'You must have been seven because you would have been better by eleven' 😂😂😂 I see where you get your frankness from! Loved your tree decorations and your parents' comment 😆
You flashed your tea mug up on the screen in between ornaments and now I'm singing "Oh Christmas Tea, Oh Christmas Tea..." in my head, so that's gonna stick for a bit, thanks so much. 😁 Lovely video, as always.
„The Germans say something on your website“ So, I’m here, being German, announcing UA-cam is now officially your website 😂 . We do also have a Christkind bell, but I’m not from southern Germany but western Germany, also traditionally catholic (I left the church). You perfectly described my childhood tradition - you can go in when the bell is rung
For me, it was that my Northern German Protestant grandparents had the tradition of the Christmas bell, while my Southern German Catholic grandparents did not. It's funny how traditions can migrate over time!
If you want to spindle spin in bed, I'd recommend looking into a supported spindle. You spin it in a little bowl and stuff. That's what I started with because I knew the drop spindle would be too physically demanding for me.
Adding to the chorus of supported spindle suggestions!! They’re much easier to use in seated positions, and you can use nearly anything as a bowl to spin it in. I do hope you can find one soon to give it a try!
Something that might work better for you for spinning is a supported spindle as opposed to the drop style that you’re currently working with. They are much easier to use while sitting. As someone who has both types of spindles, I tend to use my supported ones more often for this reason.
I apologise if I am assuming too much, but your videos and approach to life are so comforting. I try to do the same, although I don’t face the same hurdles that you do. Do the best with what you have, spend time and energy on things you enjoy doing, just make the next right choice when things get overwhelming. Sending love from a cloudy and sunny Melbourne day.
My mum brain translated your mum’s comment to mean you craft prowess had developed quite a bit by the time you were 11. At 7, well we’ve only just begun to consistently not fall down when walking, let alone make finely detailed craft items. Btw: thank you for sharing your morning a few episodes back and reminding me I need to drink my electrolytes so I can consistently not fall down while standing. 😂
I'm German, but pretty much from the middle of the country and my family is protestant - we had a Christmas bell like that and the Christkind brought our presents! No one else I know had this tradition, though, so I'm not sure where it's from.
In Germany there is quite a lot of confusion about the Christkind too. I live on the border of two regions one has the Christkind the other the Weihnachtsmann (Santa) and an old lady stopped my daughter last year and started asking what the Christkind had brought her and then got confused and changed it to the Weihnachtsmann! I have heard of the bell tradition from older generations of Catholics in Southern Germany. The children weren't allowed to see the Christmas tree until it was decorated and the presents placed under the tree and then the bell was rung.
Yes, my Dad said that actually he had the Weihnachtsmann growing up not the Christkind! It seems that actually I've followed the tradition perfectly by being all muddled up!
That santa you made is pretty good. I could not have done that at 7 OR 11. It also would fit right in with so many vintage ornaments I've seen, both in person, and in instructions in books and magazines. I spend half my holiday season making vintage ornaments now, but never manage to get a tree at all. So thanks for the vicarious decorating. I especially love those first ornaments you showed. They're so pretty!
Hi Claude! I am from the South of the Czech republic, so not quite Germany, but I live about an hour away if that makes any difference haha. But my grandma also owns like 50 of these little angels, some of them are a bell and some of them aren't. We also have a tradition where an angel, St. Nicholas, and the devil (what a group) come to the children, and the children have to sing to receive gifts. I know that this is similar in some parts of Germany, so maybe that can be why?
The Netherlands still has Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) on 5th of december. Part of the run up to the 5th is scildren set down their shoes in the evening, sing a song and the next morning have chocotale or a shoefiller. The 11 of november (mostly in the north) we have Sint Maarten, when children will knock on the neighbours doors, sing a song and receive candy in return.
We used to have a bell made out of porcelain, which was rang to announce that the Christkindl was here. I´m sure there are also bells shaped as christkindl, that got used for that purpose. (Austrian here, near Bavaria).
I’m from Northern Germany and I didn’t know about Christkind-bells but my parents always put on a Christmas-CD with church bells as the first track to call us to the Christmas tree.
Spoons well spent I think. A cozy day decorating 🥰 Sorry about the spindle not working out, it's frustrating when you really want to try something NOW and it's not possible.
My parents come from northern Germany (Lutheran protestant area) and i grew up in midwest Germany (very catholic area); we had a normal little brass bell that told the children when they could come in the living room where the tree and the presents were. That room used to be off-limits for children the whole 24th of december and no one but our mother was allowed in until "Bescherung" (present-giving). Our dad had to keep us busy while our mom "helped the Christkind put up the tree and the presents". I think many of my friends did that, too, so i think the Christkind-and-bell-thing is kind of common in all parts of Germany. Or at least, it was in the 90s. I'm old. The shape of your bell reminds me of porcelain ornaments that i saw often at chrismas markets, but i have never seen one as a bell.
