Advent and other Traditions . . .

VOCABULARY

Advent should be a chance to find the real meaning of Christmas and think of others less fortunate than ourselves. But with less than two weeks to go to Christmas Eve, I feel the pressure. I personally have mixed feelings about this time of the year. On one hand, it can be so beautiful whereas, on the other, it can be the most stressful time of the year.

I love the atmosphere of Advent, especially here in Salzburg. For me, Advent always starts with a visit to the "Winterfest" in Volksgarten. The performances are always excellent but this year was exceptionally good. We saw the Cirque le Roux performing "Elephant in the Room". The audience was so impressed and offered a standing ovation. If you haven’t already seen it, it could be one less Christmas present to think about.

Then there are the numerous Christmas markets. We are spoilt for choice as to which quaint Christmas market to go to. Unfortunately, most of them are packed with tourists and you certainly won’t find the meaning of Advent there. However, if you visit the ones that are not frequented by thousands of tourists, you can feel at peace. The market in St. Jakob am Thurn, in Salzburg, is delightful or the one in Waldbad, Anif, called Waldklang, is certainly worth a visit.

I have already enjoyed my first mug of mulled wine with cinnamon and roasted chestnuts. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go there again last weekend, as I am absolutely terrified of meeting Krampus. When I hear the unmistakable sound of the bells and see the torches glowing in the dark, I run for cover.

Even though I have lived in Austria for nearly three decades, I will never get used to this custom and I will never understand how some parents can subject their children to such horrors. Of course, there are children who love this custom, but I am flabbergasted when I see how a few parents make their petrified children watch these huge, hairy monsters with terrifying masks.

Once again, a fight broke out between some young men, in Bischofshofen. This time, Krampus was not to blame, but some of the spectators got into a fight. During this "Krampuslauf", five people were injured and ended up in hospital. The mind boggles! It is such a pity for the ones who just want to keep up the tradition and have fun.

With Krampus over and done with, thank goodness, we are reminded that this is the third weekend in Advent and it is time to start making a plan for the great day. Fortunately, my husband loves doing the cooking so I leave that to him. I have been down into the cellar to sort out a few of last year’s baubles and decorations, and I am sure that once I have put them onto the windowsill, along with a beautiful red poinsettia, I will be in the mood to think about what presents to buy for my friends and relatives – but what? The problem is that most of us don’t really need anything that we couldn’t buy for ourselves.

When did Christmas become so commercialised? When did "Black Friday" and Christmas bargains become so important? Gone are the days when our children were satisfied with a game or a book, they get iPads and iPhones or the latest computer games, at a very early age. The only problem is: How do you top that next year? So, after putting it off for so long, I will finally have to join thousands of other desperate shoppers in the shopping centres and, after searching for a parking space for ages, look for that special gift for my loved ones while being serenaded by "Jingle Bells" and "Last Christmas". Once again, I really must make a mental note to start earlier next year. it is supposed to be – es sollte sein to reflect on – über etwas nachdenken less fortunate – weniger wohlhabend mixed feelings – gemischte Gefühle performances – Vorstellungen impressed – begeistert to be spoilt for choice – die Qual der Wahl haben quaint – malerisch packed – überfüllt mug – Häferl mulled wine – Glühwein cinnamon – Zimt roasted chestnuts – geröstete Maroni to be terrified – in Schrecken versetzt sein unmistakable sound – der unverwechselbare Klang glowing torch – leuchtende Fackel to run for cover – Schutz suchen to get used to – sich daran gewöhnen custom – Brauch to subject somebody to sth. – jemanden einer Sache unterwerfen flabbergasted – sehr erstaunt petrified – vor Angst versteinert to blame – jmd. die Schuld geben spectators – Zuschauer injured – verletzt the mind boggles – es ist verrückt over and done with – aus und vorbei to sort out sth. – etwas aussortieren baubles – Christbaumkugeln windowsill – Fensterbrett poinsettia – Weihnachtsstern mood – Stimmung satisfied – zufrieden to top sth. – etw. übertreffen to put sth. off – etw. verschieben to make a mental note – sich etwas vormerken