Hohenbrunn's special advent calendar: A raven explains Christmas customs
Created: 12/19/2022, 06:30 am
By: Stefan Weinzierl
The blue raven Johannes is the mouthpiece for Sabine Blöchinger in the Hohenbrunn Advent calendar.
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The living advent calendar in Hohenbrunn has been organized by Sabine Blöchinger for 15 years - and helps many to switch off from the pre-Christmas stress.
Hohenbrunn
- In Andorra and Catalonia, there is a widespread custom in December that families "feed" a dead log with nuts, bread, vegetables or fruit until it "poops" presents for Christmas.
You can find out what the Caga Tió and other strange-looking Christmas traditions like the Finnish Christmas sauna and the Spanish Christmas lottery are all about with the Hohenbrunn Advent calendar.
people make contacts
It has been organized by Sabine Blöchinger for 15 years now - and for many Hohenbrunners it is the opportunity to switch off from the pre-Christmas stress for half an hour.
"At a time when you're actually more isolated, people consciously go out and make contacts.
This gives them something else to think about and they can recharge their batteries,” says the 55-year-old.
The former pastor Christoph Nobs introduced the living advent calendar to the parish of St. Stephen 20 years ago and initially directed it himself.
Later, the organization was "creepingly" transferred, as Blöchinger puts it, from the full-time employees to the laypeople.
The task ultimately got stuck with Blöchinger.
She has shaped the Advent gatherings of praying, singing, pausing, and chatting in ways she finds most appealing.
23 families and a blue raven are the hosts
As the parish council chairwoman of St. Stephanus emphasizes, the Christian background of the daily meetings in December is always obvious: "After all, Advent and Christmas are a topic of the Church." An Our Father is prayed in any case and at the end there is a blessing.
However, they do not want to proselytize anyone at the meetings and the meetings are open to all citizens: "It doesn't matter what denomination you have or whether you are non-denominational."
There are 23 host families each year, where people meet one day at a time at 5:30 p.m.
There, a window is usually decorated with the calendar number, and according to Blöchinger, the Advent wreath is always included.
Just like the blue raven Johannes, a hand puppet that has become the mascot of the Hohenbrunn Advent calendar and is particularly popular with the little ones.
He leads through the evening together with Sabine Blöchinger.
In the half hour, we pray together, sing and read Christmas stories - or, as this year, we talk about Christmas customs from other countries.
Christmas customs from other countries
Afterwards there is a cozy get-together.
The host families often serve mulled wine, punch and cookies, but this year the participants were also served local specialties, depending on which Christmas tradition was presented in which country.
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"In Mexico, for example, we got punch with tequila, in Spain we got the special fruit cake," says Blöchinger, who appreciates the integrative character of her advent calendar.
Just like the participants.
Between 20 and 100 visitors come every evening.
"And as long as the people come," promises Blöchinger, "Johannes and I will also be there." STEFAN WEINZIERL
About the series:
Until December 24th, the Munich Merkur will open Advent doors under the motto "Glory of light in Advent".
People are presented who provide enlightening moments or bring light into the darkness
.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Munich district newsletter.
