Showing posts with label KaDeWe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KaDeWe. Show all posts

06 December 2010

"German Santa - 5th/6th December"

German Santa - 5th/6th December



In the evening of Dec. 5th, (in some aereas 6th)  a man dressed as the Heilige Nikolaus (St. Nicholas, who historically was a bishop from Myra/Turkey) goes from house to house to bring small gifts to the children. He is accompanied  by  several ragged, evil  looking, Krampusse, who mildly scare the children. Although Krampus carries eine Rute (a switch), he only teases the children with it, while St. Nicholas hands out small gifts to the children.

The gifts for Christmas are being brought on December 24th, Heilig Abend,  by "Christkindl" (little Jesus) or Weihnachtsmann (Christmas-man) depending of the region and traditional customs.

17 December 2008

Pre Christmas time in Berlin

Well to get some Christmas feeling we decided to go to Berlin for a long weekend. How beautiful the city was decorated. The huge department stores as well as the streets dipped into light.

This is the famous KaDeWe department store.












This is how it looks when you enter. Gold, silver crystals, bulbs, ornaments....








Entrance hall.













This is for window shopping, like a fairy tale




















More window shopping.












Near the elevators we find huge decorative vases tastefully made up in either gold or silver.















Of course a Santa is sitting there giving goodies to the kids.



















Concerts are being given in almost all churches, be it gospels, organ, instrumental, monks singing or children practicing for Christmas.

Opposite KaDeW we find our famous Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche. A church that was bombed during WWII as was the whole city of Berlin. The old church was not rebuilt but a new one instead next to it. It is classic modern with blue glass windows and huge protecting Jesus instead of a cross over the altar.



Here we see the ruin of the old church and the new one next to it.
The lights are from a Christmas market of which Berlin has ca. 50. They used to sell stuff like warm outfits and sweets but also Christmas ornaments.
Nowadays stalls for hot wine and hotdogs, famous Bratwurst and other specialties are being served.