QUOTE(stargelman @ Dec 23 2005, 09:09 AM)
5 years ago, christmas was mainly an excuse to get together with family and a few selected friends, eat good food and just generally have a good time. No tree, no presents, no singing (except maybe late in the night), nothing that would remind one of christmas at all.
Then, it all changed. My niece was born, and of course this meant we had to celebrate christmas for real now. Kids have certain expecations. It almost seems as if they're born with them. So now we do have a tree, and presents for the little sunshine. Still no singing of christmas songs though.
Sadly, this year no friends coming over either. They all either have to work or don't feel like christmas

Hehe, how that sounds familiar....but you lucky germans....all your christmas-fairs...I heard on tv that there´s about 2500 such fairs throughout germany!
Oh and I watched a tv-program about the christmas-fair in Dortmund!, My dad comes from that town.....and I just yearned to be in germany, since I have been there by this time of year for two years now, so I wondered what am I doing here? When i could have been in .....well Stade!!!
YAYYY for german christmas-fairs!!!