Hi, I'm in Sweden and my family had a Christmas bell hanging in a doorway, and on Christmas morning 24 dec. someone had to ring in Christmas, before any celebrations could start. I don't know if there is a German connection in the family in the past, or if other Swedish families had one too. My mother was a genius at coming up with traditions, myths and fairytales, so I wouldn't put it past her to come up with the thing. I think the bell is at my sister's now, as she is the only one that has children and grandchildren. I'm old too. Yours, Ann
@@annlidslot8212 That's a cool tradition, a bit like a ship bell to call all hands on deck; i love it! I grew up with Petterson and Findus, Tomte Tummetott and everything Astrid Lindgren wrote, so Sweden is kind of a magical childhood place for me, even if i have never been there. Most of my friends had those books too, so perhaps the christmas tradition exchange is mutual between sweden and germany. All the best and a cosy christmas to you from the hills of midwest germany! 🎄
@@PaulinaMeyer-yf1cm Hi, Thank you for your very kind answer. I certainly hope so. We're close enough, both geographically and historically for it not to happen. I'm slightly to old to have been raised with Pettson and Findus, though I enjoy them immensely. Astrid Lindgren was huge in my childhood too and so was Elsa Beskow. She made the most enchanting picture books if you never found them. I would encourage anyone to find at least one just for the enchantment. It led me to reading old folk tales, myth and mythology for my own enjoyment very early on. My parents were great at finding new enchantments too, and I have made a few for my youngest sister (RIP) when we were kids. I think that if you grow up on Astrid Lindgren you turn out okay. Because how can you not? Merry Christmas to you and yours, Ann
@@annlidslot8212 I looked Elsa Beskow up and discovered that we had at least two of her books; "Hänschen im Blaubeerwald" (Puttes äventyr i blåbärsskogen) and "Pelles neue Kleider" (Pelles nya kläder)! Thank you for the reminder. I'm sorry about your youngest sister; i hope you never stop finding stories. That's such a gift. Love, Lina
@@PaulinaMeyer-yf1cm Good morning Lina, Another a lovely answer, thank you. My favorite Elsa Beskow was Tomtebobarnen (die Weihnachtsmann Kinder if I can trust Google Translate). It's an enchanted piece of woodland where there are adventures for the children that are growing up in it. The pictures are beautiful. If they have it at a library near you, and you like and use a library I would recommend to just flip through it. I don't know how to stop finding adventures and fairy tales for the children around me, so thank you so much for the encouragement. You too keep your mind open to finding your adventures and fairy tales around you, however you find them. Love, Ann
BTW I love your mums accent:) love watching your vlogmas:) ups and downs and all... handmade is the best:) I have my moms ornaments from when she was a child.. 70 years and still going:)
I remember my late parents keeping the decorations we made at school - and they were paper ones if I remember correctly. I did use to make those lanterns using paper and toilet roll centres - of which there were a lot as there were usually at least two adults and five children residing until my mid teens. Cats made things hazardous at times, though the first three I remember would only chase decorations if they fell off the tree, but for child and cat reasons, no decorations were ever put on the bottom branches of the tree anyway. Mum used the same artificial tree she bought in 1976 after I’d attempted to eat the real one bought for my first Christmas in 1975 and it was always placed on the same wooden coffee table each year. In later years, we had a real tree, which I always ended up having to decorate usually with many, many criticisms about how I was doing it wrong. I had to deal with pine needles and de decorating the darn thing on 12th night, so I used to ban the things and then mum and my siblings would sneak one in a couple of days before Christmas - and yes, I was responsible for decorating and then un decorating it, with the same criticisms. Mum’s last two cats caused the trees on the years mum was still with us to be bungee corded to the banister in the hall to stop them from knocking the thing over. As far as I know from my Christmas books and looking into traditions for a TikTok series I did a couple of years back, you are correct about the Christkind, it’s location (southern Germany, Austria and similar) and use of the bell to indicate they’d been!
I know that you prefer to do things that have a use. While you're learning spinning and the ply will be inconsistent, perhaps plan to have a slub yarn to make something with. I knit a 1950s shirt from plain blue 8 ply slub yarn earliler this year, and I really like the visual interest it gives to the knitted up garment.
Thank you and your parents for sharing this. I love that your Mum keeps the ornaments even if they don't make the cut for this year's tree. I have some of the same blown glass eggs and I have bells as well. I love them and just got them up on the tree today. So nice to be able to share happy traditions at this time of year.
Loving your videos. What you want to look into is a supported spindle. That way you can get comfy in a chair or sitting up in bed and spin right in your lap. That might be your most budget friendly solution. Lots of tutorials on YT about how to spin with one.
I loved seeing your parent's christmas tree, I'm a big fan of the big decorations! The current favourite in my own tree is the giant pickle with a christmas hat on that my dad just got, it's so silly :P
I love to hear about all these traditions. I am especially surprised that Saint Nicholas is a thing, though not as big as here in the Netherlands. Here he brings the presents on the 5th of December. With older children and adults we also have selfcomposed poems and 'surprises' (weird, grand crafted wrapping shaped in something the person who receives the gift either likes or refers to something associated with that person).
