There are professions that need to be performed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the entire year. Besides doctors, firefighters, or police officers, caregivers for the elderly are often away from home during holidays. This is even more challenging for those who work abroad.
Are you also working as a caregiver and facing, perhaps for the first time, Christmas spent away from home? This article is dedicated to you, as an expression of gratitude for what you do. Today, we will share ideas on how to best cope with the sadness of separation and enjoy the Christmas holidays. We will also talk a little about German Christmas traditions, which, like ours, vary from family to family. At the end of the article, you will find vocabulary on the topic of Christmas, which will be especially useful for those of you traveling abroad for the first time.
Caregiving During Christmas
Often, a caregiver becomes so close to the client that they begin to see them as a member of their own family and decide to care for them even during the Christmas period, at the expense of meeting their own relatives. Despite this, a situation may arise where the joy of helping is replaced by the sadness of separation. How can this sadness be alleviated?
- Bring a photograph of your family with you. When you feel down, looking at your relatives will surely encourage you.
- Call your loved ones during the holidays. In many families today, internet access is available, allowing you to make calls, including video calls, with your loved ones.
- Prepare a dish that you enjoy eating at Christmas. Besides the traditional dinner for the client, prepare some of your favorite dishes to remind you of home.
- Plan as few duties as possible on Christmas Eve. Of course, you are spending Christmas at work, but some duties can be done earlier or postponed according to importance, so you can also enjoy the magic of the holidays.
Christmas Traditions in Germany
In Germany, Christmas, known in German as Weihnachten, is celebrated in a similar spirit as in Slovakia. Just like in Slovakia, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have a tradition of Christmas markets. Originally, these markets were established to supply people for the winter. German children, like ours, eagerly await the arrival of St. Nicholas to see if he leaves any sweets in their boots on the window, and they also look forward to the arrival of the Christ Child and his gifts under the Christmas tree.
The first and second Christmas holidays are spent similarly to ours, with a festive lunch and visiting relatives.
If you have not yet spent Christmas abroad, you might find the vocabulary related to this topic useful:
s Weihnachten Christmas
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
celebrate celebrate
Advent Season Advent Time
First Advent First Advent Sunday
St. Nicholas Day St. Nicholas Day
Christmas Eve December 24 – Christmas Eve
Christmas Day December 25 - First Christmas Holiday
St. Stephen's Day December 26 - Second Christmas Holiday
Mr. Silvester December 31 - Silvester
Mr. New Year's Day January 01 - New Year
r Dreikönigstag January 06 - Epiphany
r Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas markets
r Weihnachtsbaum Christmas tree
Mr. Tannenbaum fir
gift (-s) present
wrapping paper gift paper
Gift Exchange exchange of gifts
Advent Calendar advent calendar
the Nursery nursery
Santa Claus Baby Jesus (the one who brings gifts)
Christmas Decorations Christmas ornaments
Christmas Carol carol
Bell (-s) bell
the Christmas bauble Christmas ball
the Christmas angel Christmas angel
the Garland garland
the Snow snow
e Schneekugel snow globe
r Schneemann snowman
the Candle (-s) wreath
the Star star
the Ribbon ribbon, bow
the Fireplace fireplace
r Schornstein chimney
r Honig honey
e Wurst sausage
s Wein wine
s Glühwein mulled wine
e Sauerkrautsuppe sauerkraut soup
Mr. Lebkuchen gingerbread
We hope you have a peaceful holiday season, whether at home or working in caregiving, and that we meet again in the next edition of our blog, the last one still in the year 2021. Happy Holidays! ALSES team.