Glass Dreidel

Wait a minute – what is a dreidel doing in the middle of Christmas ornaments? Isn’t this a thing for Hanukkah?

Yes – yes it is. A dreidel is a 4-sided top used in a traditional game of chance played during the 8-night celebration of Hanukkah. It has become one of the symbols of this holiday. Sarah, who has Jewish roots and loved to play dreidel, is greatly amused that there is a dreidel Christmas tree ornament. When she was little, December was both Christmas (strictly secular–she didn’t actually know the Christmas story until she was about 6) and Hanukkah. Though the Hanukkah celebration included a gift for each night, what she remembers most is lighting the menorah, an 8-branched candelabra plus one spot for the shamash, the candle used to light the others. She remembers with great clarity the large Star of David menorah that her father carved from styrofoam when she was little. It held full-size candles that made the blue foil on the Star of David shimmer. Each night one of her parents would say a special prayer and then light the candles – one the first night, two the second – until all 8 were lit on the final night. This ornament is a link between Hanukkah and Christmas, both of which we celebrate, and which does continue to include games of dreidel.

Historical Notes: Hanukkah (there are more than 16 English spellings of this Hebrew word, with Hanukkah being the most widely used in the US, followed closely by the more traditional Chanukah) is a Jewish holiday that begins on the 25th day of Kislev on the Jewish calendar. This date falls between Nov 28th and Dec 27th on the Gregorian calendar, which is why, to most of us, it doesn’t seem to have a consistent date. Hanukkah, also called the Miracle of Lights, commemorates the reclamation and re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. There was enough holy or consecrated oil available to burn in the temple lantern for only one night. Miraculously the oil burned for 8 nights, which is why there are 8 nights of Hanukkah. If you are interested in knowing more about this holiday, there are many resources available on line.

Christmas in Germany is a magical time of year. One of our favorite things to do while we were stationed there was to go to the Weihnachtsmarkt or Christmas Markets. In the south of Germany these are also called Christkindlmarkt. Most towns in Germany will have a market in the month of December, some very small and some quite large and famous like the one in Nuremburg. They are temporary markets, usually set up in a town square, and consist of booths or stalls that sell a variety of gifts, foods, and drinks, many of which are available only during the Christmas season. The markets open in late November or early December and most are closed before Christmas Eve. Each city or town sets their own dates and times. Markets usually open around lunch time and close around 9 or 10, with festive lights adding to the ambiance after dark. Crisp, cold evenings and maybe even a little snow add to the charm.

Wurst (sausages), kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) served with applesauce or sour cream, fresh roasted chestnuts, and other foods are served in large quantities from small stalls. Kartoffelpuffer were one of our favorites, and roasted chestnuts both tasted good and kept our hands warm. Others, like preserved meats, candies, and cookies can be eaten on the spot ot taken home. The most well-known drink is Gluhwein, a mulled wine served warm, with an alcohol-free version called Kinderpunsch for children. I really like that one, but my favorite was warm honigmilch – honey milk. The best honigmilch I had was at the Heidelberg market, right near the stable with a live donkey and sheep. There is an amazing array of cookies – gingerbread, almond hearts, zimtstern (cinnamon stars). Layden’s favorite was anything with marzipan, a sweet paste made with finely ground almonds and sugar. It can be an ingredient in a cookie or cake, or be molded into shapes like fruits or animals.

Gift stalls most often sell traditional crafts, especially ones made from wood like this small St Nicholas ornament. Items that originated in the Erzgebirge region are very popular, such as nutcrackers and pyramids – the carousels, usually 3-tiered, that turn when candles create warm air that turns the blades at the top. One of our favorites was the honey stall in Mainz, which sold many kinds of honey along with beeswax candles. Our favorite place for preserved meats and sausages (summer sausage, pepperoni, etc) was Mannheim. This stall sold delicious sausages with an outer casing of festive Christmas designs. They made great gifts.

We miss the Christmas markets!

This charming straw ornament was picked up years ago by Sarah in Santa Fe, NM. It has proven to be remarkably sturdy over the years, and has been witness to many memorable Christmases, including the one that we call the QVC Christmas. It was the year one of the grandmothers, who happened to be a huge fan of shopping on QVC (Quality Value Convenience – a television shopping show) sent some very memorable gifts.

The boys each got a pocket knife. These were grand multi-tool knives, Swiss Army knock-offs that included among other things a corkscrew, a screwdriver, a tiny saw, and 2 knife blades. Sounds reasonable but – ALL of the boys got the pocket knife, including the 5-year old. To make matters worse, the knife blades were dull and wouldn’t stay in the locked position, unlike the corkscrew which seemed to perpetually be in the locked position.