My friends who spin say that the easiest way to start is actually with stick spinning on a pirn or spurtzleur! I may be taking a class on stick spinning in the spring, I may report back then lol
We have yet to put up our tree or outdoor lights. I'm struggling this year, and I can't quite pin why. But we have many other decorations up, and it's always lovely to see how others decorate their tree.
I'm Czech from Prague and we (as a country) are super secular, but the Christmas traditions are holding even through the strong atheism of the nation. We celebrate on the Christmas Eve with a dinner of several traditional dishes and during that time the presents "magically" appear (are brought to the closed room with Christmas tree in it by Ježíšek (the Kristkind)). After the dinner the bell rings (either someone secretly rings it under the table, or it's done with the help of the spinner thing I mentionned in a different commentary at one of your vlogmas videos with the decorations haul) and only then the children (and the whole family) can enter the room and receive the presents.
Family traditions are so cute, my mum remembers her nan saying put the duscal on ( spelt phonetically), she was talking about the kettle, she was we now believe, possibly Russian, but we can't get any more info, so sadly we will never know, the lady in question died in 1961 ish.❤
Hi Claude, lovely video :) About spinning yarn: I wondered if you have thought of trying/have tried suported spindle spinning instead of drop spindle spinning? That way it might be easier to do whilst seated/lying down. Me and my partner are enjoying watching your vlogmas videos together every day ❤
hello claude! looooong time watcher first time commenter 😊 i am a disabled spinner and like a lot of other commenters i love support spindle-ing with a little bowl! i can lounge on the couch and it is (for me) a similar level of energy as knitting, where drop spindle is wayyyy too much standing up. you could probably try with the spindle you have by flipping it upside down so the hook is on a little plate or bowl. there are lots of good youtube videos with tips, personally i am completely youtube taught. happy advent and good luck on trying new (and old) things!
You might try a small Turkish spindle like a Snyder spindle (or one similar) Look for one around 25g or so. That will be smaller than the standard ones, and easier to use in limited space.
I haven't slept well this week or decorated for christmas yet as well. 😅It seems like a nice with your parents overall though. Hopefully, you can get something figured out with spinning, or if it were my brain, wait a day and let it get fascinated by something new! 🐿 take care.
Thanks for your vlogmas videos, Claude! As a newish spinner who's only spun with a drop spindle so far, maybe you could try a supported spindle? They come with a little bowl that you rest on your lap and the spindle rests in the bowl, so you're not having to hold the weight of the spindle. I think it might be easier on your arms, though I've never tried one so I can't say from experience. Wishing you happy holidays :)
I loved seeing you decorate your tree with your family, it reminds me so much of how it goes at my house. HAHAHA- yes, we have some crafts from christmas past at my house as well. My favorite being a santa face that is made out of my traced hand as a child, on printer paper(flimsy, normal stuff)), colored with crayons (not well) and it has cotton balls glued to it. There are three of us children, so there are three of these ridiculous santa things. Also- have you looked into supported spindles? I just made myself one out of a metal double pointed knitting needle and a little wooden apple I got from the craft store and had help drilling a hole through. I'm not great at it as I've just started- but you spin in a little bowl and make finer yarn. Its great for sitting in bed.
How funny, in my family the children ring a bell to call everyone to start handing out/opening presents on Xmas eve. The youngest are in charge of passing out the presents. Depending on who's house we're all at the bell could be an old California Mission bell (I don't know how my uncle got it, or if he is telling the truth), a cut glass bell, or a brass bell. I don't know what part of the family started the tradition (American mutt problems). 💜
In catholic parts around south of Germany (Austria Switzerland etc) it is the Christkind (Jesus) who brings the gifts to the children. and not santa claus. Traditionally on christmas day, the mother is in the lining room, she decorates the 🌲 and puts the gifts under it. During that time the children are not allowed to go into the living room, some stay in the kitchen, some in the garden, some with the neighbours or the grandparents. Once the mother has finished (this might even take a few hours) she rings a little bell to indicate that the Christkind has been here and has brought the gifts. Children never see the Christkind. they wait very very impatiently for the ringing! By the way: Santa Claus has been invented by Coca Cola in the 1930s. It was a merge of Holy Nikolaus (who brought gifts to the “good” children and his companion Knecht Ruprecht (who threatened to hit the “bad children” with his broom or even to take them with him in his big bag. Both had big beards, the first in a red or green cloak, the second in a black cloak. of corse all children are good and received some little gifts. happy holidays from 🇨🇭
Late to the party, but I second some other recommendations to look into supported spindles. I spent a lot of time support spindling from bed or the couch with a newborn. I had a c-section and didn’t try the first few weeks of healing, but did manage just fine in later weeks while the incision was still healing and it was still hard to move about fully. Spindle cushions are my favorite (Straddle Creek in the US on Etsy makes some). I’d recommend looking for a spindle that weighs less than 1 oz / 28 grams. Probably on the lighter like 20-25 grams. The heavier ones tire out your hands and fingers more, especially as you add more spun fiber. I’m in the US and haven’t had a chance to try many of the spindles outside of the US, but I do approve of and recommend Kravelli! (Just keep an eye on the weight if shopping their site.)
