Here in Iceland some chapters join another chapter for the Christmas meeting, like the chapters in the north of Iceland, the new chapter Mu joined Beta chapter in Akureyri 3rd of December. 
Some chapters have a long tradition of their Christmas meetings with Christmas food and Christmas carols to bring in the right atmosphere. Some chapters invite an author to introduce her/ his newly published book. What ever we do, we all have a nice time enjoying the friendship and good food.
We would like you to contribute some of your stories, share with us your Christmas stories.

Alpha Chapter making Advent wreaths
Carol Concerts and school nativity plays have been part of members’ Christmas preparations. Those still teaching have been busy organising them in schools and those who have children and grandchildren have enjoyed attending them. In addition, two of our chapters have been celebrating the approach of Christmas with craft activities and buffet lunches.
Alpha Chapter members had a ‘Prepare for Christmas’ party in Holy Trinity Church Hall in London. They made some wonderful Advent wreaths and had a ‘Bring a dish’ shared lunch, with a glass of wine, which was much enjoyed by all. 

Gamma Chapter met at the home of Chapter President, Sandra Blacker, and were taught decoupage by two experts, who provided all the materials. Amidst a lot of chatter and laughter, members made some very good decoupage gifts,- getting very sticky in the process. Afterwards they shared a delicious buffet lunch. 
​We collected money for our Schools for Africa project by the sale of books and gifts at our Christmas parties. Also, in lieu of sending each other Christmas cards, we donated the money we would have spent on cards and postage to our charity. Over the last few years this has become a tradition.

In Britain, we are very proud of our theatres and the many famous actors and actresses who grace our stages, many performing serious dramas throughout the year. However, at Christmas time our theatres become the venues for very different performances, - Pantomime. These are shows for all the family from small children to grandparents. They are usually based on traditional fairy tales, but with men playing women and women playing men. For example, in ‘Cinderella’, Prince Charming is traditionally played by a woman and the Ugly Sisters are played by men. Costumes are elaborate and often very funny. There are a lot of jokes, tricks, shouting out and singing, but the most important aspect is audience participation. If you have never seen a pantomime, you have missed something crazily British and a lot of fun. The day after Christmas, I will be seeing ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ in Canterbury will all my family! We are all looking forward to it.

Sheila Roberts, EF Committee member for GB State

Alpha chapter celebrating the Second Advent on December 7th
Our members have enjoyed the Christmas time with memorable and heartfelt get-togethers.
Alpha chapter celebrated the Second Advent on December 7th at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. This event was organized in cooperation with the Estonian Association of Teachers of Civics and this organization has become our new friend and potential cooperation partner for future.
We had an opportunity to listen to organ music performed by Toomas Trass, who also explained us, how a baroque organ sounds and he also analysed the painting by Jyri Arrak on the wings of the instrument. 

We had a very special visitor - His Excellency Father Philippe Jourdain, the nuncio of the Pope in Estonia who kindly shared his stories about advent and Christmas traditions in his native country. He also explained the meaning of morals in modern times and their role in development of personality. Afterwards there was time for a cup of coffee and a good chat about plans for the coming year.  Everybody went home with a very special feeling, and blessings from a very special person.

​A crisp and sunny December morning welcomed sisters of DKG Estonia in Pärnu where Beta chapter hosted the get-together. 
It started off with a guided tour along the Bastion track of the ancient fortress-city of 17th century, and con
tinued at Pärnu Museum where we could watch one of the well-known Swedish customs the candlelit Lucia procession  with girls and boys from Noarootsi Gymnasium*  clad in white full-length gowns singing songs in Swedish. Next we visited the exhibition “Winter holidays – Fantasy Town”, introducing winter traditions of different cultures that have historically resided in Pärnu County – we could admire wonderfully reconstructed authentic huts at Christmas time and were delighted to recognize familiar items, textiles and Christmas cards from our childhood. After that we had a festive Christmas dinner at the Museum Café, enjoying each other’s company, sharing beautiful memories from the year 2013 and discussing the plans for the coming year.  This heart-warming tradition, which has lasted for four years, has always been longed-for. 

*Noarootsi is a parish which was subjected to the Swedish rule in the 16-17th century