Is it Christmas already? Is it really Thursday today? I mean, WOW, six (sechs, six,έξι,sei,zes,seis) ladies today!
Emma, Christina, Sabrina, Angela, Cassandra & Shelby joined our chat on this slightly chilly day (I switched on the heating just a little).
Surprisingly though, we pretty much stuck to one main topic today - after crying a little about "Tako Ferry", we mainly discussed Christmas and other festive decorations and seasonal products. This started off with the chocolate I offered being a "seasonal limitation", to the fact that I'm still disappointed with Sapporo Beer for stopping their tasty brand called
"冬ものがたり" before the winter really kicking in (they started selling it about the end of September when it was still quite warm!). We discussed the fact that shops start their Christmas displays way too early, and that many of them are mopish (found a word for やる気なし). If they have to do it, they should do it right!

Some facts: In Germany, the Christmas tree will be placed in the house (usually living room) on the morning of the 24th of December, and lit for the first time on Christmas Eve. For children, the "Christmas room" is usually off limits after the parents (sometimes together with the kids) decorate it. Later, the "Santas" (aka the parents) place presents under the tree, and in the evening (usually after coming back from church), children would have to wait in their rooms while the parents put the "finishing touches" to the room, light the candles (or switch them on!), and finally "call" the children with the sound of a nice bell. The Christmas tree & other decoration usually stays displayed until the 6th of the new year.

(This description is of the way my parents used to stage it for my family, it is in no way to be understood as the norm)


This is a picture of our tree from last year - it's a live tree, and it's already waiting in the garden for this year's showtime, the third Eve in its live as a fir tree:




We had butter cookies again today, for "details" please check out Tuesday's posting, and had our tries at some western humor once more (I think ALL ladies cracked up!):




Well, once again, thanks for showing up in such a big number!

The "Master"

P.S. The anual Osaka German Christmas Market opens tomorrow below Osaka Sky Building. If you get there around 5 pm, you'll be able to see & hear pretty kids sing Christmas songs in German, English & Japanese!