It's been really lovely watching your vlogmas :) About the spinning dilemma, maybe try a supported spindle? I do not have the same type of issues as you but I knew that I didn't want to stand or sit uncomfortably when spinning so I opted for a supported spindle and I loved it. Jillian Eve has a video where she makes her own DIY spindles out of fimo clay and wooden dowels, and her supported spindle is the one she ends up recommending, so it can be quite a low cost alternative to buying one and finding out it doesn't work out for you. Hope you have a lovely rest of December
We have one of those bell things among our decorations, but would never have made the connection had you not mentioned it. I live in Hessen, the state which is more-or-less central in Germany. I've seen the Christkind referred to in local newspapers: she meets kids in supermarkets and asks them what they want for Christmas. What's always confused me is why the Christkind is a female. Surely, if the literal translation of 'Christkind' is 'Christ child' then they'd be a boy - and not necessarily blond?
I was also under the impression that Christkind was Jesus as a young boy but as I've looked into it, yes, they're often played by a girl? Maybe little boys couldn't be trusted to sit still and look angelic?
You should try and get a used EEW nano 2, if not new, I love mine! I had a traditional spinning wheel but it cost me way too much energy and couldn't continue spinning (spindles were also too much for hands). I got a nano 2 and I loved it so much, a year later I got a bigger e-spinner!
If you ring the christkindl one more time, I will be too deaf to tell you, yes it is a catholic german Thing. Atleast here in Bavaria its very very common. And by the way, I love your handmade christmas deco. And I think its soooo cool, that you post also stuff about chronic illness here, and I hope that doesnt sound weird, but I think its just really interesting. Also I love your Videos in general. I think im a little bit addicted.😂😂 And i love sagan. He is wonderful.❤❤❤
What are you calling the little soldier men? My audio processing disorder isn’t letting me make heads or tails of it! After you shared about the Christkind bell I got to wondering about an ornament tradition in my family… We hang a glass pickle on the tree and the first one to find it wins a prize! I always thought it was a German tradition, but the internet says it was a tradition started in the late 1800s by German-American immigrants!
I think you mean „die Nussknacker“ (the Nutcrackers). :) The pickle thing is really not a „real“ german thing. I always wondered so hard why the internet believed that. But it could be like you said, german immigrants and then people started to think it must have come from germany.
I think it’s a northern English mum thing - my mum has what she calls ‘window side tree decorations’ where she puts all the things she doesn’t want to throw away, but also doesn’t want to see. Every year she pulls out all the things I’ve made since nursery, makes snide comments and hides them from view
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
'You must have been seven because you would have been better by eleven' 😂😂😂 I see where you get your frankness from! Loved your tree decorations and your parents' comment 😆
You flashed your tea mug up on the screen in between ornaments and now I'm singing "Oh Christmas Tea, Oh Christmas Tea..." in my head, so that's gonna stick for a bit, thanks so much. 😁 Lovely video, as always.
„The Germans say something on your website“
So, I’m here, being German, announcing UA-cam is now officially your website 😂 . We do also have a Christkind bell, but I’m not from southern Germany but western Germany, also traditionally catholic (I left the church). You perfectly described my childhood tradition - you can go in when the bell is rung
Yep, can confirm
I‘m from western Germany as well but we hadn’t a Christkind bell. 😞 at least not that I remember and we were a catholic household.
Same here :) I´m from West Germany as well and we always had a Christkind bell :)
For me, it was that my Northern German Protestant grandparents had the tradition of the Christmas bell, while my Southern German Catholic grandparents did not. It's funny how traditions can migrate over time!
Classic example of my bilingual Dad not quite finding the English word he means in the moment. Welcome to my Website!!!
If you want to spindle spin in bed, I'd recommend looking into a supported spindle. You spin it in a little bowl and stuff. That's what I started with because I knew the drop spindle would be too physically demanding for me.
I can definitely confirm the Christkind bell :) It's still a thing at my parents' house in southern Germany :)
Yes same for Austria we still have one❤
Adding to the chorus of supported spindle suggestions!! They’re much easier to use in seated positions, and you can use nearly anything as a bowl to spin it in. I do hope you can find one soon to give it a try!
Ha! My dad was from Hungary and the pronunciation correction from the other room really brings back memories 😂💗
My Dad was also a languages teacher so I guess old habits die hard?
@@RetroClaudeHaha indeed 🥰
Something that might work better for you for spinning is a supported spindle as opposed to the drop style that you’re currently working with. They are much easier to use while sitting. As someone who has both types of spindles, I tend to use my supported ones more often for this reason.
Oh really? That's good to know. I'll have to give it a try!
