Wichernkranz (©Wikipedia/Fretwurst) |
Here is the first Advent wreath conceived by Johann Hinrich Wichern. Read the full story here.
There is a charming nursery rhyme. My translation follows the German
principle for poets, "Reim dich oder ich fress dich (Rhyme or I will
eat you):"
That will not happen in my case. When
I bought the Advent wreath, I noticed a loose candle in my bag at the
checkout. The cashier asked, "Do you want to change the wreath? "
Well, I was in a hurry; my streetcar was not waiting, so I mumbled, "No, thank you," and left, ready to fix the loose candle later myself.
In the streetcar, I checked that the wreath had its four candles all right, but there was another fifth. I had an idea on the way to my daughter at the Katharinenstift.
She will not have a tree in her room for Christmas, so I will light the fifth candle for both of our joys on Christmas Eve.
Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt, Erst eins, dann zwei, dann drei, dann vier, Dann steht das Christkind vor der Tür. Doch Witzbolde dichteten weiter: Und wenn das fünfte Lichtlein brennt, Dann hast'e Weihnachten verpennt. |
Advent, Advent, a little light is burning, First one, then two, then three, then four, Then Christ Child will knock on the door. Funny people continued: And when the fifth candle is shining, You blew Christmas; you are whining. |
Well, I was in a hurry; my streetcar was not waiting, so I mumbled, "No, thank you," and left, ready to fix the loose candle later myself.
In the streetcar, I checked that the wreath had its four candles all right, but there was another fifth. I had an idea on the way to my daughter at the Katharinenstift.
She will not have a tree in her room for Christmas, so I will light the fifth candle for both of our joys on Christmas Eve.
P.S: A faithful reader made me aware that in a Lutheran tradition, Advent wreaths have four candles on the ring but an added fifth candle in the center. It is called the Christ candle to be lit at Christmas.
*
No comments:
Post a Comment