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This was first posted two years ago near Christmas. Although some players mentioned here have departed, I hope you still find this article enjoyable.

The falling snow was blanketing the country, adding to it a sort of soft quiet that one might often feel during a snow storm - punctuated only by the clip-clopping of horse’s hooves on exposed pavement. The Fiaker carriage seating was comfortable, but my time within it was coming to an end as I neared the local cafe, which was my destination. A meeting of government and military officials had been called to discuss a very important matter, and naturally there seemed no better place than a cafe.

Not much of a fan of coffee, I ordered tea with honey. Though visibility was low, I could still see as the second to arrive neared the door. Dusting himself off, yonkeras entered and took a seat. “Nice weather we are having,” I said. Be it the lameness of the joke, or a language barrier, it received no reaction at all from the new arrival. Ordering a beer, it quickly was placed on the table for him.

The cafe had been decorated very well, with poinsettias on each table, wreaths and garlands along the walls, and lights outlining the windows. While we took a moment to look at the festive setting, the third to arrive then entere😛 Schwrzwolf. Quickly behind him, and slightly to his surprise, was a group of Christmas carolers apparently traveling from venue to venue even with the storm. Setting up at the front of the cafe, and all decked out in red and green scarves, one singer cleared their throat before asking for requests. After a short silence, yonkeras was the first to respond. “Arre Borriquito!” said yonkeras. Opening up a large book of lyrics, the carolers began to sing this Spanish carol.

“This is my favorite Christmas song,” said Yonkeras. Telling the story of donkey-bound travellers to Bethlehem, the song urges the donkey to hurry, with the refrain “arre borriquito,” before they miss the events of Christmas eve. “It reminds me of my family’s Christmas dinner, since I was little,” he said, looking onward at the carolers. “I don’t remember the first time I heard it, but I was very young.”

“It’s interesting how music can take you back,” Schwrzwolf added, before receiving the hot chocolate he had ordered. As the song began to conclude, erdoni and OEBernd arrived and joined the growing group. “Sorry that we’re late, the snow is pretty bad out there,” said erdoni, as they put away their jackets. Taking their respective seats at the table, the waiter returned to take orders. “I’ll have Turkish tea,” said erdoni. Turning towards OEBernd, who was still drying his beard off from the snow storm, he took a moment to consider his choice. “Apple juice mixed with tap water,” OEBernd said.

As the drinks were procured, the carolers moved on to their next songs. “I don’t know this song,” erdoni said. “I guess, I don’t know many Christmas songs,” he said with a smile. “But I like ‘Jingle Bells,’ it reminds me of when I was first learning english, it was an easy song to pick up,” he said. Entering the cafe at last was Luis Grindl, whose arrival had similarly been delayed by the storm. “Nice weather we are having,” he joked, receiving laughter from the table - including even yonkeras. “I’ll have a Latte Macciato,” he requested of the waiter.

“Well, I have a favorite Christmas song as well, but they would not be likely to play it here,” said Schwrzwolf. “It’s ‘Christmas in Chinatown,’ by the fabulous Les Reines Prochaines.” Recounting the story, in which a young man named Jesus “wants to buy a gift for his girlfriend Maria, but no bank is open to change his money,” the irreverent tongue and cheek humor put it out of the range of the carolers.

“I hate Christmas songs,” OEBernd added, “but I can show you some really disgusting German ones.” Taking out his phone and loading a clip of Die Toten Hosen’s “Leise rieselt der Schnee,” a man in a business suit on stage snorts lines of cocaine off the table between verses. “Probably the carolers do not have this one either,” erdoni added.

The snow continued to fall outside, piling along the windows and making the room look even darker than before. Perhaps noticing this, the carolers began to pack up and leave. The room became oddly silent for a moment.

“My favorite Christmas song is ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,’” I said. Written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the American Civil War, the poet had suffered through personal loss and despair, as had many others at the time. Speaking of hearing the “old familiar carols play,” they stood in stark contrast to the reality of the world. The poet continues, “for hate is strong, and mocks the song, of peace on earth, good will to men.”

But as the “bells ring more loud and deep,” he realizes “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.” The season helps to show, there is still hope even in the darkest times.

The snow had slowed, and nearly stopped. The group sat quietly for a moment, before noticing a growing sound from the street. “Stille Nacht!” said Luis Grindl, “that is my favorite Christmas song.” It seemed, the carolers had not left after all but gone outside to clear the windows of snow - and sing in the now calm city.

The group went out the doorway to view the carolers. “This is a song in English too,” I said, “called ‘Silent Night.’” Nodding, Luis Grindl said “yes, in French as well. In World War I, this was a song that soldiers from all sides knew, and were able to sing together during the Christmas Truce in the trenches.”

The freshly fallen snow lay gently on trees, joining ornaments and lights. Indeed, in some ways the lights shown brighter with the snow, reflecting light out on the city and the streets.