I was wondering if a supported spindle might be worth trying for Claude! I’ve been wanting to try one myself.
I apologise if I am assuming too much, but your videos and approach to life are so comforting. I try to do the same, although I don’t face the same hurdles that you do. Do the best with what you have, spend time and energy on things you enjoy doing, just make the next right choice when things get overwhelming. Sending love from a cloudy and sunny Melbourne day.
My mum brain translated your mum’s comment to mean you craft prowess had developed quite a bit by the time you were 11. At 7, well we’ve only just begun to consistently not fall down when walking, let alone make finely detailed craft items.
Btw: thank you for sharing your morning a few episodes back and reminding me I need to drink my electrolytes so I can consistently not fall down while standing. 😂
Maybe a supported spindle would be a better fit for bed spinning than a drop spindle? I love your handmade ornaments. 😍
I'm German, but pretty much from the middle of the country and my family is protestant - we had a Christmas bell like that and the Christkind brought our presents! No one else I know had this tradition, though, so I'm not sure where it's from.
In Germany there is quite a lot of confusion about the Christkind too. I live on the border of two regions one has the Christkind the other the Weihnachtsmann (Santa) and an old lady stopped my daughter last year and started asking what the Christkind had brought her and then got confused and changed it to the Weihnachtsmann! I have heard of the bell tradition from older generations of Catholics in Southern Germany. The children weren't allowed to see the Christmas tree until it was decorated and the presents placed under the tree and then the bell was rung.
Yes, my Dad said that actually he had the Weihnachtsmann growing up not the Christkind! It seems that actually I've followed the tradition perfectly by being all muddled up!
That santa you made is pretty good. I could not have done that at 7 OR 11. It also would fit right in with so many vintage ornaments I've seen, both in person, and in instructions in books and magazines. I spend half my holiday season making vintage ornaments now, but never manage to get a tree at all. So thanks for the vicarious decorating. I especially love those first ornaments you showed. They're so pretty!
I'm still to get a tree up at Woody's house but maybe one decorating session is enough?
Hi Claude! I am from the South of the Czech republic, so not quite Germany, but I live about an hour away if that makes any difference haha. But my grandma also owns like 50 of these little angels, some of them are a bell and some of them aren't. We also have a tradition where an angel, St. Nicholas, and the devil (what a group) come to the children, and the children have to sing to receive gifts. I know that this is similar in some parts of Germany, so maybe that can be why?
Oh cute! A tree full of those bells would be very noisy! I'm nut sure how I'd have felt if I had to sing to a devil for my gifts!
The Netherlands still has Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) on 5th of december. Part of the run up to the 5th is scildren set down their shoes in the evening, sing a song and the next morning have chocotale or a shoefiller.
The 11 of november (mostly in the north) we have Sint Maarten, when children will knock on the neighbours doors, sing a song and receive candy in return.
We used to have a bell made out of porcelain, which was rang to announce that the Christkindl was here. I´m sure there are also bells shaped as christkindl, that got used for that purpose. (Austrian here, near Bavaria).
The same Christkind bell thing is done in Hungary as well. My family had one like that since I can remember 😊
That's amazing! It seems to be much more popular across Europe than I realised!
I’m from Northern Germany and I didn’t know about Christkind-bells but my parents always put on a Christmas-CD with church bells as the first track to call us to the Christmas tree.
I love that! Modern meets traditional :)
Spoons well spent I think. A cozy day decorating 🥰 Sorry about the spindle not working out, it's frustrating when you really want to try something NOW and it's not possible.
As usual I am being impatient! I just want to craft!!!
@@RetroClaude I know the feeling well. When inspiration hits you want to do it NOW. Somtimes it feels like an actual need.
I love the little ornament dungeon under the tree!
Ha dungeon! They get to join in the fun just not in full view of guests!
My parents come from northern Germany (Lutheran protestant area) and i grew up in midwest Germany (very catholic area); we had a normal little brass bell that told the children when they could come in the living room where the tree and the presents were. That room used to be off-limits for children the whole 24th of december and no one but our mother was allowed in until "Bescherung" (present-giving). Our dad had to keep us busy while our mom "helped the Christkind put up the tree and the presents". I think many of my friends did that, too, so i think the Christkind-and-bell-thing is kind of common in all parts of Germany. Or at least, it was in the 90s. I'm old. The shape of your bell reminds me of porcelain ornaments that i saw often at chrismas markets, but i have never seen one as a bell.
Hi, I'm in Sweden and my family had a Christmas bell hanging in a doorway, and on Christmas morning 24 dec. someone had to ring in Christmas, before any celebrations could start. I don't know if there is a German connection in the family in the past, or if other Swedish families had one too. My mother was a genius at coming up with traditions, myths and fairytales, so I wouldn't put it past her to come up with the thing. I think the bell is at my sister's now, as she is the only one that has children and grandchildren. I'm old too. Yours, Ann
@@annlidslot8212 That's a cool tradition, a bit like a ship bell to call all hands on deck; i love it!
