Marion Kummerow - German Christmas Traditions

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Christmas Traditions in Germany

Copyright 2016 Marion Kummerow, Inside-Munich.com

Sixth Edition 2018

This publication contains the opinions and ideas of the author. It is for informative purposes only and is not intended as professional advice.

The author has used her best efforts in writing this book and the accompanying materials. The author makes no representation or warranties of any kind with respect to the completeness, accuracy or applicability of the contents of the book.

The author specifically disclaims any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, caused or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by using any information described in this publication.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

2 Advent

2.1 Advent wreath - Adventskranz

2.2 Advent calendar - Adventskalender

3 St. Nicholas Day - Nikolaustag

4 German Christmas Markets

4.1 Famous German Christmas Markets

5 Christmas Eve

6 Christ Child Christkind

7 Christmas Tree Weihnachtsbaum

7.1 Cutting the tree Weihnachtsbaum schlagen

8 Christmas Ornaments and Decorations

9 Christmas Dishes

9.1 Food

9.2 Spices

9.3 Drinks

10 German Christmas Cookies

10.1 Cinammon Stars - Zimtsterne

10.2 Almond crescents - Vanillekipferl

10.3 Ausstecherle Butter Cookies

10.4 Coconut Macaroons

10.5 More German Christmas Cookies

11 Christmas Carols

11.1 Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht

11.2 Ihr Kinderlein Kommet

11.3 O Tannenbaum

12 Nativity Scene/Manger

13 Epiphany Heilige Drei Knige

14 Other Traditions

14.1 Barbarazweig

14.2 Secret Santa - Wichteln

15 Kthe Wohlfahrt Company

16 New Years Eve - Silvester

17 About the Author

1 Introduction

C HRISTMAS IS A VERY special holiday not only in Germany but all over the world. We Germans value traditions very much, and Christmas reminds us of our childhood.

Its such a special time of year. Longstanding traditions and customs like decorating your home, baking cookies (Weihnachtspltzchen) and visiting the Christmas markets with your friends are some of my favorite Christmas traditions.

Whether youre an active Christian or not, the magic atmosphere of December and the holiday season gets to everyone. This is the time when the days become shorter, darkness sets in by late afternoon and days get colder; it may even start snowing, just in time for Christmas.

For us Germans a white Christmas with snowflakes falling is still the epitome of a perfect holiday. Every year, we anxiously await the first snow in December and hope for it to last at least until the day after Christmas. Even though we cannot influence the weather, there are lots of other things we can do to make the holiday season the most joyous time of the year.

Please read on as I take you on a journey through many German Christmas traditions filled with happy memories from my childhood.

2 Advent

O FFICIALLY, THE HOLIDAY starts with the first Advent, even though nowadays, you can buy Christmas decorations and cookies much earlier, as early as the beginning of October.

Advent (derived form the Latin word adventus, which means arrival) is the time for preparing for the arrival of Jesus. It starts with the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve, usually at the end of November or beginning of December. These are the dates for the next four first Advent Sundays.

1. Advent 2021: Sunday, 28.11.2021

1. Advent 2022: Sunday, 27.11.2022

1. Advent 2023: Sunday, 3.12.2023

1.Advent 2024: Sunday, 1.12.2024

In the Christian tradition this is the time to slow down your busy lives and prepare mentally and spiritually for the arrival of Jesus Christ.

Nowadays, the religious meaning has moved to the background, and Advent is mainly the time for gift shopping and lots of Christmas parties. Its a nice custom that companies reward their employees for a year of faithful service with a dinner or similar activity in December.

Families and friends have get-togethers, and about every club or community uses December to close-down the year with some kind of festivity.

The Saturdays in December (Adventssamstag) are the days when everyone flocks to the big shopping areas in any major German city to take in the Christmas atmosphere, visit the Christmas markets and do their gift shopping. You will literally join thousands of co-shoppers and crowd the stores. As a side note, one of my friends who works in a soap shop, told me that almost 90 percent of the years sales are made in December. Now you get the idea about how crowded it is.

But this shouldnt alienate you. Even though almost everyone complains (including me), we still dive into the crowds and seem to enjoy it after all. I will get to the famous German Christmas markets in a later chapter; for now lets talk about two of my favorite Advent traditions.

W E GERMANS LOVE TO decorate our homes with Christmas things! One of our favorite decorations are candles in all forms and sizes and the wreath even has four of them, one for each Sunday in Advent.

The Advent wreath is made of real or artificial fir branches and decorated with apples, fir cones, little berries or whatever else you may think of and finally topped with four candles. Its believed that Johann Wichern introduced this tradition as early as 1839.

You can buy an Adventskranz in basically every major department store, as well as in crafts and flower shops. Cheap plastic ones start as low as 10 Euro up to hand-made ones with wonderfully ornamented candles for up to 100 Euro.