The much-anticipated Christmas season is here, and we’ve had a delightful start! Here’s everything we’ve done so far:
1. Put up Christmas decorations
This year, we bought a new Christmas tree because Tobi, my husband, thought our old 150cm tree was too short. The new one stands at 180cm and looks much better. I let the girls decorate the tree, and they had so much fun deciding where each ornament should go.
2. Made Advent Wreaths and Dipped Candles
Every year, our parish hosts an Advent wreath-making afternoon, providing most of the supplies needed to craft beautiful wreaths. Afterwards, we went to the back of the church, where they had set up a candle-dipping area, and the girls made candles. This was our third time attending, and I can confidently say it’s become one of our cherished yearly traditions.
3. Visited a Christmas Market
At the Bern Christmas market, the girls were eager to find churros but happily settled for warm, freshly made crepes. After enjoying their treats, we wandered through the charming market stalls, soaking in the festive atmosphere. The highlight of our visit was the towering Christmas tree in the center of the square, adorned with sparkling lights and ornaments. The girls stood in awe, their faces glowing with excitement. The soft glow of the surrounding warm lights added a magical touch, making it a truly enchanting evening.
4. Visited Nikolaus
On the 6th of December, we celebrated a beloved local tradition: a visit from Nikolaus. Dressed in his red bishop’s robes, Nikolaus brought festive cheer as he handed out peanuts and chocolates to all the children. The girls eagerly lined up with other kids, their excitement growing as they inched closer to him. Nikolaus was wonderfully kind, taking the time to chat with each child, including our girls, who beamed with delight at his warm and friendly demeanor. It’s a simple but magical tradition that we all look forward to each year!
5. Baked Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen is a traditional German gingerbread cookie that, when made traditionally, has to rest for at least two months before baking. Fortunately, I remembered in October that the dough needs to age for two months. I quickly whipped up a batch, placed it in a covered container, and stored it in the basement. To ensure I didn’t forget, I marked my calendar for the second weekend of December to bake!
6. Hosted a Cookie Decorating Party
This was my first time hosting a cookie decorating party, but I think it might just become a yearly tradition. I invited some friends and their kids over to ice and decorate sugar cookies that the girls and I baked beforehand. It’s a testament to how much our kids are growing up and maturing; they just sat at the table and decorated cookies.
We went through nearly two kilos of powdered sugar—far more than we would have if the adults had been decorating! The kids were squeezing out the icing with wild abandon! I was quite surprised, though, that they exercised restraint with the sprinkles.
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Sugar Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
For the icing:
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2–4 tbsp milk (start with 2 tbsp and add more as needed)
• 2 tbsp light corn syrup or honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (or 1/2 tsp almond extract)
Instructions
1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition.
3. Mix in vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
5. Divide dough into two parts, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least an hour.
6. Roll out dough on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness, cut with cookie cutters, and bake at 200°C/400°F for 6–10 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies. They should be light brown in color.
7. Cool before frosting.
For the icing: Combine powdered sugar, milk (starting with 2 tbsp), corn syrup or honey, and vanilla extract. Adjust consistency as needed with more milk or powdered sugar. Color with food coloring and pipe onto cookies.
Decorate your cookies and enjoy!*
