This is our 3rd winter here in Germany. Too bad we've hardly got any snow this year with temperature reaching double digits towards the end of December, ala ala autumn pulak as compared to the last 2 years when the snow accumulated till knee high. Sungguh syok watching snow fall while sipping hot chocolate or coffee in front of the fireplace. Hopefully we'll have some snow later in January or February next year. Notwithstanding, Christmas came and went with much festivities for the Germans although the white Christmas remain only in the song.
The boots filled with chocolates, candies, mandarin oranges and small tokens was given by my colleague in conjunction with the German Sankt Nikolaus Day. In Austria, parts of Germany and Switzerland, Nikolaus is said to bring gifts for children on Nikolaustag on 6 December. On the evening of 5 December, children place a boot or shoe outside their bedroom doors, hoping that Nikolaus will fill it with presents.
We only had 1 day of snowfall and even then it was too warm for it to accumulate.
The entramce to the Christmas Market in Hannover
Cute chopping boards on sale at the Christmas Market
Decorative cookies on sale
Gluhwein is the traditional brew of hot wine combined with spices enjoyed by many at the Christmas Market. They have a non-alcoholic version for kids called the Kinder Punch made using apple juice and spices.
We were invited to Beate's house on the the last weekend before Christmas also called the 4th Advent when the last candle on the Advent wreath is lit up.
The Advent wreath with the 4 candles
Homemade Chrismas fare baked by Beate
This is the traditional German Bratapfel or Baked Apple which is normally baked during the "Adventszeit", the 4 weeks before Christmas. These had marzipans in the middle. 
Heavenly with generous pouring of custard sauce
The girls entertaining Beate's only child Robin....main dress-up dolls pun jadi la walaupun dah tua bangka....
These hedgehogs were found in Beate's garden and since they're still babies Beate was worried they would not be able to survive the winter so she took them in and keep them safe in her basement.
Melawat Ziad after his knee surgery
These Spare Ribs from an Iranian restaurant near Ziad's house are out of this world. Seriously! Sehingga menjilat jari! They came highly recommended by Ziad and Cik Tan and now we're hooked. Sanggup rasanya drive 3 jam ke tempat Ziad to have these again in the future.
Jaja completed her A1 German language course and these were her classmates
We made this to jamu Jaja's classmates as a sampling of Malaysian kueh and they loved them. Since kat sini the dapur is hotplate and may not heat the acu kueh cara well, these were baked in the oven.
