Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt / Christmas is coming, the goose...

(...has probably already met its end on St Martin's Day in November).

Advent is a proper season in Austria. Advent wreaths and Advent calendars have a strong presence even among those not involved in church activities. P, C and I followed their WG tradition of making "calendars" for one another - here is mine:

and this is P's:

At any rate, it feels much more acceptable to have lights in the street, decorations and mulled wine appearing from mid-November when you are celebrating Advent a little prematurely, rather than Christmas a whole month and a half in advance!

Given the conspicuous absence of the forecast snow, we made some  of our own:

And thanks to the Advent/Christmas/Seasonal party for the international students which we organised at work this week, we also have a Christmas tree (branch) as well as our Advent wreath!

Some post-Oxmas carol singing is in the works for the bank holiday on Monday. I have been loaned a Clavinova while I am here, Ianthe has brought Carols for Choirs and I think we have all voice parts among the Oxford-in-Vienna cohort - a little consolation for missing the Worcester carol service.

Clavinova!!!