Marie Trupp Krieger, a resident of Portland, grew up on an Odessa area farm and graduated from Odessa High School and Washington State University. She was an occasional contributor of feature articles to The Odessa Record. She originally wrote the following article in 1987 for a Christmas program of the Oregon Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR).
Christmas, Magic Time for Germans from Russia
By Marie Trupp Krieger
Christmas! What a magic time it is! Christmas isn’t a day, it's a feeling you have inside you.
Christmas 60 years ago was celebrated pretty much the same as it is now. Candles were lit. Services honored the birth of the Christ Child. Families met around festive firesides. Gifts were sent and gifts were received, On Christmas Eve, you can choose your own mixture of expectation, tenderness, gaiety, adoration, remembering, loving kindness, exhaustion and peace.
Christmas! A children’s world. Precisely. To the very young, when posed the question: “Why do you love Christmastime?” The answer would be, “Just because.” Another child’s remarks might include thoughts such as looking forward to receiving a new toy or game. Yet still, an older child loves the excitement of the Christmas season, the planning for that special day, weeks in advance, like shopping for unique gifts and distinctive foods, assisting with the decorations in the home, wrapping presents and participation in the real meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth celebrated in the family’s church. To grownups, the singing of Christmas hymns and hearing the Christmas story glorifies all else in spite of the repetition.
It all dates back to Germany, where many of our ancestors originated. Let’s turn back the pages and we find that nation is at its best at Christmas. In Germany, virtually all of the Yuletide traditions emerged. The centerpiece is the Christmas market that goes under a variety of names. Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market), Lichterwochen (Light Weeks), Nikolausmarkt (St. Nicholas Fair) or Christkindlmarkt (Christ Child Market). More than two dozen German cities and many in Austria as well, have Christmas markets that are open for most of the month of December. These markets are actually open-air fairs specializing in Christmas decorations, food and presents. The Nuremberg market, closely tied to the Christmas industry centered there, is considered the best, dating back to 1697.
Besides the Austrian markets, the church and its services are the center of an Austrian rural scene depicting another phase of Christmas observances. Young and old respond to the peaceful solemnity of the early morning procession to attend church services. The deeply religious families of Austria find humble satisfaction in an observance of Christmas, which shifts the emphasis from workaday materialism to spiritual realities. In private devotions as well as in public worship, in domestic as well as religious celebrations, there is room for meditation and contemplation on the true meaning of Christmas as the day God sent His Son to redeem the world.
At Christmas, Austria centers on musical events, such as the concert at Oberndorf, celebrated on the spot where the beloved Christmas carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” written for an Austrian village, was first sung on Christmas Eve more than 165 years ago. It was written by a priest and composed by a schoolteacher in 1818, a composition that was to become a Yuletide tradition throughout the Christian world. A shrine as a simple little church is perched on a tree-covered knoll in the heart of Oberndorf, a village just across the German border near Laufen. It is about a two-hour drive from Munich and 30 minutes from Salzburg. The priest, Josef Mohr had experienced a division in his church during the Napoleonic wars, in the 19th century, causing strife within families.
It was in such an atmosphere of discord and sorrow that Father Mohr wrote the poem, hoping to bring a measure of accord to his congregation. He consulted his good friend, Franz Gruber, who sat down at his piano after reading the inspired lines. As a storm raged outside, in less than an hour he composed the simple, yet deeply moving melody, and the beloved Christmas song was given to the world. It is credited with having something to do with revival of peace and quiet in the village. Little fame or credit came to Franz Gruber and Josef Mohr during their lifetimes. It was first sung in this country in Pennsylvania in 1871 and has since been translated into every language of Christian countries, and even into local African and other dialects. There, is a marble slab in Austria honoring the authors as, well as the gleaming white chapel, set amid green firs.
The preparations for Christmas in a Bavarian kitchen bring back nostalgic memories for everyone because the experiences are typical of every nationality and every home. Mother is the center of the activities, answering the endless questions of the youngest and directing the lagging helpfulness of the older children. Those who have the eyes and sentiments of childhood can grasp the message of warm symbolism disguised in the endless and often vexing external preparations, which usher in the holiday season. Christmas speaks to the heart as well as the head, for the heart can discern what often is hidden to the intellect. At midnight when the church bells ring on Christmas Eve, silence settles over the land as the people hasten to the Christmas service.
Oh, the everlasting wonder of the Tannenbaum! How the practice of cutting and decorating Christmas trees began is shrouded in the mists of myths. Most historians today tend to refer to the eighth century missionary, St. Boniface, who urged the Germanic Druids to give up their bloody, pagan rites in dark forests and instead carry fir trees into their homes at Yuletide. He is said to have pointed to a small evergreen and said: “This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be called the tree of the Christ child; gather about it, not in the wild wood but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deed of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.” Whether or not that actually is how the Christmas tree tradition began, it is a story worth repeating.
Our American Christmas is a happier one because of our traditional use of the Christmas tree, a symbol of the holy childhood we honor. Millions of trees adorn our homes, churches, schools and communities at Christmas, and when the star atop each one is lighted; the brilliant streamer of light ties our nation together in one bright bond. Wherever the Christmas tree is honored in the United States, at the entrance to the White House, in Rockefeller Center, in Denver, in Portland or in one’s own home, the tree will probably be a spruce or a fir. Whether a community tree, a snow encrusted sparking pyramid, or a brilliantly ornamented tree in the home, it will also be the Christ Child’s tree. And it will be as little children that we recall the warm glow of Christmas Past when the tree was selected for its place of honor.
