diff --git a/res/core/de/strings.xml b/res/core/de/strings.xml
index 3186dcc42..0f16f91b1 100644
--- a/res/core/de/strings.xml
+++ b/res/core/de/strings.xml
@@ -1581,6 +1581,14 @@
     <text locale="de">Schneemann</text>
     <text locale="en">snowman</text>
   </string>
+  <string name="snowglobe">
+    <text locale="de">Schneekugel</text>
+    <text locale="en">snow globe</text>
+  </string>
+  <string name="snowglobe_p">
+    <text locale="de">Schneekugeln</text>
+    <text locale="en">snow globes</text>
+  </string>
   <string name="snowman_p">
     <text locale="de">Schneemänner</text>
     <text locale="en">snowmen</text>
diff --git a/res/eressea/items.xml b/res/eressea/items.xml
index 076cc023c..8b2df7add 100644
--- a/res/eressea/items.xml
+++ b/res/eressea/items.xml
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@
     </item>
   </resource>
 
+  <resource name="snowglobe">
+    <item notlost="yes" weight="1">
+      <function name="use" value="lua_useitem"/>
+    </item>
+  </resource>
+
   <resource name="ring_of_levitation" appearance="ring">
     <item notlost="yes" weight="0" cursed="true">
       <function name="use" value="lua_useitem"/>
diff --git a/scripts/eressea/xmasitems.lua b/scripts/eressea/xmasitems.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fe3512b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/eressea/xmasitems.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+local function get_direction(locale, token)
+    local dir = eressea.locale.direction(locale, token)
+    if dir and dir>=0 then
+        return dir
+    end
+    return nil
+end
+
+function use_snowglobe(u, amount, token)
+    local direction = get_direction(u.faction.locale, token)
+    if direction then
+        local r = u.region:next(direction)
+        if r and r.terrain=="ocean" then
+            r.terrain = "glacier"
+        end
+    else
+        return -4
+    end
+    return 1
+end
+
+function use_snowman(u, amount)
+    if amount>0 and u.region.terrain == "glacier" then
+        local man = unit.create(u.faction, u.region)
+        man.race = "snowman"
+        man.number = amount
+        return amount
+    end
+    return -4
+end
+
+function use_xmastree(u, amount)
+    if u.region.herb~=nil then
+        -- TODO: else?
+        local trees = u.region:get_resource("tree")
+        u.region:set_key("xm06", true)
+        u.region:set_resource("tree", 10+trees)
+        local msg = message.create("usepotion")
+        msg:set_unit("unit", u)
+        msg:set_resource("potion", "xmastree")
+        msg:send_region(u.region)
+        return amount
+    end
+    return 0
+end
+
+local self = {}
+
+function self.update()
+    local turn = get_turn()
+    local season = get_season(turn)
+    if season == "calendar::winter" then
+        eressea.log.debug("it is " .. season .. ", the christmas trees do their magic")
+        local msg = message.create("xmastree_effect")
+        for r in regions() do
+            if r:get_key("xm06") then
+                trees = r:get_resource("tree")
+                if trees*0.1>=1 then
+                    r:set_resource("tree", trees * 1.1)
+                    msg:send_region(r)
+                end
+                if clear then
+                end
+            end
+        end
+    else
+        local prevseason = get_season(turn-1)
+        if prevseason == "calendar::winter" then
+            -- we celebrate knut and kick out the trees.
+            for r in regions() do
+                if r:get_key("xm06") then
+                    r:set_key("xm06", false)
+                end
+            end
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+return self
diff --git a/scripts/tests/e2/e2features.lua b/scripts/tests/e2/e2features.lua
index 8505bfd39..b9a705fa5 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/e2/e2features.lua
+++ b/scripts/tests/e2/e2features.lua
@@ -201,6 +201,18 @@ function test_no_uruk()
   assert_equal(f1.race, "orc")
 end
 
+function test_snowglobe()
+    local r1 = region.create(0, 0, "glacier")
+    local r2 = region.create(1, 0, "ocean")
+    local f = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "human", "de")
+    local u = unit.create(f, r1, 1)
+    u:add_item("snowglobe", 1)
+    u:clear_orders()
+    u:add_order("BENUTZEN 1 Schneekugel Ost")
+    process_orders()
+    assert_equal("glacier", r2.terrain)
+end
+
 function test_snowman()
     local r = region.create(0, 0, "glacier")
     local f = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "human", "de")
diff --git a/src/helpers.c b/src/helpers.c
index a81a91679..c784e9901 100644
--- a/src/helpers.c
+++ b/src/helpers.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
 #include <util/bsdstring.h>
 #include <util/functions.h>
 #include <util/log.h>
+#include <util/parser.h>
 #include <util/resolve.h>
 
 #include <kernel/config.h>
@@ -509,8 +510,8 @@ struct order *ord)
     if (lua_isfunction(L, -1)) {
         tolua_pushusertype(L, (void *)u, TOLUA_CAST "unit");
         lua_pushinteger(L, amount);
-
-        if (lua_pcall(L, 2, 1, 0) != 0) {
+        lua_pushstring(L, getstrtoken());
+        if (lua_pcall(L, 3, 1, 0) != 0) {
             const char *error = lua_tostring(L, -1);
             log_error("use(%s) calling '%s': %s.\n", unitname(u), fname, error);
             lua_pop(L, 1);
diff --git a/src/laws.c b/src/laws.c
index f508c4b69..5c6d5a46e 100755
--- a/src/laws.c
+++ b/src/laws.c
@@ -3442,10 +3442,13 @@ void update_long_order(unit * u)
 static int use_item(unit * u, const item_type * itype, int amount, struct order *ord)
 {
     int i;
-    int target = read_unitid(u->faction, u->region);
+    int target = -1;
+
+    if (itype->useonother) {
+        target = read_unitid(u->faction, u->region);
+    }
 
     i = get_pooled(u, itype->rtype, GET_DEFAULT, amount);
-
     if (amount > i) {
         /* TODO: message? eg. "not enough %, using only %" */
         amount = i;
@@ -3455,20 +3458,16 @@ static int use_item(unit * u, const item_type * itype, int amount, struct order
     }
 
     if (target == -1) {
-        int result;
-        if (itype->use == NULL) {
-            return EUNUSABLE;
+        if (itype->use) {
+            int result = itype->use(u, itype, amount, ord);
+            if (result > 0) {
+                use_pooled(u, itype->rtype, GET_DEFAULT, result);
+            }
+            return result;
         }
-        result = itype->use ? itype->use(u, itype, amount, ord) : EUNUSABLE;
-        if (result>0) {
-            use_pooled(u, itype->rtype, GET_DEFAULT, result);
-        }
-        return result;
+        return EUNUSABLE;
     }
     else {
-        if (itype->useonother == NULL) {
-            return EUNUSABLE;
-        }
         return itype->useonother(u, target, itype, amount, ord);
     }
 }