Monthly Archives: January 2012

Three Kings

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Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, when we celebrate the Magi who brought gifts to the Christ Child.  When I was little the thing I remembered most about the Magi was that they came from "Orien-tar". <g>  In our home, the day is usually commemorated with the same song, crown cake, and stories.  Since living in Germany, we now have more stories to share. 

In the Cathedral of Cologne (Köln) there is a magnificent gold reliquary which holds the bones of the Three Kings, which were brought originally to Constantinople and then in 344 to Milan, and finally in the12th century sent to Cologne.  The reliquary was constructed by the famed goldsmith, Nicholas of Verdun, in 1180 and is considered the largest reliquary in the world. 

reliquary

The history of the cathedral is intertwined with the relics.  It was due in part to the steady stream of pilgrims over the years that the cathedral was enlarged to it's current size.  

Our other Magi fun fact this week was discovered on a trip to Trier, a city whose history also dates back to Constantine. Near the Haupt Markt you can see the Dreikönigen Haus, the house of the Three Kings, so named for it's "Moorish" design. 

three kings haus

The house has a door on the second level which served as an entrance – by way of ladder which could be pulled up for security reasons if needed.  Today the lower level houses a coffee shop. 

three kings haus

Silvester

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One of the things I love about Germany is that the festivals and holidays are still referred to by their liturgical names.  You may or may not be a Catholic, but if you're here you probably know when St. Andrew's feast day is, or the second weekend in advent and so on because the signage for events often leaves out actual dates but will just name the feast day.

 Silvester – named for Pope Sylvester I – is one of those events, and everyone here knows that is New Year's Eve.  It is also the date of an annual 10k.  Those 10 kilometers  brought my husband's total miles run in 2011 to 1000.   The boys and I went to cheer him on. Very cool.  

(I think I say that alot.)  

10k 1
10k 2

Kaffee und kuchen.  Not sure if Runner's World is up to speed on this yet but cheesecake seems to top the list of pre-race, carb loading choices here. : ) 

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table
Jan
10k
start
cane

Likewise, there was no free water afterwards, as is the American race norm, but rather hot tea all around.  And a lot of steam from hot runners on a really chilly morning.

10k

Speaking of hot runners….. ; ) 

10k
Did I say that, or was I just thinking it?  <g>

Anyway, it wrapped up just as the sky opened and buckets of rain fell.  Half and hour earlier it wouldn't have been pretty.  As it was, it was perfect. 

Gutes Neues Jahre!

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I was four months pregnant our first New Year's Eve in Germany.  That year we were ringing in 1986.  (please don't gasp, even if it was in the last millenium….)  My husband was a medic and working long hours.  I was in the throes of early pregnancy drowsiness.  Between us we had enough good reason to be out cold at midnight. 

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We were awakened from that sound sleep by a thundering explosion outside the apartment.  From all sides.  For a split second I thought it was the Apocalypse.  Kid you not. I was spinning through my foggy brain trying to recall bits of the recent news to see if how likely it was we were under fire.  (our base had been bombed less than 6 mo earlier) 

2

It was none of those dire things however.  Just our initiation into German New Year's, a wildly thrilling event, especially in a large city. 

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This year we got to bring that 'baby' back to see his first New Year's in the land of his birth.  Things are a little lower key here in the sticks than they are in Frankfurt but still pretty amazing for homegrown.  And yes, dangerous.  Don't try this at home.  We didn't!

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The fireworks went on 'til nearly 1am.  Being situated on one of the highest peaks in the region, on a rare clear winter's night, we could see the glimmer of celebrations in villages all around. He said if it had been all he got to do on this trip it would have been worth it.  (video from last year here)

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Before bed Tess declared this to be the best day of her life.  The best part of that statement is that it marked the third time in as many weeks that she breathlessly announced same.  Life is often hard.  What kind of wonderful is it to be able to say you had three of the best days ever inside a month. : ) 

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We were saying the other day how our Asher and Tess in particular both have such a gift for finding life positively amazing.  They take such delight in small things as well as large.  I hope to be more like them when I grow up. : )

 Here's to making lots of best days in 2012!