weihnachts pyramid

for our nightly christmas season entertainment
let us introduce the very popular
german tradition of
the weihnachts pyramid:
the christmas pyramid
always made of wood

and can be quite pricey. too

(thankfully this was a gift from a new friend)

you light the bottom with candles
and the candles' heat makes the top

and all of the people and scenes

on the various levels go round and round
the kids sit there mesmerised
and we usually sing this song
as i explain to them the 3 different levels:

the top: the ANGELS

angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o'er the plains
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains:

glo---ira, in excelsis deo(by the way, that means
glory to God in the highest!)

the middle: the SHEPHERDS

shepherds why this jubilee
why your joyous strain prolong
what the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?

a moment of pause:

jose's little eyes

wondering how the blades

go round and round

so beautifully...

come to bethlehem and see

him whose birth the angels sing

come adore on bended knee

christ the lord the newborn king

the bottom: JESUS in the MANGER

see him in a manger laid

whom the choirs of angels praise

mary, joseph, lend your aid

while our hearts in love we raise

glo---ria in excelsis deo

we actually had one of these growing up...my brother and i loved it as well! it brings back very happy memories...and now memories begin for jose and grace...