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 not be missing.
When Stefania Scarabello from Ebersberg fetches the Christmas box from the cellar, the whole neighborhood knows straight away. And all passers-by. Because as early as December 8th, they can enjoy the sight of a decorated Christmas tree on the family terrace. “In my Italian homeland, the day of the Conception of Mary is not only an official holiday, but also the prelude to the pre-Christmas period”, explains the International Sales Development Manager and adds that the Christmas tree in Italy is of course in the apartment right from the start stand while she first places him outside. It is very important for her and her German husband to make their children, who grow up bilingually, familiar with both traditions and cultures.
The Christmas tree is decorated on December 8th, the day of the Conception of Mary. He’ll be outside until Christmas.
(Photo: private)
Therefore, although Scarabello grew up without Santa Claus, Advent wreath and Advent calendar, thanks to the Lower Franconian dad, there is “the full program” for the twelve-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, including how to bake cookies that his mother-in-law learned. Because this type of pastry is not part of the menu around Christmas in the boot state – in contrast to the panettone. “In Germany you can buy it all year round, where I come from you can only find it in December, maybe even in January, but then it’s over,” explains the Paduan native, when it comes to this special cake, the decisive end of the traditional, Multi-course feast with pasta and soup in advance, followed by three to four main courses and numerous side dishes. The meal at the Ebersbergers by choice is not that big, but, as is usual in Italy, it does not take place until December 25th together with the giving of presents. “We explained to the children that the Christ Child has so much to do that it cannot be everywhere on Christmas Eve and that is why our presents are not under the tree until the 25th.” After all, the offspring can start unpacking in the morning – unlike in Scarabello’s family of origin, where you always had to wait until after church, if you had not been to midnight mass, and have lunch with the numerous relatives gathered. To compensate for the longer waiting time, there is another date that children can look forward to, especially in northern Italy: The Befana comes on January 6th and fills the stockings – or tights that were hung up the previous evening – with sweets and Fruit. In the past, even with coal, if you weren’t quite so good. In many places in the evening a figure is burned on a pyre made of straw and wood that “is not a witch, but rather an ugly, old woman”. This is how the winter spirits are supposed to be driven away.
Although Scarabello’s children always get the filled socks if they stay with their grandparents until Epiphany, the tradition of the Befana cremation did not bring them to Germany. In contrast to the decorated tree on the terrace. “Actually I thought everyone would think I was crazy if I put the tree up at the beginning of December – but people think it’s nice. And in Eggerfeld you can see it more often now, I feel less alone!”