Winter is icumen in

Winter is icumen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing Goddamm.

... wrote poet Ezra Pound once in a persiflage of the well-known poem from the middle of the 13th century:

Sumer is icumen in,
Lhude sing cuccu!

Pound's appreciation is too rough. Also, winter has its charms. My friend and English mentor Jim took this amazing photo on December 1st, 2010. Fresh snow had just powdered streets, roofs, and trees.

The photo shows Oberlinden, a square in Freiburg you cross when you enter
the city through the Schwabentor (the gate opening to Swabia).
Note the linden tree in the middle decorated with Herrnhuth Stars.
In the back, you sense the steeple of Freiburg's Münster Church

Herrnhuth Stars became fashionable in Freiburg last year. I bought one for my balcony and took a photo last year. For those who haven't yet seen one up close, here is my photo:

It's twilight time. You can make out trees of the Black Forest in the background.
 The illuminated windows mark study rooms
for the students of the Max-Planck Institute of International Law. 

In the meantime, last week's snow has completely disappeared. Freiburg is likely to be the only major city in Germany without a white Christmas.

I wish you all a peaceful Christmas!

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