Celebrating the coming of lighter days, a photo from Schleswig-Holstein, West

Photographer's Note

The period between the first week in December and the first week in January could well be called the "dark days" for the mid-northern latitudes. The day with the least amount of daylight is the winter solstice which occurs during the coldest season of the year. Although winter was regarded as the season of dormancy, darkness and cold, the coming of lighter days brought on a more festive mood. Many cultures have long celebrated this turning point, in ancient Rome the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, while the feast of Juul or Yule was celebrated in pre-Christian Scandinavia.

Today we celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25th. Since the date of Christ's actual birth had not been recorded, a strong theory suggests that this date was chosen by the church because it aligned closely with the a.m. major pagan festivals, thus allowing the church to claim a new celebration for Christianity.

The photo was taken at a Christmas market which took place at Saxtorf Manor House near Eckernförde a week ago. These fairs, which date back to the 14th century, originally provided food for the cold winter season, but soon the markets became a beloved tradition to get into a Christmas mood.

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to all TE members and your families. For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, may I wish you and your families a “Happy End of December”!

snunney, saxo042, shevchenko, kordinator, holmertz, jlbrthnn, jhm, pajaran, rodgerg, adramad, fanni, Charo, paololg, Vasa, Royaldevon, Ricx, delpeoples, Cricri, Buin, axiotea, ines8, Sonata11, jester5, danos, ikeharel, skippy007, COSTANTINO, maloutim has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snunney (67254) 2011-12-19 4:32

Hello Harriet,
A well conceived composition where the red and white Xmas decoration makes a really eye-catching focal point. Well exposed with just enough detail to be discerned in the shadow areas. I like the detail in the frosted windows.

Bluejeans (64221) 2011-12-19 5:07

Ola Harriet,
Bonita composição de natal com esta decoração de velas e vegetação junto a esta janela , gostei do efeito criado , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Bom Natal

saxo042 (31794) 2011-12-19 11:21

Hi Harriet,
A very peaceful and pleasant scene. It feels very "universal" to celebrate that the sun is turning back and the days are becoming longer again.
Kind regards
Gunnar

batalay (32846) 2011-12-19 13:14

Hello dear Harriet,

There appears to be frost on the window, creating a translucent backdrop for the the Christmas decorations. This is an excellent still life for a wonderful time of year. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Warmest Regards,

Bulent

divail (7211) 2011-12-19 19:08

Bonsoir Harriet,
C'est une jolie composition, où la décoration est discrète mais pleine de charme.
Joyeux Noël à vous aussi.

Diane

shevchenko (18243) 2011-12-20 0:42

Hi Harriet,
Nice Christmas' decorations in front of the window, I like the old wooden window and outdoor view too, creative frame, thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas.
Ally

kordinator (13411) 2011-12-20 1:39

Dear Harriet
A very attractive composition.
Impressive Chrismas decoration details on the window.
Perfect light managment,lovely colors.
Nice atmospheric mood.
We divided the calendar but when people celebrate and glorify God, they should do so with joy.
Merry Christmas to you to any holiday to celebrate the date at you.
Great job.
Warm regards
Saša

holmertz (26900) 2011-12-20 7:16

Hello Harriet,
Staying inside, looking out at the wet and cold world seems to be the thing to do these days. This cosy picture may, at least indirectly, help me keep warm during this unpleasant time of the year. Some of the details on the inside of the window get lost in the darkness.
Kind regards,
Gert

jlbrthnn (79773) 2011-12-20 7:21

Hello Harriet,
I love this picture highly symbolic and very beautiful. the winter and cold are outside, the warmth and joy are inside. Beautiful poetic picture.
I wish you a Merry Christmas!
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

wolf38 (28146) 2011-12-20 7:30

Hallo Harriet. Die Zimmer sind festlich geschmückt und Weihnachten kann kommen. Vor dem Fenster entfaltet sich der Schmuck sehr schön. Vor allem das leuchtende Rot wirkt stimmungsvoll. Mit diesem Photo ist Dir ein kleines und feines Meisterwerk gelungen. Viele Grüße, Wolfgang.

carper (96) 2011-12-20 7:37

very nice time Harriet
a fine moment, the low light is nice here and the composition is nice, the dark day before X-mas are there good photo job.
regard jaap

bema (25936) 2011-12-20 8:23

Hallo Harriet,

eine sehr schöne Aufnahme und, wie immer, dazu passend ein sehr informativer Begleittext.
finde das Bild passt hervoragend in die momentane Jahreszeit..

auch Dir schöne Weihnachten..

