There is one quote that every German knows when it comes to Christmas: “Früher war mehr Lametta.”

“In previous years was more tinsel.”

Loriot

NB: A slight awkwardness in the wording was intended by Loriot. He is also the author of a famous Christmas poem. It needs to be read at candlelight with a fire crackling in the hearth (please read at least to line 10 before you judge):

The night is blue, the little stars are blinking,
Little snowflakes descend quietly.
On Edeltännlein's green top
a small white corner accumulates.
And breaks through there from the window
the dark tann a warm light.
Kneeling in the forester's lodge by the candlelight
the forester in the men's room.
On this beautiful night
she killed the forester.
He cared for her in the home
has been very much in the way for a long time.
This is how she agreed with herself:
It has to be on St. Nicholas Eve.
And when the deer went to rest,
the little bunny closed his eyes,
killed them straight from the front
the husband above all else.
Awakened by the bang, only the rabbit sniffs
two, three, four times the sniff
and continues to rest sweetly in the dark,
meanwhile the little stars twinkle sweetly.
And in the living room inside,
the forester's blood runs from there.
Now the forester has to hurry

to divide the husband cleanly.
She quickly has him down to the bone
set off according to Waidmann's custom.
She places limb on limb with great care
(which the husband has avoided so far),
reserves part of the fillet
as a festive roast piece
and packs at the end, it goes to four,
the leftovers in wrapping paper.
From a distance it sounds like silver bells,
You can hear dogs barking in the village.
Who is it in such a deep night?
still making his rounds in the snow?
Knecht Ruprecht comes with a golden sleigh
rode up on a deer!
»Hey, good woman, do you still have things?
bring joy to poor people?”
The forester's house is covered in deep snow,
but his wife is already ready:
»The six packages, holy man,
'Tis all I can give."
The silver bells ring softly,
Knecht Ruprecht sets off on his journey.
The candle burns in the forester's house,
a little star blinks - it's Advent.

Darkness falls, the stars are twinkling,
Snowflakes falling, crystals blinking,
And on the tip of every tree,
A little heap of snow you see.
From yonder house on this dark night,
Through darkened pine wood shines a light.
The woodman's wife kneels by the bed
With candle burning next to her head.
For on this still and holy night,
When evil things are put to flight,
The goodly woman slew her swain
(He died in moments – without pain).
She often found him in the way
Of household tasks from day to day,
So she decided in her need,
On Christmas Eve to do the deed.
And as the fawn laid down its head,
And tired rabbits went to bed,
She split her spouse from tip to toe
Using her trusty garden hoe.
Tho' waking, the timid hare,
Sleeping till then without a care,
Returned at once to his repose,
Twitching his soft and furry nose.
Within the cottage, small and lowly,
The woodman's life-blood tricks slowly.
The wife must now be in deep December,

Without delay you dismember.
As expert in the hunter's art,
She deftly cuts the corpse apart,
And trimly lays the joints of meat,
(Unlike her man who wasn't neat),
In tidy piles - from west to east
Except a steak for next day's feast.
Six pieces wrapped up lovingly,
She lays beneath the Christmas tree.
The sound of bells comes from afar,
In heaven shines a single star,
The village dogs all bark in fear
Who can it be on this deep night,
Making his way through ice and snow,
With such a lonely way to go?
It's Santa coming on his way,
With packets loaded on his sleigh!
“Good woman, have you presented here,
To bring the poor and hungry cheer?”
Although her house is deep in snow,
The woodman's wife doesn't say “No”.
“I have six parcels holy man,
No more – that is the best I can”.
The sleigh bells jingle sweet and low,
As Santa turns away to go,
The candles shed their warming light,
The stars are twinkling - it's Christmas night.

_{NB: Apparently, the author’s daughter has approved of this translation.}

Wedneday Quotes: Holiday Memories

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