Happy Christmas from Basel (3)

And It Started on November 23rd

2017 is the 40th yer of the town's Christmas Market (Weinachtsmarkt) which is H-U-U-U-G-E. There are to sites - Barfüsserplatz has 156 stalls ...

... and Münsterplatz has only a modest 56!

The Christmas Lights in the "Old Town" are a delight ...

... and the programme leaflet is full of festive fun.

You can learn how to create your very own Christbaum Schmuck ...

 ... from Lebzlter and Zuckerbäcker. Sounds great fun! (see note 1 below).

Sadly we have all missed the Harley-Niggi-Näggi on Saturday 9th ...

... and, you guessed right; it is Santas riding their Harley Davidsons.

Frankly, the mind is utterly boggled.

So is No 3 son's tram-plus-wine-drinkers part of this farrago of festal fantasy?

Not directly; because the City tram operator runs a Christmas tram giving tours of the festive fun. Close inspection reveals that it, too, is ridden/driven by yet another Santigläuse.

It seems to offer tours of the lights and crowded streets, two round trips each evening.

But is most definitely isn't Birseckbahn tram No 12. In fact Basel has a collection of vintage vehicles, called, in impressive Swiss German (?) "Old-Timers".  The collection even includes a pig ...

... an open topper ...

... and our friend Birseckbahn No 12.

When No 3 son photographed the tram, complete with its wine drinkers ...

... he saw no evidence that it was carrying "normal passengers". His conclusion and fbb's was that it was a private hire job for a pre-Christmas party.

Unless anyone knows differently.

Zurich also runs a Christmas tram ...

... but an extra delight is the "Fondue Tram". fbb wonders what is on the menu?

Oh, yes; what a surprise!

Menü

Vorspeise:
• Bündner Vorspeisenteller      

Hauptspeise:
• Käsefondue     

Dessert:
• Schoggi-Traum: braunes und weisses Schoggimousse und Kaffee

Enjoy your Schoggi (Note 1) - enjoy the tram!

Note 1 : Enjoy guessing at ...
Schmuck
Lebzlter
Zuckerbäcker
Schoggi
... remembering that Swiss German often differs from German German.

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    ADVENT CALENDAR - 20     

Well, maybe not - but in Persia, an indeterminate number of Magi (wise men OR astrologers OR astronomers) are doing what wise men always did; they are scouring the skies for omens. Kings, who pay their wages, like to get advance warning of omens.

Matching their star charts to the skies, they notice a star which doesn't appear to have been mapped.

It seems to have just appeared. 

So out come the reference books, ancient texts and dusty scrolls and months of painstaking research follow. One of these documents has found itself into our Bible. Remember? It is the writing of the prophet Micah and it dates to around 800BC

The Lord says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.”

And another is from Malachi.

But for you who obey me, my saving power will be the Sun of Richteousness and bring healing. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall. 3 On the day when I act, you will overcome the wicked, and they will be like dust under your feet.

Collecting together their silly hats and saddling up their horses ...

 SPOILER ALERT 

... (Camels had not yet been domesticated) they set off on a long and possibly circuitous journey in a Westerly direction. It's Bethlehem, Bright Lights or Bust!

Of course, If we were in Basel this Christmas, enjoying the markets, lights and nosh, we might also have gone to a puppet show ...

... about the Holy (erm NOT believers in God) , Three (erm no number is ever given in the Bible account) Kings (erm Oh no they weren't!).

If you download the Basel Christmas leaflet, you will find no mention of the Birth of Christ in any of the events listed. Christmas, what Christ Mas? The only consolation is that the fun ends on December 23rd, leaving Basel folk to celebrate the REAL Christmas on 24th and 25th.

Perhaps?

But we must wait a while until the Magi get to Bethlehem. Whilst the shepherds are rushing down the hill to the stable/cattle shed/cave, we will look at some further examples of Christmas as "celebrated" elsewhere.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my bedside,

'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And take us to heaven

To live with Thee there

It may be an over simplistic Children's song - but the message applies to all ages.

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 Next Basel Christmas blog : Thursday 21st December