I grew up with Petterson and Findus, Tomte Tummetott and everything Astrid Lindgren wrote, so Sweden is kind of a magical childhood place for me, even if i have never been there. Most of my friends had those books too, so perhaps the christmas tradition exchange is mutual between sweden and germany. All the best and a cosy christmas to you from the hills of midwest germany!
🎄
@@PaulinaMeyer-yf1cm Hi, Thank you for your very kind answer. I certainly hope so. We're close enough, both geographically and historically for it not to happen. I'm slightly to old to have been raised with Pettson and Findus, though I enjoy them immensely. Astrid Lindgren was huge in my childhood too and so was Elsa Beskow. She made the most enchanting picture books if you never found them. I would encourage anyone to find at least one just for the enchantment. It led me to reading old folk tales, myth and mythology for my own enjoyment very early on. My parents were great at finding new enchantments too, and I have made a few for my youngest sister (RIP) when we were kids. I think that if you grow up on Astrid Lindgren you turn out okay. Because how can you not? Merry Christmas to you and yours, Ann
@@annlidslot8212 I looked Elsa Beskow up and discovered that we had at least two of her books; "Hänschen im Blaubeerwald" (Puttes äventyr i blåbärsskogen) and "Pelles neue Kleider" (Pelles nya kläder)! Thank you for the reminder. I'm sorry about your youngest sister; i hope you never stop finding stories. That's such a gift. Love, Lina
@@PaulinaMeyer-yf1cm Good morning Lina, Another a lovely answer, thank you. My favorite Elsa Beskow was Tomtebobarnen (die Weihnachtsmann Kinder if I can trust Google Translate). It's an enchanted piece of woodland where there are adventures for the children that are growing up in it. The pictures are beautiful. If they have it at a library near you, and you like and use a library I would recommend to just flip through it.
I don't know how to stop finding adventures and fairy tales for the children around me, so thank you so much for the encouragement. You too keep your mind open to finding your adventures and fairy tales around you, however you find them. Love, Ann
Two Claudes in one day! A treat! :)
I had to laugh at the leftover bit on your long tail cast on, I am a fellow over estimator too 😂
BTW I love your mums accent:) love watching your vlogmas:) ups and downs and all... handmade is the best:) I have my moms ornaments from when she was a child.. 70 years and still going:)
I'll have to let her know!
The delegation of handmade decorations are so cute! How sweet of your mum to have held into them 😍
I'm from Northern Germany (it's more protestant here) and I've never even heard of a Christkind bell!
Is it really such a local thing? I had no idea!
I remember my late parents keeping the decorations we made at school - and they were paper ones if I remember correctly. I did use to make those lanterns using paper and toilet roll centres - of which there were a lot as there were usually at least two adults and five children residing until my mid teens. Cats made things hazardous at times, though the first three I remember would only chase decorations if they fell off the tree, but for child and cat reasons, no decorations were ever put on the bottom branches of the tree anyway. Mum used the same artificial tree she bought in 1976 after I’d attempted to eat the real one bought for my first Christmas in 1975 and it was always placed on the same wooden coffee table each year.
In later years, we had a real tree, which I always ended up having to decorate usually with many, many criticisms about how I was doing it wrong. I had to deal with pine needles and de decorating the darn thing on 12th night, so I used to ban the things and then mum and my siblings would sneak one in a couple of days before Christmas - and yes, I was responsible for decorating and then un decorating it, with the same criticisms. Mum’s last two cats caused the trees on the years mum was still with us to be bungee corded to the banister in the hall to stop them from knocking the thing over.
As far as I know from my Christmas books and looking into traditions for a TikTok series I did a couple of years back, you are correct about the Christkind, it’s location (southern Germany, Austria and similar) and use of the bell to indicate they’d been!
I know that you prefer to do things that have a use. While you're learning spinning and the ply will be inconsistent, perhaps plan to have a slub yarn to make something with. I knit a 1950s shirt from plain blue 8 ply slub yarn earliler this year, and I really like the visual interest it gives to the knitted up garment.
Thank you and your parents for sharing this. I love that your Mum keeps the ornaments even if they don't make the cut for this year's tree. I have some of the same blown glass eggs and I have bells as well. I love them and just got them up on the tree today. So nice to be able to share happy traditions at this time of year.
The Nussknacker you made is really cute, also your dad and mom are very funny and sweet
I think the Santa you made is adorable! And the KNacker! You were definitely doing well as a kid.
We had one, I'm from austria also was raised roman catholic.
My Oma was born and raised in Austria and my Dad talked about the Christkind bringing gifts but nothing about a bell!
You were a very crafty 11yo - I have a child currently in Y6 and I can tell you that would still be beyond his capabilities!
Loving your videos. What you want to look into is a supported spindle. That way you can get comfy in a chair or sitting up in bed and spin right in your lap. That might be your most budget friendly solution. Lots of tutorials on YT about how to spin with one.