It is written that candles shone from every window to light the Christkind on her way from home to home. She was the messenger of the Infant Jesus, and Bavarian children believed that she brought them their gifts. She wore a white robe. She had golden wings. In her hand she carried a small Christmas tree and wore a crown.
Christmas 60 years ago was celebrated pretty much the same as it is now. Candles were lit. Services honored the birth of the Christ Child. Families met around festive firesides. Gifts were sent and gifts were received, On Christmas Eve, you can choose your own mixture of expectation, tenderness, gaiety, adoration, remembering, loving kindness, exhaustion and peace.
Christmas! A children’s world. Precisely. To the very young, when posed the question: “Why do you love Christmastime?” The answer would be, “Just because.” Another child’s remarks might include thoughts such as looking forward to receiving a new toy or game. Yet still, an older child loves the excitement of the Christmas season, the planning for that special day, weeks in advance, like shopping for unique gifts and distinctive foods, assisting with the decorations in the home, wrapping presents and participation in the real meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth celebrated in the family’s church. To grownups, the singing of Christmas hymns and hearing the Christmas story glorifies all else in spite of the repetition.
It all dates back to Germany, where many of our ancestors originated. Let’s turn back the pages and we find that nation is at its best at Christmas. In Germany, virtually all of the Yuletide traditions emerged. The centerpiece is the Christmas market that goes under a variety of names. Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market), Lichterwochen (Light Weeks), Nikolausmarkt (St. Nicholas Fair) or Christkindlmarkt (Christ Child Market). More than two dozen German cities and many in Austria as well, have Christmas markets that are open for most of the month of December. These markets are actually open-air fairs specializing in Christmas decorations, food and presents. The Nuremberg market, closely tied to the Christmas industry centered there, is considered the best, dating back to 1697.
Besides the Austrian markets, the church and its services are the center of an Austrian rural scene depicting another phase of Christmas observances. Young and old respond to the peaceful solemnity of the early morning procession to attend church services. The deeply religious families of Austria find humble satisfaction in an observance of Christmas, which shifts the emphasis from workaday materialism to spiritual realities. In private devotions as well as in public worship, in domestic as well as religious celebrations, there is room for meditation and contemplation on the true meaning of Christmas as the day God sent His Son to redeem the world.
At Christmas, Austria centers on musical events, such as the concert at Oberndorf, celebrated on the spot where the beloved Christmas carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” written for an Austrian village, was first sung on Christmas Eve more than 165 years ago. It was written by a priest and composed by a schoolteacher in 1818, a composition that was to become a Yuletide tradition throughout the Christian world. A shrine as a simple little church is perched on a tree-covered knoll in the heart of Oberndorf, a village just across the German border near Laufen. It is about a two-hour drive from Munich and 30 minutes from Salzburg. The priest, Josef Mohr had experienced a division in his church during the Napoleonic wars, in the 19th century, causing strife within families.
It was in such an atmosphere of discord and sorrow that Father Mohr wrote the poem, hoping to bring a measure of accord to his congregation. He consulted his good friend, Franz Gruber, who sat down at his piano after reading the inspired lines. As a storm raged outside, in less than an hour he composed the simple, yet deeply moving melody, and the beloved Christmas song was given to the world. It is credited with having something to do with revival of peace and quiet in the village. Little fame or credit came to Franz Gruber and Josef Mohr during their lifetimes. It was first sung in this country in Pennsylvania in 1871 and has since been translated into every language of Christian countries, and even into local African and other dialects. There, is a marble slab in Austria honoring the authors as, well as the gleaming white chapel, set amid green firs.
The preparations for Christmas in a Bavarian kitchen bring back nostalgic memories for everyone because the experiences are typical of every nationality and every home. Mother is the center of the activities, answering the endless questions of the youngest and directing the lagging helpfulness of the older children. Those who have the eyes and sentiments of childhood can grasp the message of warm symbolism disguised in the endless and often vexing external preparations, which usher in the holiday season. Christmas speaks to the heart as well as the head, for the heart can discern what often is hidden to the intellect. At midnight when the church bells ring on Christmas Eve, silence settles over the land as the people hasten to the Christmas service.
Oh, the everlasting wonder of the Tannenbaum! How the practice of cutting and decorating Christmas trees began is shrouded in the mists of myths. Most historians today tend to refer to the eighth century missionary, St. Boniface, who urged the Germanic Druids to give up their bloody, pagan rites in dark forests and instead carry fir trees into their homes at Yuletide. He is said to have pointed to a small evergreen and said: “This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be called the tree of the Christ child; gather about it, not in the wild wood but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deed of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.” Whether or not that actually is how the Christmas tree tradition began, it is a story worth repeating.
Our American Christmas is a happier one because of our traditional use of the Christmas tree, a symbol of the holy childhood we honor. Millions of trees adorn our homes, churches, schools and communities at Christmas, and when the star atop each one is lighted; the brilliant streamer of light ties our nation together in one bright bond. Wherever the Christmas tree is honored in the United States, at the entrance to the White House, in Rockefeller Center, in Denver, in Portland or in one’s own home, the tree will probably be a spruce or a fir. Whether a community tree, a snow encrusted sparking pyramid, or a brilliantly ornamented tree in the home, it will also be the Christ Child’s tree. And it will be as little children that we recall the warm glow of Christmas Past when the tree was selected for its place of honor.
It is written that candles shone from every window to light the Christkind on her way from home to home. She was the messenger of the Infant Jesus, and Bavarian children believed that she brought them their gifts. She wore a white robe. She had golden wings. In her hand she carried a small Christmas tree and wore a crown.
Source
Story written by Marie Trupp Krieger and originally published in The Odessa Record on November 25, 1993.
Last updated November 6, 2016.