Gruß Bernd

peppe59 (14547) 2011-12-20 8:28

Ciao Harriet,
complimented by a beautiful Christmas-themed pictures, excellent management of light, very original.
Merry Christmas and a Happy day
peppe

Nicou (97583) 2011-12-20 8:34

Hello

super captage et compo ces belle décoartions rouge devant la fenêtres, grandisoe iamge et cpatage, merveilleux.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

fds (5301) 2011-12-20 8:54

a very nice image for celebrating the coming of lighter days
very nice atmosphere

jhm (122366) 2011-12-20 10:18

Hello Harriet,

Christmas is one of the most beautiful period of the year during the winter.
Also are it dark and short days.
These picture is truly a image these time.
Excellent composition.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

claudeD (24173) 2011-12-20 10:20

Hallo Harriet,

Das ist wirklich eine wunderschoene Aufnahme welche herrlich in die Adventszeit passt.Guter Bildaufbau und wieimmer eine hervorragende Note zum Bild.Ich wuensche dir und deiner Familie ein besinnliches Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch ins Jahrv2012!

Mit den besten Gruessen ausvLuxemburg

JC

siudzi (23837) 2011-12-20 12:56

Dear Harriet,

This is a well executed image of so beautifully decorated window. Christmas is coming! I wish you and your family a Happy Christmas!

Warm regards,
Malgorzata

pajaran (36179) 2011-12-20 13:12

Dobro vece.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o vremenskim zonama i prazniku ...
Lep, zamagljen prozor sa ukrasima i svecicama.
Dobar snimka, lepa fotografija.
Uskoro ce praznik i veseli dani.
Prijatno vece i mirna noc sa lepim vremenom, kod nas hladno i pada sneg.
Sve najbolje.
Paja.

Google.

Guten Abend.
Sehr interessant und gute Artikel über Zeitzonen und Feiertage ...
Schöne, getrübt Fensterdekorationen und Zündkerzen.
Guter Schuss, schöne Bilder.
Es wird auch Urlaubs-und glückliche Tage.
Angenehmer Abend und einer ruhigen Nacht mit dem schönen Wetter, in unserem kalt und schneereich.
All the best.
Paja.

mauro61 (52527) 2011-12-20 15:03

ciao harriet,
grande atmosfera riportata in questo scatto con le luci del Natale e la finestra che mostra il tempo all'esterno.
Ben composta l'immagine, complimenti
maurizio

rodgerg (55767) 2011-12-21 3:41

Merry chtistmas Harriet,

An excellent skot with an origonal POV for the presnetation of this wibndow. I like too the depht with the tres in the BG. The red color arise very well nad give licht to the composition.
Best regards,
Roger

adramad (27548) 2011-12-21 7:36

Hey Harriet.
A really beautiful image, which conveys an intimate atmosphere and leads to these upcoming Christmas and New Year.
The gray day we see through the glass reminds us of the winter and cold outside.
A difficult but picture skillfully solved.
Interesting note. I like it.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Warm regards.
Luis.

pablominto (53744) 2011-12-22 0:59

Hello Harriet,

What a charming scene to remind of the upcoming Holidays!
A fine composition, skillfully and artistically done, a scene that takes my mind back to days long gone...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HARRIET!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Silvio1953 (98051) 2011-12-22 6:31

Ciao Harriet, lovely Christmas card with nice decoration on window, wonderful atmosphere and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

fanni (13868) 2011-12-22 11:04

Hi Harriet,
the bright red colour shines and stands out nicely against the dark and semi-dark background, thus making the scene a bit mysterious and a somewhat cosy :)

"Dark days".. oh yes!! it is still dark at 10 am and is already dark at 2 pm! LOL

Wish you a Happy Christmas! good luck and happiness!
warm regards,
Elena

Charo (51174) 2011-12-22 15:39

Hallo Harriet,
I remember well the times I've been in your country the hobby to decorate the windows, this time with a decor typical of these dates. Excellent atmosphere created by the exterior and good contrast with the interior.
Merry Christmas!
Best wishes,
Charo

paololg (31442) 2011-12-22 15:57

Merry Christmas also to you and your family, dear Harriet, this photo is simply gorgeous, and pleasantly creates the mood of the Christmas. A pleasant picture that symbolizes the family warmth and the mystical atmosphere of these days. Excellent photo quality, especially the management of the difficult light. Congratulations!
Ciao, have a nice Friday!
Paolo

Vasa (15970) 2011-12-22 16:19

Dear Harriet,

you are romantic and sensitive. This scene is going well with your signature. Thank you for your present, friend.

Branko

gunbud (34052) 2011-12-22 21:42

Hi Harriet,
Splendid holiday presentation of the beautifully decorated evergreen branches that look even more impressive against the forsted windows panes.
The low light brings out lovely subtle colors.
Happy Holidays,
Regards, Tom

Royaldevon (17787) 2011-12-23 2:59

My best wishes to you and your family for a warm, happy and peaceful Christmas, Harriet.

Your notes, interesting as always, link closely with the photograph. Light banishing the dark must have had enormous significance in ancient times.
A fine composition, including symbols that we all now associate with Christmas.