🙂 I have a pair and I'm in the USA. I just thought they were lovely so I bought them. interesting to know the history.
wow some of those ornaments are absolutely STUNNING!!! :o
I loved seeing your parent's christmas tree, I'm a big fan of the big decorations! The current favourite in my own tree is the giant pickle with a christmas hat on that my dad just got, it's so silly :P
I love to hear about all these traditions. I am especially surprised that Saint Nicholas is a thing, though not as big as here in the Netherlands. Here he brings the presents on the 5th of December. With older children and adults we also have selfcomposed poems and 'surprises' (weird, grand crafted wrapping shaped in something the person who receives the gift either likes or refers to something associated with that person).
My friends who spin say that the easiest way to start is actually with stick spinning on a pirn or spurtzleur! I may be taking a class on stick spinning in the spring, I may report back then lol
Beautiful tree, I have not put my tree up yet.
We have yet to put up our tree or outdoor lights. I'm struggling this year, and I can't quite pin why. But we have many other decorations up, and it's always lovely to see how others decorate their tree.
I'm Czech from Prague and we (as a country) are super secular, but the Christmas traditions are holding even through the strong atheism of the nation. We celebrate on the Christmas Eve with a dinner of several traditional dishes and during that time the presents "magically" appear (are brought to the closed room with Christmas tree in it by Ježíšek (the Kristkind)). After the dinner the bell rings (either someone secretly rings it under the table, or it's done with the help of the spinner thing I mentionned in a different commentary at one of your vlogmas videos with the decorations haul) and only then the children (and the whole family) can enter the room and receive the presents.
also, it is generally a small bell of any kind, doesn't have to be ceramic or angel shaped.
Oooh interesting! That's fascinating to hear. So it's not just a German thing...
If you have a local weavers, spinners and dyers guild you may be able to see if you can test an espinner before you invest
Family traditions are so cute, my mum remembers her nan saying put the duscal on ( spelt phonetically), she was talking about the kettle, she was we now believe, possibly Russian, but we can't get any more info, so sadly we will never know, the lady in question died in 1961 ish.❤
Hi Claude, lovely video :) About spinning yarn: I wondered if you have thought of trying/have tried suported spindle spinning instead of drop spindle spinning? That way it might be easier to do whilst seated/lying down. Me and my partner are enjoying watching your vlogmas videos together every day ❤
I've been looking into it but it seems to be less popular in my area for some reason?
hello claude! looooong time watcher first time commenter 😊 i am a disabled spinner and like a lot of other commenters i love support spindle-ing with a little bowl! i can lounge on the couch and it is (for me) a similar level of energy as knitting, where drop spindle is wayyyy too much standing up. you could probably try with the spindle you have by flipping it upside down so the hook is on a little plate or bowl. there are lots of good youtube videos with tips, personally i am completely youtube taught. happy advent and good luck on trying new (and old) things!
Thank you for the recommendation! You've inspired me to keep trying :)
Crafts of Christmas’ past 😂
I giggled at that. 😂❤
@ same haha ❤️
Took me a little while to get there but I'm glad it was worth it!
You might try a small Turkish spindle like a Snyder spindle (or one similar) Look for one around 25g or so. That will be smaller than the standard ones, and easier to use in limited space.
I haven't slept well this week or decorated for christmas yet as well. 😅It seems like a nice with your parents overall though. Hopefully, you can get something figured out with spinning, or if it were my brain, wait a day and let it get fascinated by something new! 🐿 take care.
Thanks for your vlogmas videos, Claude! As a newish spinner who's only spun with a drop spindle so far, maybe you could try a supported spindle? They come with a little bowl that you rest on your lap and the spindle rests in the bowl, so you're not having to hold the weight of the spindle. I think it might be easier on your arms, though I've never tried one so I can't say from experience. Wishing you happy holidays :)
I loved seeing you decorate your tree with your family, it reminds me so much of how it goes at my house. HAHAHA- yes, we have some crafts from christmas past at my house as well. My favorite being a santa face that is made out of my traced hand as a child, on printer paper(flimsy, normal stuff)), colored with crayons (not well) and it has cotton balls glued to it. There are three of us children, so there are three of these ridiculous santa things.
Also- have you looked into supported spindles? I just made myself one out of a metal double pointed knitting needle and a little wooden apple I got from the craft store and had help drilling a hole through. I'm not great at it as I've just started- but you spin in a little bowl and make finer yarn. Its great for sitting in bed.
How funny, in my family the children ring a bell to call everyone to start handing out/opening presents on Xmas eve. The youngest are in charge of passing out the presents. Depending on who's house we're all at the bell could be an old California Mission bell (I don't know how my uncle got it, or if he is telling the truth), a cut glass bell, or a brass bell. I don't know what part of the family started the tradition (American mutt problems). 💜
can't hear Tennumbam without singing The Internationale
In catholic parts around south of Germany (Austria Switzerland etc) it is the Christkind (Jesus) who brings the gifts to the children. and not santa claus. Traditionally on christmas day, the mother is in the lining room, she decorates the 🌲 and puts the gifts under it. During that time the children are not allowed to go into the living room, some stay in the kitchen, some in the garden, some with the neighbours or the grandparents. Once the mother has finished (this might even take a few hours) she rings a little bell to indicate that the Christkind has been here and has brought the gifts. Children never see the Christkind. they wait very very impatiently for the ringing!
