Frohe Weihnachten!

Christmas traditions, events, and history in Germany

This year I am unable to spend the Holidays like I normally do with my family, and our yearly holiday traditions. Being here in Germany, I have the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas season with a with my host family, friends, and with new traditions.

The traditions begin with the first Sunday in December. Christmas in Germany is celebrated with more religious elements. Advent Sundays are celebrated weekly. Some families go to church and others set up or buy an Adventskranz. That is a wreath with the four Advent Kerzen (candles). Then every Sunday another candle is lit.

Another tradition that starts early December is St. Nikolaus Tag. Dezember 6th is the day that St. Nikolaus visits and delivers small gifts or chocolate to children by putting them into boots and shoes. Here in Germany St. Nikolaus is not der Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus). St. Nikolaus refers to the historic Bishop from Myra that put small gifts or money in children's shoes. On the 6th when I woke up I found a little bag hung on my bedroom door with a few pieces of chocolate and a chocolate St. Nikolaus.

 

I only learned this year that there is a difference between St. Nikolaus and der Weihnachtsmann. I have found that der Weihnachtsmann is not such a popular idea here, even among Kinder (children).  This was news to me, because in the USA, Santa Claus is the face of Christmas. Many people tell me that Santa Claus comes from Coca-Cola. The first image of who Americans and many others call Santa Claus was brought to life in the 1920's for a Coco-Cola Christmas advertisement. In the ad was an illustration of the Santa Claus that was described in the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)  titled 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'. This poem is also known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. However, since this ad many Germans don't believe in Santa like us Americans.

Sometimes replacing der Weihnachtsmann (Santa) is das Christkind Engel (Christ child angel). Christmas is much more of a religious holiday, therefore the Christkind is much more accepted and believed in. Some families claim the Christkind delivers the gifts, while others are visited by both the Christkind and Weihnachtsmann on the 24th of Dezember. In my host family Santa is from Coco-Cola. 

Presents are always a part of Christmas, and in America they are usually from Santa and are opened on the 25th of December. In Germany wir schenken (we give the gifts) on Heilige Abend (Holy Evening = Christmas Eve). So on Dezember 24th my host family and I sat down in das Wohnzimmer (living room) and I played my ukulele and sang 'Santa Claus is coming to Town'. Then we all exchanged gifts. In America with my natural family, 'Santa' always delivers a lot of gifts under the tree and in our stockings, but here in Germany the gifts are not such a central part of Christmas. Everyone gets a few gifts and that's it. I think it is really nice and simple. After the gifts we sat down for a nice Fleisch (meat) Fondue dinner before going to a Heilige Abend church service.

Christmas trees are also more modest. They are still really beautifully decorated, and sometimes even have real candles lit on them. Real Tannenbäume (fir/pine trees) are used for ein Weihnachtsbaum (a Christmas Tree). Since most are echte Weihnachtsbäume  (real Christmas trees) most families buy and put them up shortly before Christmas.

A big German tradition known around the world are the Weihnachtsmärkte or Christkindlmärkte (German Christmas Markets).Christmas markets in Germany date back to the late Middle Ages. A Weihnachtsmarkt in München (Munich) is recorded from 1310. Christmas Markets sell food and seasonal goods during the four weeks of Advent, and they originated from Germany, Austria, France, and Italy. All of these were part of German-speaking lands in Europe formerly part of the Holy Roman Empire.  A traditional drink at a Weihnachtsmarkt is Glühwein (hot mulled wine).



Gengenbacher Weihnachtsmarkt

Freiburg Weihnachtsmarkt

Freiburg Weihnachtsmarkt

Freiburg Weihnachtsmarkt

Freiburg Weihnachtsmarkt

Freiburg Weihnachtsmarkt

Colmar Weihnachtsmarkt

This year I have gone to a few Weihnachtsmärkte. Each one was similar with the little wooden houses set up in rows, but each was different in its own way. Lörrach (where I live) had a nice market. Basel in der Schweiz (Switzerland) had a big, fancily decorated and lit up market. Freiburg, Deutschland had a very pretty market in two parts and it was very crowded, but had very nice Weihnachtsschmuck (Christmas decorations and ornaments).Gengenbach, Deutschland was a very nice market in a small old Fachwerkhäuser Stadt (brown and white old timber houses town). Colmar in Frankreich (France) was really festive and beautiful despite it being rainy and after Christmas. I really enjoyed going to the Christmas markets because they always put me in the Holiday spirit.



Fachwerkhaus

 

 

In Germany there are obviously many traditions, and I have not experienced them all, but that is the cool thing about an entirely different culture. Spending the Holiday season away from family, and friends, and traditions that I am used to has been different, but that is why I came to Germany. This year although at times I want the comfort of home, I am here to experience Germany and see all that I can. Now it is only a few days until Silvester (New Year's Eve), and from what I have heard, is different than in America too. I am so thankful that I am able to experience a year in Germany and all that my host family and friends here can share with me.

So I hope all my family and friends had a Frohe Weihnachten, and have ein guten Rutsch in das neue Jahr 2015!

Bis Nächstes Jahr!

~Alexandria~