Bev :-)

Longroute (19390) 2011-12-23 6:02

Good title and fine photo,

the composition is really so simple and so nice with those red flowers so eye-catching! also the mist behind the window creates a lovely atmosphere.
Well done.

My best wishes for the coming Season,

Donato

Ricx (13435) 2011-12-23 9:00

Dear Harriett, a lovely Christmas theme and Message. also a fascinating note. I trust that you have a wonderful Christmas.. Rich

delpeoples (44904) 2011-12-23 19:46

Dearest Harriet

What a beautiful Christmas card you send to us all. So atmospheric, full of the Christmas spirit and warmth that is your personality. I love the light here, it is a very skillful photo. And I wish the very best Christmas to you and your family and of course a New Year that brings health, happiness and family.

Warmest regards
Lisa

Cricri (86347) 2011-12-25 4:02

Hi Harriet
C'est joli comme une carte postale de Noel, on sent le froid a travers les vitres, j'aime les touches rouges comme décorations
Joyeux Noel a vous ainsi qu'a votre famille
cricri

Buin (42082) 2011-12-25 23:41

Hallo Harriet!
Stimmungsvoll, sehr stimmungsvoll! Die graue Landschaft draußen und dieses warme Licht der Lämpchen bringen die Dezemberstimmung mit diesem Foto wunderbar "rüber". Schön auch, wie man neben den Silhouetten noch kleine Einzelheiten erkennen kann. Weihnachten muss einfach in dieser Jahreszeit liegen ...
Grüße aus dem nass-kalt-grauen Südwestfalen!
Frank

axiotea (21647) 2011-12-26 0:18

Hello Harriet
it's a good feeling to be indoors, because outside, it looks very cold! A Christmas atmosphere well conveyed with the decorations. The oscillating flames are a nice detail to look!

Season's Greetings

Marilyn

Kitty_the_Wild (1169) 2011-12-29 0:39

I like the mood of the window showing winter and framed by the warm lights of Christmas. I like the nature of Christmas as a separator between the end of previous life and the begin of the next one, in a way more "pagan" or "celtic". Here is well represented the sense of simple intimacy and protection which for me is the most attractive about otherwise Christmas "business".
Regards and Happy New Year,
Elena

ines8 (5838) 2012-01-03 11:14

Hi, Harriet,
A lovely composition,and a splendid framing.I love it!
All the best,
ines

Sonata11 (28273) 2012-01-05 20:58

Hello Harriet,
This picture is stunningly beautiful and spectacular. Fantastic management of light, color, pov are amazing. Wonderfully executed photo. Marvelous job. I love it.Thanks for sharing. Awesome !!!
I cordially greet and Happy New Year 2012,
Barbara

danos (73946) 2012-01-08 0:27

Good morning Harriet,
this shot is more artistic than your last one,here we can see all the beauty and the charmy of the holy days in this well decorated window.The exterior cold makes the window to be bleary and the whole image so adorable.

Wishes for a better 2012,Danos

ikeharel (37254) 2012-01-08 6:07

Excelent light manegment, Harriet, no backlight-effect, and the view of the outside seems through.
cheers for the holidays season, sorry I was late to congratulate.
Ike

skippy007 (12500) 2012-01-11 23:02

Hello Harriet, A lovely image, with the traditional Christmas colour and atmosphere, well done. I read your interesting note, the last sentence put a smile on my face, I being in the Southern hemisphere & in summer I'm not in hurry to see the end of December :)Thanks for your good wishes & trust you had a wonderful Christmas & a wonderful start to the new year.
Regards
Santo

jmdias (45776) 2012-01-19 15:45

harriet

an interesting compo with the black and white mood broke by these reds. Nice framing and excellent job with light. well done.

hugs

jorge

COSTANTINO (42744) 2012-01-27 10:36

Hello
I do not why but tonight I chose this
shot that creates a different atmosphere
from the usual,photo delicate and pretty
peaceful and pleasant scenery that
changes everybody s mood,
wonderful decoration for a simple
window
have a nice week end
Costantino

diomed (13926) 2012-02-15 9:21

Hi harriet,
I lost this delicious and romantic interior shot: a wonderful Christmas' image, rich of atmosphere with a perfect light management. I like the window as fram for the exterior scenery.
Nice evening
Antonio

maloutim (8606) 2012-04-13 0:12

Hi Harriet,
Having been away from TE for a while, I had missed this delicious Christmas card.
But it's never too late to comment on a beautiful picture and on wishes that should be relevant for the whole year anyway !
I love the eye-catching bunch of lit flowers, the centre piece of this window sill, against the background of bare trees in the winter mist, and the decoration of the window by the garlands of flowers.
A perfect illustration to your note about Christmas enlightening the dark days of winter.
Kindest regards.
Marie-louise.