This year on the 23rd we went to a friends house, who lives right below a ski hill (part of the alps). On the 24th he always does the ski patrol (rescue) for the ski hill. So on the 23rd night we took the ski lift up to the top of the hill and spent the night in a little hut up in the alps.
Then on the 24th Katy was going to do some skiing with a friend with the skis she rented but the weather was warm and there was so much fog you couldnt see more than about 10 feet in front of you. So on the 24th (the day they celebrate Christmas here in Europe) we hung out on the mountain for most of the day - did a little walking around but couldnt see too much.
Then in the afternoon, right before we were going to go down the mountain the fog lifted a little and Katy was able to ski down the mountain.
Even though her legs were a little tired at the bottom she said she had an awesome time skiing down one of the alps.
Then at night we went over to our friends parents house for dinner and present opening. In Austria in addition to decorating the tree like we do with ornaments and garland, over here they put chocolates on the tree. And they dont decorate the tree and put presents under it right away as soon as they get the tree home - they decorate it, with candy and ornaments (also candles and sparklers), on the 24th and put the presents underneath it at that time as well. They tell the kids they need to leave the room the tree is in until they are called back in. Then the parent puts the candy, the other decorations, the candles and the sparklers on the tree and just before they tell the kids they can come in they put the presents under the tree and light the sparklers and the candles. (when they let the kids in they say they Kriskind - Christ child - has come) Now you're probably wondering like I was how/why the tree doesnt start on fire. The Christmas trees they have here arent quite like ours back - where they are so full and without a lot of space inbetween each branch.
Here the trees have more space and the branches that sitck out a little further than the others or that have some space inbetween are the ones that get the candles and the sparklers.
Then on the 27th we got to celebrate Christmas with some other friends and learned a few other traditions that some families do: before the kids leave room when the tree is going to be lit they sing silent night and recite a little poem/skit about Mary and Joseph trying to find a room at an inn. We got to do this and even though didnt understand all the German - we still enjoyed being a part of it.
Even though we didnt get to celebrate Christmas with family and it was very hard not being home, it was nice that we had some friends to celebrate Christmas and have a good time with.
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