the Christmas decorations in the form of origami stars and fir trees. But German traditions have also become established with the family during the Christmas season. Every year there is an Advent calendar for the children and of course the annual baking of cookies is a must.
But the best thing about Christmas? For Veranen-Phillips, it’s the togetherness, the peaceful atmosphere. “And that everyone has fun, of course.” But that should – as it seems – not be a problem.