Each of the girls, including the 3-year old, got a Vanna White doll, 11.5 inch Barbie knock-offs of the hostess for the popular game show “Wheel of Fortune”, that came with an array of evening gowns and teeny tiny shoes. Initially appealing, issues quickly became apparent. First, the very small snaps were hard to manipulate, especially for the youngest. This issue resolved itself quickly as the snaps became detached but created the new issue of the dresses not staying on. The shoes wouldn’t stay on either. But the worst was that the heads kept popping off, which distressed the 3-year old to tears.

It was quite a morning – little shoes and doll heads littering the carpet, boys eager to find something – anything – including chair legs, to whittle with a knife too dull to cut butter, a crying toddler. Most years this same grandmother sent very suitable gifts for the children. I can’t remember any of them.

Historical note: Why QVC? This was before Amazon, which started in 1995 when Jeff Bezos began selling books on-line from his garage. In 1997 he expanded and began to sell other items. Humble beginnings for what is now a massive worldwide online retailer.

This ornament commemorates the release of the 2001 New York state quarter. In 1999 the US Mint began issuing commemorative quarters – 5 per year – for the 50 states. 2001 included New York. Ironically, this was also the year when the US was attacked and New York City lost the Twin Trade Towers on September 11th, now referred to as 9/11. At the time we were stationed in Mannheim, Germany, but Layden was actually back in the United States at Fort Jackson, South Carolina for military training – advanced Chaplain School. We had very different experiences of that day. Our post in Germany was on high security alert – very limited access to post -essential personnel only. Those of us living on post were instructed to stay on post. So, I spent the time in our quarters, watching the towers fall again and again on the news and waiting to hear from Layden. He watched the events unfold on the TV in his classroom. Everyone there knew that whatever happened next, it would include a significant military response. Some people became very worried. Layden was concerned about what might happen next, but he stayed calm, which is what he usually does in a crisis – a big advantage for a Chaplain. As a military spouse, I too knew that our lives would be very different going forward, and that I had no control over what might happen next. When we hang this ornament on the tree we think about how things can change in an instant. It reminds us to plan ahead but also to live in the moment. Each day is a gift that we should open with care and intention.

The Nutcracker, Clara, and the Mouse King

More about nutcrackers: In 1816, a German writer named E.T.A. Hoffmann became enchanted with the nutcrackers being made in the Erzgebirge region of Germany. Hoffmann was a fantasy and Gothic horror writer. In 1816 he decided to write a story about a nutcracker, a girl named Clara, and the king of all the mice and what happened one Christmas Eve. He called it “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” Though intended for children, the original story had some scary, maybe even creepy parts. In 1844, Alexander Dumas re-wrote the story to be more child-friendly. This version inspired Pyotr Iliych Tchaikovsky to compose his very famous ballet, The Nutcracker, which premiered in 1892. Though it is a cherished tradition now, it gained popularity slowly. The first performance outside of Russia was in England in 1934. It premiered in the United States in 1944 in San Francisco, and in Australia in 1963. By now, the ballet is well-known and has become a tradition in many cities during the month of December. The music is a familiar staple of the Christmas season. It is also one of the reasons that nutcrackers have become popular worldwide.

When I was about 7, I began taking ballet lessons. I very much wanted to dance in The Nutcracker but had to wait until my second year. I wanted to be Clara but wasn’t old enough – Clara is a role that is usually done by girls between 11 and 14. The closest I got was to be a cat. I wore a black and white leotard with silver sequins on the front, a black tutu, and a pair of brand new pink ballet slippers. I also got to have very glamorous glitter eye shadow and glitter in my hair. I was on stage for about 2 minutes in only one matinee, which was really a student recital for selected portions of the ballet and practice time for the orchestra. None of this really mattered – with my costume, the lights, the music, and an audience (mostly parents) I felt like a real ballerina! It was a memorable experience and for the next couple of years I was certain I would be a dancer. This was replaced by an obsession with horses, camping and backpacking, and bowling. Yup – even won a trophy.

Mix and Match Nutcracker has been a favorite ornament over the years. It is the one most often removed from the tree because it is great fun to mix up the heads and bodies of the four different nutcrackers. The first actual nutcrackers were simple mechanisms for-you guessed it-cracking nuts. Way back when if you wanted to eat nuts you had to crack them open yourself – no such thing as buying them in a bag or a jar. The tradition of the Christmas nutcrackers that we are familiar with began in the late 17th century in the Erzgebirge region of Germany which is a mining area. In the winter it would often be too cold and snowy to work in the mines so, to keep busy, the miners turned to whittling and carving wood from the thick forests. Utilitarian nutcrackers became figures of all sorts and were prized as gifts. Kings and soldiers were very popular then, as they are today. They gradually became associated with Christmas because they were most often made and exchanged in the winter. Eventually, they became so popular in other parts of Germany that a new industry – nutcracker production – became an economic mainstay of the region, allowing the nutcracker to spread to other countries in Europe. American soldiers returning to the United States often brought home nutcrackers, making them popular in the US and a symbol of the Christmas season. Though the early nutcrackers were utilitarian, most nutcrackers made today are made as decorations and do not actually crack nuts.

