Christmas Day

These figurines are part of an extensive manger scene set up in the
Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg.
Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

May you and your loved ones have a blessed day of joy and peace.  

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year.  No other day holds as much anticipation of wonder, love, hope and joy.  It is a time of magical possibilities.

Stars over Strasbourg

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

Strasbourg decorates all the major, and some of the minor, streets in the city with beautiful lights in December.  These stars festooned the Grand Rue last year.

Maison des Tanneurs Decorated for Christmas

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

The Maison des Tanneurs is one of Strasbourg's most famous landmarks.  Located in the Petite France section of the city, this building was once the headquarters of the tanners' guild.  It is now home to a restaurant.  During the summer, the centuries old structure is decorated with a multitude of geraniums.  The flowers are traded in for twinkle lights in December.

Shopping in Strasbourg

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

These ladies were window shopping on the rue du Chaudron in Strasbourg.  I need to do a lot more than just looking around today!

A Forest of Chocolate

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011.

Christmas calls for fabulous tasting and even more fabulous looking treats.  Many of the confectionary stores in Strasbourg would give it their all during the holiday season, creating impressive displays of sugary art.  This photo shows trees made from different types of chocolate and nuts.  There are some marzipan angels caroling in the front of the display.

A Charlie Brown Tree in Kaysersberg

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

I have a soft spot in my heart for scraggly Christmas trees.  Maybe it comes from watching the Charlie Brown holiday special every year since I was a child?

Decorative Silhouettes

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

These decorations were hanging in a window in Kaysersberg.  Their beauty was enhanced by the way they were displayed as silhouettes against plain colored fabric backgrounds.  I think their delicate details would be lost hanging amidst evergreen branches.

Santa is a Street Musician?

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011.

Everyone gets in on the Christmas theme including the street musicians.  This woman was having her photo taken by a friend while the Santa-garbed gentlemen kept playing in Strasbourg.

A Dainty Christmas Tree

This delicate, potted tree was sitting outside a jewelry shop on the Rue des Freres.
Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

A Christmas Tree the Size of a House

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

The owner of this house had taken evergreen swags intertwined with twinkle lights and created an outline of a Christmas tree on the side of the building.  Adorned with red bows and lit with different colored background lights, I thought it was pretty impressive.

Shining Windows in Kaysersberg

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

Even though it is fairly small, the village of Kaysersberg has many stores.  We did a lot of window shopping during our visit in December 2011.  The lights glowed from within, illuminating the dark, cobblestone streets.  The windows were warm and inviting.  It was a magical holiday scene.

A cookie shop specializing in gingerbread
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

Even meat hanging in the window of this charcuterie  has a festive air.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

A star decoration is tucked in between sausages.
Photo taken in December 2011

My father, husband, and daughter checking out the wares.
Photo taken in December 2011

A stuffed Santa head overlooks bottles of wine.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

You can see the potter working on his new products in the background of this photo.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011.

A window of a bakery
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

Looking into a children's book store
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

The light sparkles off glassware as these customers peruse their options.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

The Lights of Kaysersberg at Christmas

Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

I didn't have enough room in my previous post to highlight all of the beautiful decorations from Kaysersberg.  Here are a few more photos of this gorgeous Alsatian village.  All of the pictures shown were taken in December of 2011.

Entering the main square of the village

A close up of the nativity scene.
The baby Jesus will be placed in his seat of honor on Christmas Day.

Swags of lights draped overhead.

A gargoyle was watching the festivities.

The moon shining over Kaysersberg.  

Christmas in Kaysersberg

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

 My parents came to visit us in France in December 2011.  I am really glad that we had the chance to show them around during the holiday season.  It was wonderful to spend time with them, especially in a unique and beautiful setting.

During their visit, we took them to the village of Kaysersberg which is south of Strasbourg but still in Alsace.  The day was rainy and cold but the atmosphere was festive.  Everywhere we looked individual houses and stores were decorated.  There was a Christmas market in the town square plus booths set up along the streets and in halls.  There were lots of choices of crafts, toys, food, and drinks.

