// 29. November 2022
Pre-Christmas greetings
December: a month full of festive traditions.
Advent means arrival. The four weeks before Christmas commemorate the arrival of Jesus Christ in this world some 2,000 years ago. The first of the four candles on the Advent wreath is already lit and with each Sunday, another candle follows - thereby symbolically illuminating the next of the four cardinal points.
This custom was coined in 1893 by Johann Hinrich Wichern. He designed a wreath with four large and 20 small candles for street children - who were cared for in the Rauhe Haus in Hamburg. This way, they could count the days until December 24 together!
The Advent calendar is another popular tradition: in 1903, an entrepreneur in Munich printed the first calendar with 24 squares on which children could stick colorful pictures. The pictures were eventually replaced with chocolate - and nowadays, adults and children alike make very creative Advent calendar creations of their own. Customs and holiday traditions are very powerful and unifying - for many they are linked to happy memories and give joy.
Especially now, when many seniors are exhausted after the long time of the pandemic and the news in the world - we wanted to give them a little joy with an Advent calendar again this year.
For this purpose, many helping hands packed many small loving packages and attached them to a string. Yesterday, our Live-To-Love-Care teams visited elderly citizens in Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.
For this purpose, many helping hands packed many small loving packages and attached them to a string. Yesterday, our Live-To-Love-Care teams visited elderly citizens in Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Some of them are currently living in challenging situations: Couples who have shared life together for decades have been spatially separated for health reasons - because private care was no longer manageable. Others no longer have any family members and live secluded lives.
Their way of dealing with everyday life deserves the utmost respect. Almost all of them are characterized by appreciating life in old age and enjoying the many "little" things: for example, when the great-grandchildren sing Advent carols on the phone or the dog wags its tail and asks to go for a walk together.
Their way of dealing with everyday life deserves the utmost respect. Almost all of them are characterized by appreciating life in old age and enjoying the many "little" things: for example, when the great-grandchildren sing Advent carols on the phone or the dog wags its tail and asks to go for a walk together.
Frieda B. revealed her life motto, with which she masters life:
"You should never bury humor, you should even take it with you to the cemetery."
We wish all the wonderful people we met yesterday a happy Advent season and much joy in unpacking!
Big thanks to all the volunteer members of Live To Love - you made such beautiful calendars and thanks to your love they glow even without candles!
With warm greetings
Your Live to Love Team
Your Live to Love Team
