Pre-KG 2022 / 23 Blog 11
Adventskalender und Tannenbaum
In my last blog I explained about the Adventskalender and the special meaning to me and my family, but there are many other things that are connected to Christmas in Germany and Christmas celebrations around the world.
The Christmas tree (aka Tannenbaum in German as Tanne is the actual tree used), is quite a new custom compared to the birth of Christ 2022 years ago and there seem to be different stories of who put it up first when. One story says that Bakers in Freiburg decorated the first tree in 1419 with gingerbread, nuts and fruits like apples and the custom spread from there.
Well, Christmas is just really connected with that beautifully decorated tree and the Pre-KG were very excited to attend the light up ceremony at DSKI around the Tannenbaum that featured many colourful ornaments including their own.
We listened to some lovely songs and bell performance rendered by our choir with Ms.Azusa and the Pre-KG children loved being part of the celebration.
Afterwards the children received their beautiful Adventskalender handmade by the PTA and they were very happy about it.
From then on, every day different children open a new numbered envelope and after reading the message, all get a nice treat or fun activity.
Even the teachers got a nice Adventskalender which was very heartwarming !
Thank you so much again to the Pre-KG PTA and parents !
The week was filled with other seasonal activities like making Christmas tree (Tannenbaum !) ornaments in the shape of apples ! The Pre-KG children have become very good at using cookie cutters and the paper clay ornaments looked lovely, especially when sprinkled with some glitter snow.
The children also decorated candy cane and ginger bread shaped cutouts with colour and candies and are looking forward to selling them at our Christmas market.
As the Pre-KG class still had some sweet potatoes stored, we thought it would be nice to share them with our friends from K1. After Ms.Chinatsu cut them very expertly, we baked them in our DSKI kitchen oven and all the children enjoyed this activity together and the delicious taste of freshly baked sweet potatoes.
What a treat !
The week ended with two mini excursions / discovery walks to find and look at more Tannenbäume on Rokko Island.
The fabulous Rokko Island Fashion Museum every year hosts a small exhibition of Christmas trees from around the world. Alongside the festive trees sit a multitude of cute, hand sewn rabbits and bears which are part of the Felissimo project for charity.
The Pre-KG children loved the enchanting displays and found animals in many different colours. This exhibit is free to visit, so please have a look if you get a chance.
Still on a quest for more Christmas trees (yes, it’s a triangle shape), we also visited the Sheraton Hotel which features a beautiful, Christmas tree with lots of red sparkling ornaments in many shapes.
Happy shouts of …there is a red ball, there is a ribbon could be heard from the children and even more cries of delight when yet another Christmas tree was found in the outside area.
Finally when back at school, we got to admire one last Christmas tree, which is made very cleverly of branches and many adorable handcrafted ornaments.
It is a wonderful design and many of the ornaments are handpainted by Mamoru’s mother, so thank you and your helpers from PTA so much for this unique piece of art to brighten our Christmas season.
The whole decoration in the school entrance area including many Christmas wreaths (Weihnachtskränze) and other festive displays is thoroughly enchanting.
Happy 2nd Advent everyone and please keep warm and sparkling !
Yours,
Anita Ursula Mönch
DSKI Pre-Kindergarten homeroom teacher
Playgroup / EY German
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