Section 1

"Christmas Not Just Once a Year" unfolds the tale of a German family reeling in the aftermath of World War II, ensnared in the ripple effects of Aunt Milla's profound psychological collapse. Her hysterical reaction to the removal of the family Christmas tree plunges the household into turmoil. Narrated by her nephew, an anonymous figure, the story is a satire, portraying a cascade of increasingly ludicrous events spun over two years as his narrative unfurls.

At the outset, the narrator sketches the family members who play pivotal roles, revealing the early "symptoms of disintegration." There's Uncle Franz, "the kindest of men," now desperately "tired of life"; his sons: Franz, once a celebrated boxer now shunning accolades with disdain, and Johannes, who the narrator fears may have embraced communism. Then there's Lucie, the sister who was once considered a "normal woman" but now frequents "disreputable places." And at the heart of it all is Aunt Milla, the "originator" of the family's troubles, yet she remains as "well and cheerful" as she has almost always been.

Although specifics are sparse, the narrator clearly conveys that Aunt Milla's influence has wreaked havoc on the family. Cousin Franz had forewarned them of the "terrible consequences" of what once seemed a "harmless event." Yet, because they ignored his caution, chaos has spiraled so far out of control that the family is now in a "total loss" for solutions.

Section 2

Section 2 delves into the origins and emerging details of the family's woes. Set in an undisclosed German city just after World War II, Aunt Milla harbors an ardent passion for decorating Christmas trees and singing carols, traditions her son Franz met with "vehement indignation." The war, however, thwarted her festive rituals as bombings and devastation swept the land, transforming her longing for the tree into a lens through which she viewed the war—a "force" threatening her cherished Christmas celebrations.

The family emerged from the war almost untouched. Uncle Franz, through his prosperous fruit and vegetable import business, had constructed a robust bunker shielding them from attacks. His political and business ties kept the family comfortably secure during most of the war. Yet, as hostilities dragged on, even Franz struggled to procure supplies. It wasn't until Christmas of 1946, over a year past the war's end, that Aunt Milla could once again gather her family around a bedecked tree.

That Christmas proved unremarkable, but by March 1947, the narrator, approaching his uncle's residence, heard the strains of Christmas carols. Uncle Franz later explained: On Candlemas Eve, or the "Festival of Lights" in early February, Johannes had begun removing the tree's decorations as local custom dictated. Yet, as he dismantled the ornaments, the tree toppled, triggering Aunt Milla's relentless screams. Her hysteria, unyielding for nearly a week, defied neurologists' and psychologists' efforts, subsiding only when Uncle Franz proposed acquiring a new tree.

Sections 3–6

The stark reality of Uncle Franz’s "solution" to Aunt Milla’s distress becomes apparent as the family grapples with the challenge of sourcing a Christmas tree in the off-season. Miraculously, arrangements are made, a new tree stands adorned, and the family gathers nightly as though each evening were Christmas Eve, caroling by the tree and savoring holiday treats.

As spring draws near, ushering in the carnival season, Aunt Milla's disturbances deepen; she laments the revelers for their lack of respect towards Christmas's sanctity. Yet, undeterred, the family and their priest maintain the nightly Christmas festivities. By June, the doctor tasked with Aunt Milla's cure abandons his mission, and one evening, the family priest, citing parish duties, fails to appear. A fellow...