It seemed to get dark quickly that day.  The winter sunset was assisted by dreary, overcast skies.  I was worried that we would have to cut our exploration short but things actually got brighter.  Decorative lights shone from every tree.  Windows beamed a golden welcome.  The whole village seemed to sparkle.  Some of my most favorite memories of that day come from thinking about the beauty we saw after nightfall.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to enjoy the festivities of Kaysersberg at Christmas.  I am even more thankful to have shared the experience with my husband, daughter, and parents.  It is always more fun to explore when accompanied by people you love.

Umbrellas were a necessity during
the first hour or two that we were in Kaysersberg.

The village is nestled in a valley and has many half timbered houses.

A castle on the hill guards Kaysersberg.

Almost every building in the main part of town was decorated.

A very festive window looks over an Alsatian shop.

A church in the main square of Kaysersberg.

As the sky darkened, the lights went on.
Neither darkness nor rain kept the crowds from Kaysersberg that day.

Bread for St. Nicholas

My daughter eyeing up her mannele before devouring it.
Photo taken in December 2011, in Strasbourg, France.

One of my favorite Alsatian holiday goodies is mannele.  It is sweet brioche that is shaped like a person, complete with raisins or chocolate chips for eyes.  It looks similar to a gingerbread man but it is bread rather than a cookie.  These treats are traditionally made for St. Nicholas day on December 6.  Strasbourg spreads the fun out and these buns can be found in bakeries from late November until early January.   I was known to buy one (or two) almost every day during that time period.  They were just too good not to enjoy them when they were around.

Some of these mannele had chocolate chips throughout!
Photo taken in December 2011 in Strasbourg, France

First thing first, she ate the eyes right off.
Photo taken in December 2011, in Strasbourg, France.

An Old Fashioned St. Nicholas

This St. Nicholas was featured in a window display for the Alsatian History Museum.
Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011.

Santa's Laundry

Photo taken in December 2011 in Strasbourg, France

The Claus family must have been renting this apartment in Strasbourg.  Their laundry was hanging out to dry above a store on the rue du Maroquin.

First Recorded Christmas Trees

Photo taken in January 2012 in Strasbourg, France

In the Alsatian town of Selestat there is a library with hundreds of ancient records, some even dating back to the 7th century.  In a record dating from 1521, there is mention of men being paid to guard a section of forest near the town.  The owners of the woods were concerned that people would cut too many of their trees to use for holiday decorations.  This payment to the guards is the first written documentation of people using trees to beautify their homes for Christmas.  At the time, Alsace, which is part of France now, was a part of Germany.

The photo shown above is from a display in the Alsatian Museum in Strasbourg.  Early Christmas trees were decorated with edible ornaments such as fruit, nuts, candy, and baked goods.  The trees were hung from the ceiling to help deter rodents from nibbling the tasty treats.

The Busy Capitol of Christmas

Photo taken in December 2011 in Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is busy from morning until night during the Christmas season.  Stores that are normally closed on Sundays open up all weekend during December.  It is the busiest season for Alsace which attracts tourists in the spring, summer, and fall as well.  But none of the other times of year come close to the number of people who flock to the "Capitol of Christmas" in December.

Welcome Back, Holiday Season!

A holiday decoration in Kaysersberg, France.
Photo taken in December 2011

It has been a long time since I have written a post.  I always hate to read other people's blogs who write that but sometimes hobbies just have to be put on hold.  I have needed some time just to live, to figure out life in America once again, and to settle down into a routine.  I have also needed some space from thinking about losing France.  I am thankful for my current situation but there are still moments that I miss living in Europe.  

This post isn't meant to be sad or heavy.  Rather, it is a re-entry into the beauty of Alsace.  It is Christmas time again!  Although I am not present in person, I am there in spirit.  I want to share the photos I have taken during past holiday seasons in France.  December is an extraordinarily spectacular month in a place that is gorgeous year round.  I am hoping to post something on my blog each day in December.  I know that the holiday season is busy but I hope that you will find a moment to stop by my blog and enjoy a bit of Alsatian Christmas.