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In Germany, Christmas is known as Weihnachten. Christmas is really big in Germany; it's considered to be the most important holiday. In my German class last year, we learned a lot about it; we learned German carols and sang them around the school. We also watched a travel video which showed how Germans celebrate, from long-held traditions to the special foods to the bustling Christmas markets known as the Weihnachtsm?rkte. It looked so festive and fun.
The weeks leading up to the holiday are also just as important. Lots of awesome activities happen around this time of year. Christmas Eve is Heiliger Abend, and on Heiliger Abend the presents are opened and people attend church. There are actually two Christmas Days, known as der erste und zweite Weihnactstag. On the first day (die erste Weihnactstag) the traditional meal is goose with apple and sausage, among other things. Time is spent with friends and family. But the second day is more of a day to think about life and what you are thankful for.
Advent is the 4th Sunday before Christmas (November 27th to December 3rd) and it's the official start of the Christmas season. This means lots of lights and lots of baked goods. Some baked goods are Stollen, Pl?tzen, and gingerbread. Stollen is a really old treat; it's a fruitcake. It was first introduced in 1329. Pl?tzen is a variety of Christmas cookies. Along with Advent comes der Adventskranz. This is the wreath, lit with 4 candles for the Sundays before Christmas. Each week a candle is lit. The children sing, "Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt erst eins, dann zwei, dann drei, dann vier, dann steht das Christkind vor Tur." Then there's the Adventkalender, the countdown to Christmas. It's a calender with 21 windows, often filled with chocolate.
The tree is important, of course. Known as der Tannenbaum, it is not decorated until Christmas Eve. The house is decorated with greenery as a reminded that winter is almost over. The tree is decorated with glass balls and candles, and showered in nuts, candies, berries, and baked goods. On January 6th, Three King's Day, the tree is taken down, then children raid the tree for its treats. Der Tannenbaum has a long history -- back to the Middle Ages where green plants were used to decorate homes, then to 1419 when the first tree was set up. By 1800, it was a common practice. Here's a tree near Checkpoint Charlie:
So who gives the gifts? There are actually many regional names for the German Santa Claus. Some include Saint Nikolaus (der Heilige Nikolaus), der Weihnactsmann, and Ruprecht. St. Nick gives gifts to good children. The gifts are given on December 6th, however, not on Christmas Eve, when they are opened.
My favorite tradition is the Christmas markets, Weihnactsm?rkte. They're really amazing, beginning from Advent (start of season) to the New Years. Weihnactsm?rkte sell everything you would ever need for Christmas: baking molds, toys, decorations, candles -- up until the 20th century they were the only place to buy these things. These markets date back to the 14th century. All kinds of food and drinks are sold here, as well as amazing homemade goods, such as dolls made out of prunes. The biggest, most famous is the Christkindlemarkt. It's the oldest, opening at 1498. Their gingerbread, Lebkuchen, is famous. It's one of the largest, with over 200 vendors. I really want to visit the Weihnactsm?rkte one day, and see everything they have to offer.
One of my dreams is to experience Christmas in Germany. It seems like a beautiful celebration, It's nice to think that for a whole month, Germany is festive and into the Christmas spirit.
Author's Note: Sources: my own notes from German class, http://www.vistawide.com/german/christmas/german_christmas_traditions.htm, http://www.german-way.com
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