On Christmas Eve in Germany
the rivers turn to wine,
the animals begin to speak
and fruit is borne on vines;
the mountains all reveal their gems
and church bells can be heard to ring
from underneath the sea-
Come, light the Christmas tree.
The Kristkind brings a gift for those
who have been good since Nikolaus
was by December sixth
to warn them that he might bring coal
and shake at them his switch.
Author notes
German translations:
Fröhliche Weihnachten = Merry Christmas
Kristkind = an angel figure who comes on Christmas Eve
Nikolaus = St. Nicholas, who comes earlier in the month to prepare the way
vintage illustration of Kristkind: http://www.renstore.com/currentad.asp
A contest entry
- Christmas by Darc Soul 69.
700 points, ended January 6, 10 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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I have spent
some wonderful months every two years in Germany. This year, God willling, we will travel as a family to Germany for our first Christmas. See you there! Frans
Ps
Oeps, forgot to say 'grats' on the win!
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Geeze, if I was there for Christmas, I'd be drunk, hehehe I so love the wine from the Mossel! I probably spelt that wrong, ah well you know where I mean
and I love the idea of the kristkind, very special it is. A beautiful pen, Happy New Year!
Blessings, Sandi 
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I really enjoyed reading this and especially like the idea of rivers turning into wine! Somehow the idea of a German Christmas seems incredibly appealing.
Nice one,
Bill
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i thank you for taking the time to enter this, makes me want to be in Germany to spend Christmas one year, I am also going to check out the link that you placed here as well. Silly me thought that Kristkind was " Santa Claus" but i was wrong thanks for the correct words so to speak, I thank you for entering and best of luck to you in the contest
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That was a really enjoyable poem!
The poems flows nicely with good rhyming and rhythm. Reading this made me smile because it captures the essence of what Christmas is about in Germany.
How was your Christmas?
I played Joseph this year in my church's "modern" version of the nativity play...
Thanks for sharing this!
Keep on writing!
Annie
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WOW Merry Christmas looks so different when written in german. This was a wonderful read and I enjoyed the imagery.
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