BTU Advent calendar: Door 7

Prof. Dr. Christiane Hipp

The BTU crisis team has been very busy in recent months. Are you taking a well-deserved break over the holidays?
Since the beginning of March, the crisis team has been working seven days a week on standby. Despite low infection rates in summer, we had always continued to work on the topics and the concept for the winter semester. Over Christmas, we will therefore finally be able to take some rest. The university is closed during this time, so we can relax for a few days with a clear conscience.

How do you personally celebrate Christmas?
I will go to my old home in southern Germany and sleep there for three days, eat Dresden stollen and Cottbus tree cake, decorate the Christmas tree, sing Christmas Eve very loudly and chat a lot with the family and play and Skat and Doppelkopf with them.

Do you serve traditional Christmas dishes on the Christmas holidays?
We love it simple and without too much effort: fondue, potato salad, sausages ...

What is your wish for Christmas?
My personal wish is that we get through the winter in good health and use the many experiences of the last few months to find (re)discover ourselves as a society. For the BTU, I would like to see a new cheerfulness and, of course, many students.

Do you have a favourite winter drink and cookie recipe?
I let mulled wine simmer all evening - just because of the good smell. I rarely drink alcohol myself. However, at Christmas there is a fruit schnapps every now and then. My favourite cookie recipe is an old cedar bread recipe from my grandmother, still handwritten. Unfortunately it must have got lost during one of my many moves.

Do you prefer Christmas cards, Christmas emails or phone calls?
Christmas cards! Every year I drive my secretariat crazy with them ...