While we were in Germany, we replaced our inexpensive American nutcrackers with several very nice ones that were made in the Erzgebirge region. We have two Saint Nicholas, 1 large and 1 medium, and 3 soldiers, small, medium, and large. We thought we would have a favorite one, but we don’t. We like them all and enjoy putting them on our fireplace mantle during the Christmas season.

Layden was the Brigade Chaplain for the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Most of his time in this assignment was spent on a 15-month deployment to Iraq, November 2007-January 2009. This particular period is called The Surge, and was a time when troop presence in Iraq was increased. His unit was stationed outside Saudr City, a suburb of Baghdad, at Forward Operating Base(FOB) Loyalty , which at the time was a dangerous place to be. Sarah, of course, did not go with him. Instead, she stayed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, our assigned duty station. The closest family was about 7 hours away and none of our children were living with us at that time, so it could get pretty lonely. Lucky for her, she had good friends – some near, some far – that offered lots of support and encouragement. Thanksgiving of 2008 two of her friends, one in Vermont and the other in Massachusetts, invited her for the holiday. This seashell garland was a gift from the friend who lives in near Boston. Each fall, she goes to the beach and collects shells which she strings with beads and makes into garlands. That year, she took Sarah with her to gather shells on a cold Atlantic beach, the waves winter green and frothy. Her friend made a garland with those shells and sent it for Christmas. Every time it goes on the tree, we think of good friends who knew how to lend support during a difficult time, and of our gratitude that Layden was able to return home sound in mind and body. Both of these blessings bring great joy.

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. In general Protestant religions, Advent Sundays anticipate the weeks before Christ’s birth through worship services focused on the events preceding Christ’s birth, including reading scripture, singing Christmas hymns and carols, and lighting candles – one for each Sunday arranged in a wreath (flat – on a stand or table) and one large candle in the center, the Christ candle, for Christmas Eve.  Each week highlights a theme: Hope (Week 1), Peace (Week 2), Joy (Week 3), and Love (Week 4). Participating in these services was one of our favorite parts of serving in the Chaplaincy.

This angel carrying a candle is made of stained glass by an artist named Salli Hapner. Salli had a workshop at a small, charming amusement park called The North Pole, located near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sarah first went to the North Pole when she was about eleven. Workshops at the North Pole are set up so that visitors can watch the artisans at work. Sarah was fascinated by the process of stained glass, often forgoing rides on the carousel or ferris wheel to watch Salli work. When she saw this angel, she really wanted it. The price was $2.oo. Though that price seems low today, it was equal to about $18.00 in 2025 money. At 25 cents a week for allowance, that was a long time for an eleven-year old to save! Many years later when we were stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, Sarah was able to take classes in stained glass, something she still likes to do. She traces her interest back to those summer afternoons watching Salli turn bits of lead and glass into luminous treasures.

December 6th is the feast day of Saint Nicholas, a 4th century early Christian bishop known for his generosity, kindness to children, and secret gift-giving. Many countries in Europe, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Ukraine, celebrate this day. The most common way is for children to place their shoes near the door on the evening of December 5th, hoping that Saint Nicholas will leave them chocolates, fruit or nuts, and maybe a small gift. Some children leave a carrot or some hay in their shoes for Saint Nicholas’ horse. Sound familiar? This is because the Saint Nicholas of Europe is the basis for the Santa Claus of America. “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.” is a line from the story poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement-Clarke Moore. First published in New York in 1823, it helped to popularize Santa Claus. We know the story best by the title “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Saint Nicholas in Europe is usually thinner than our Santa and wears a red cloak and black boots. We found this ornament in Germany. It is made from salt clay using an old cookie press or cookie stamp, a wooden tool with a carved design to press onto rolled out cookie dough. Once all the dough was pressed with the design, it was cut around each one to make individual cookies, decorated with egg white “paint” tinted different colors, and baked. There are some bakeries in Germany that make cookies this way during the Christmas season. When we hang the ornament on the tree, we want one of those cookies!

Fort Hood, Texas was our first active duty station after Layden was commissioned as an Army Chaplain in 1995. We were there for a total of 4 years. One year Layden decided it would be great fun to set up our video camcorder to record the kids opening presents Christmas morning. He put it on a tripod facing the tree. Of course we were all in pajamas – new because we always get new pajamas Christmas Eve. The boys had no problem with the whole thing. For us girls it was a different matter. We stayed well behind the camera as much as possible. When it was our turn to get a present we would dart in and back as quick as we could. The video was a combination of gleeful boys and blurry flannel nightgowns. Bluebonnets, the Texas state flower, don’t bloom in winter, but we are happy to have them bloom with good memories on our tree every Christmas.

Historical note – No cell phones back then that could take pictures, let alone videos. Mobile phones were slightly smaller than a regular phone handset and could make and receive calls. Just that – nothing else. Video capability on cell phones wasn’t commercially available until about 2002, and was not a standard feature of phones.