The rainbow never sets

After a some intense waiting, we heard the tone of a small, high pitched bell, ringing vigorously for a brief time, and then there was silence again.

Sometimes, to heighten our expectations, if that was possible, Mutter or Vater would open one door to the christmas room when all was dark and we were allowed to take a deep breath and smell all those delicious smells of Christmas: the fir tree, the candle wax, christmas biscuits and chocolates and all the rest.

Finally, Christmas Eve arrived. It was 3 pm. "Children, are you all ready for church? We are going in five minutes. Have a look if Franz is already standing outside with the sleigh. And put your fur coats on, it will be cold."

As usual, we were ready before our parents, all wrapped up and eager to go into the cold winter afternoon. Franz was waiting, both horses were harnessed with their jingle bells, and I saw he also had the lanterns ready with the candles, for our homeward journey.

When we were all wrapped up in sheepskin blankets, Franz made a sound with his whip and the sleigh moved silently through the snow. Had it not been for the bells, no one would have known that there was a vehicle on the road. It took us half an hour to get to St ŝeszew.

The church was decorated with a christmas tree, on which lots of candles had been lit. By then it was already getting dark, but there were so many candles that it seemed like daylight to us.

We sang lots of carols. The familiar christmas story from Luke's Gospel was read. Some brief words addressed to all, us children included. Another carol was sung, and we were on our way home. A few stars appeared in the slowly darkening sky. I was wondering, which one it had been, that had pointed the way to the manger.

Back at home we could hardly contain our excitement. We assembled in the lounge with Mutter. We were sitting in the dark. Vater had mysteriously disappeared. Through the key hole we could see some light. Then we heard the gramophone play: "Ihr Kinderlein kommet" (Come, all ye children).

The double door opened. There, before our eyes, was the most wonderful christmas tree, brightly lit with lots and lots of flickering candles, lametta (tinsel), some coloured glass balls, and the branches laden heavily with what looked like snow. Under one of them was a low table with the nativity scene. There we saw the moss and stones we had brought in a couple of days earlier, the moss as grass for the sheep, and the stones as rocks, surrounding a pool of water. On top of one of them stood an angel, who announced to the shepherds the birth of the Saviour. Above this angel, hanging on the branch of the tree, was the 'great army of heaven's angels'. Under another branch was the stable with Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, together with the ox and donkey. More shepherds, but no wise men, it was strictly according to Luke's Gospel.

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