About their own traditions and the family in the spotlight
My family is originally from Turkey. I grew up as a Muslim and yet we also celebrate Christmas. Although not a "typical" Christmas like most do, but our own personal Christmas. Over the years, we have developed our own tradition. That's why Christmas time is also very special to me.
Even as a child, my older brother and I always got presents at Christmas. We never had a Christmas tree, Advent wreath, etc., but gifts could not be missing on this day anyway. The joy was huge at that time. The older we got, the less the presents became, of course. Today, it is no longer the gifts that make our Christmas special, but the time we spend together with the family. Every year at Christmas there is a big family reunion. Aunts, uncles, cousins, everyone is present. Mandatory program! On this day there is a wide range of delicious food. There is a lot of laughing, talking and playing games.
New Year's Eve is also a day when the whole family gets together again and celebrates the New Year together. A few years ago, we started having Secret Santa with the whole family every Christmas. After dinner, the names are drawn and of course no one is allowed to reveal who they drew. On New Year's Eve, everyone gets to unwrap their gifts and has to guess who the gift is from. The gifts are small, but the joy is always great, just like when I was a child.
- Aylin, business apprentice in the 2nd year of her traineeship
It's not Christmas without fun and good food
For me, the Christmas season is the same every year: gathering the last presents much too late, baking cookies with the family, decorating the house for Christmas and, if possible, taking a trip to go sledding.
On Christmas Eve, my siblings, along with their family come to my parents' house. Around 6 p.m., we start preparing the raclette together. We set the table together and listen to Christmas music. After the meal follows the gift-giving. Small gifts go around and also my dog does not go empty-handed. Typical for my family are joke gifts - you come up with something funny and surprise the person with it. It makes you happy and puts you in a good mood. After dinner together, the board and card games are unpacked. Typical games on Christmas Eve are UNO and Halligalli.
On the second Christmas Day we all go together early in the morning to my grandma's house. There we prepare lunch together. We have the same thing every year. A tradition, so to speak. Homemade bread dumplings with roast turkey, red cabbage and iceberg lettuce. A little tip: Leftover bread dumplings taste even better the next day if you cut them into slices and fry them with clarified butter in a pan until golden brown. What also must not be missed is vanilla ice cream with hot raspberries for dessert.
- Magdalena, business apprentice in the 2nd year of her traineeship
Christmas Quiz
Correctly answer all the questions hidden in our Advent calendar and collect the letters for the solution word. From 22.12.2022 you have the opportunity to send us the complete solution word until 13.01.2023. Among all participants we will draw three winners who will receive a Christmas gift.
Which apprenticeship is NOT offered at Heraeus?
- Warehouse logistics specialist (A)
- Chemical laboratory technician (U)
- Glass apparatus technician (T)
- Office management (D)