By the way: Santa Claus has been invented by Coca Cola in the 1930s. It was a merge of Holy Nikolaus (who brought gifts to the “good” children and his companion Knecht Ruprecht (who threatened to hit the “bad children” with his broom or even to take them with him in his big bag. Both had big beards, the first in a red or green cloak, the second in a black cloak. of corse all children are good and received some little gifts.
happy holidays from 🇨🇭
Late to the party, but I second some other recommendations to look into supported spindles. I spent a lot of time support spindling from bed or the couch with a newborn. I had a c-section and didn’t try the first few weeks of healing, but did manage just fine in later weeks while the incision was still healing and it was still hard to move about fully.
Spindle cushions are my favorite (Straddle Creek in the US on Etsy makes some). I’d recommend looking for a spindle that weighs less than 1 oz / 28 grams. Probably on the lighter like 20-25 grams. The heavier ones tire out your hands and fingers more, especially as you add more spun fiber. I’m in the US and haven’t had a chance to try many of the spindles outside of the US, but I do approve of and recommend Kravelli! (Just keep an eye on the weight if shopping their site.)
We had a little bell angel…I was raised Catholic and my Great Grandparents were German…sounds familiar…🤔
That angel bell decoration is wonderful and I love her 😍
So cute, where ever she came from!
The tree looks delightful!
Have you looked at a supported spindle?? It might be easier.
Thank you for sharing your Christmas season with us
It's been really lovely watching your vlogmas :)
About the spinning dilemma, maybe try a supported spindle? I do not have the same type of issues as you but I knew that I didn't want to stand or sit uncomfortably when spinning so I opted for a supported spindle and I loved it. Jillian Eve has a video where she makes her own DIY spindles out of fimo clay and wooden dowels, and her supported spindle is the one she ends up recommending, so it can be quite a low cost alternative to buying one and finding out it doesn't work out for you.
Hope you have a lovely rest of December
Thank you for the recommendation! I'll be sure to check out that video.
Those homemade ones are adoable 😍😍😍 slightly creapy but that make them adoable
They were on top form that day!
We have one of those bell things among our decorations, but would never have made the connection had you not mentioned it. I live in Hessen, the state which is more-or-less central in Germany. I've seen the Christkind referred to in local newspapers: she meets kids in supermarkets and asks them what they want for Christmas. What's always confused me is why the Christkind is a female. Surely, if the literal translation of 'Christkind' is 'Christ child' then they'd be a boy - and not necessarily blond?
I was also under the impression that Christkind was Jesus as a young boy but as I've looked into it, yes, they're often played by a girl? Maybe little boys couldn't be trusted to sit still and look angelic?
You should try and get a used EEW nano 2, if not new, I love mine! I had a traditional spinning wheel but it cost me way too much energy and couldn't continue spinning (spindles were also too much for hands). I got a nano 2 and I loved it so much, a year later I got a bigger e-spinner!
I'll keep my eyes out for one! Maybe some people might sell theirs if they get a bigger one as a gift.
@@RetroClaude I see them at times for sale in the facebook spinning groups, also a place to look :)
If you ring the christkindl one more time, I will be too deaf to tell you, yes it is a catholic german Thing. Atleast here in Bavaria its very very common. And by the way, I love your handmade christmas deco. And I think its soooo cool, that you post also stuff about chronic illness here, and I hope that doesnt sound weird, but I think its just really interesting. Also I love your Videos in general. I think im a little bit addicted.😂😂 And i love sagan. He is wonderful.❤❤❤
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Enjoyed going along to decorate your family's Christmas tree 🎄 I missed doing mine this year
You have beautiful decorations!!!
I would have decorated already but the spouse says it's "too early" in December still 🙄
What are you calling the little soldier men? My audio processing disorder isn’t letting me make heads or tails of it!
After you shared about the Christkind bell I got to wondering about an ornament tradition in my family… We hang a glass pickle on the tree and the first one to find it wins a prize! I always thought it was a German tradition, but the internet says it was a tradition started in the late 1800s by German-American immigrants!
I think you mean „die Nussknacker“ (the Nutcrackers). :)
The pickle thing is really not a „real“ german thing. I always wondered so hard why the internet believed that. But it could be like you said, german immigrants and then people started to think it must have come from germany.
I think it’s a northern English mum thing - my mum has what she calls ‘window side tree decorations’ where she puts all the things she doesn’t want to throw away, but also doesn’t want to see. Every year she pulls out all the things I’ve made since nursery, makes snide comments and hides them from view
That’s mean but also kinda cute 😅