December 6 - Recording Foreign or Imported Traditions

 

Welcome to December!

So happy to have you join us for our

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Advent Calendar 

as we "open the door" each day and share something seasonal with you.

Happy St Nikolaus!

You might know that I'm a Brit living in Germany. Over the (many) years that I've lived here, I've discovered so many different ideas and traditions across the Christmas season which I've incorporated into my own life that I sometimes forget that I've not been celebrating them all my life! 

There's the importance of Advent, the beautiful Christmas markets complete with sweet treats and warming, delicious Glühwein, the treat-filled St Nikolaus as well as mountains of Christmas biscuits, not to mention the traditional food surrounding the season and even the difference in importance of the main days (24th, 25th and 26th December). And of course, I might have incorporated one or two of my own, English traditions into my German family's celebrations :-) 

I've tried to capture some of these customs on pages, many of which I've shared right here in the Counterfeit Kit Community. Here are just a few - many of which are very old so please don't judge the style ;-)

The German Christmas Markets

The Dutch delicacy of Poffertjes which are my favourite sweet treat at the Christmas Market!

Our beautiful Advent wreath with candles to be lit each Sunday of Advent

Christmas Plätzchen (biscuits) which have now become such a staple activity in the Christmas period round here

St Nikolaus celebrations

My Scrapabilly Advent Swap which has become such a tradition for us over the last 5 years!

So, why don't you think about ways that you celebrate the season which might have been imported from a different culture, adopted from a new country, or simply just a family exclusive! The little details of your own celebrations that are different from others in your country, town or even your family. These are great little captures for your December journal or just your Christmas scrapping that you might forget to record because they may not appear in "standard" prompts that are available at this time of year.

A British tradition that I've introduced to my German family is the wearing of the paper hat from inside the Christmas cracker! Such fun and such a silly little thing that just makes me happy and makes me feel closer to home!

  

We hope you will continue to share your own crafty creations and ideas throughout December using the:  Link-Up page here on the blog, posting in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Facebook Community Group or on Instagram (find us @counterfeitkitchallenge and share with #counterfeitkitchallenge)

Master Forger Lisa