Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, be plenteous in mercy is to have the real spirit of Christmas. Calvin Coolidge.

Monday 19 November 2012

Christmas in Germany

A big part of the Christmas celebrations in Germany is Advent. Several different types of Advent calendars are used in German homes. As well as the traditional one made of card that is used in many countries, there are ones made out of a wreath of Fir tree branches with 24 decorated boxes or bags hanging from it. Each box or bag has a little present in it. Another type is called an 'Advent Kranz' and is a ring of fire branches that has four candles on it. This is like the Advent candles that are sometimes used in Churches. One candle is lit at the beginning at each week of Advent.
Christmas Trees are very important in Germany as well. They were first used in Germany in the Middle Ages. If there are young children in the house are usually secretly decorated by the Mother of the family. The Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on Christmas Eve, and that evening the family would read the bible and sing Christmas songs.
Christmas Eve is the main day when Germans exchange presents with their families.
In some parts of Germany, children write to the 'Christkind' ('The Christ Child' in English) asking for presents. The letters to the Christkind are decorated with sugar glued to the envelope to make them sparkly and attractive to look at. Children leave the letters on the windowsill at the beginning of or during Advent.
The Christkind is often described as a young girl with 'Christ like' qualities. In Nürnberg a young girl is chosen every year to participate in a parade as the Christkind. She wears a long white and gold dress, has long blond curly hair and wears a gold crown and sometimes wings like an angel. The Nürnberg Christkind officially opens the Christmas market on the Friday before Advent starts. And before Christmas she over 150 official duties including visiting hospitals, old people's homes and children's nurseries!


Santa Claus or Father Christmas (der Weihnachtsmann) brings the presents on December 24th. December 6th is St. Nicholas' Day and "der Nikolaus" brings some small gifts, such as sweets and chocolate, to the children. He comes in the night between the 5th and the 6th and puts the presents into the shoes of the children, who usually place them by their doors on the previous evening. In some regions of Germany, there is a character called "Knecht Ruprecht" or "Krampus" who accompanies Nikolaus (St. Nicholas) on the 6th of December. He is big horned monster clothed in rags and carries a birch. He will punish the children who were bad and will give them a birch as a present. He is usually the one who scares the little children. In other parts of Germany, St. Nicholas is followed by a small person called "Schwarz Peter" (Black Peter) who carries a small whip. Black Peter also accompanies St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas in Holland. In North West Germany Santa is joined by Belsnickel a man dressed all in fur.


Another tradition is the Sternsinger (or star singers) who go from house to house, sing a song and collect money for charity (this is a predominantly Catholic tradition). They are four children, three who dress up like the Wisemen and one carries a star on a stick as a symbol for the Star of Bethlehem. When they're finished singing, they write a signature with chalk over the door of the house. The sign is written in a special way, for example: 20*C*M*B*08. It is considered to be bad luck to wash the sign away - it has to fade by itself. It has usually faded by the 6th of January (Epiphany). The Sternsingers visit houses between December 27th and January 6th.

Carp or Goose is often served for the main Christmas meal. Stollen is popular fruited yeast bread that is eaten at Christmas. 



5 comments:

  1. "Silent Night" (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed 1818 in Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO in March 2011.

    I think it will be useful for us, because probably we will have to learn in by heart, preparing christmas performance in Deutch.

    Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
    Alles schläft; einsam wacht
    Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
    Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
    Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
    Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

    Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
    Hirten erst kundgemacht
    Durch der Engel Halleluja,
    Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
    Christ, der Retter ist da!
    Christ, der Retter ist da!

    Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
    Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
    Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund
    , Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
    Christ, in deiner Geburt!
    Christ, in deiner Geburt!



    English

    Silent night, holy night
    All is calm all is bright
    'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
    Holy infant so tender and mild
    Sleep in heavenly peace
    Sleep in heavenly peace

    Silent night, holy night,
    Shepherds quake at the sight.
    Glories stream from heaven afar,
    Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
    Christ the Savior is born
    Christ the Savior is born

    Silent night, holy night,
    Son of God, love's pure light.
    Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
    With the dawn of redeeming grace,
    Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
    Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Advent Calendar - Der Adventskalender



    The Advent calendar (Adventskalender) is a German invention that was originally designed to involve children in the festivities leading up to Christmas. The calendars are usually made of cardboard and have 24 small windows or flaps, one of which is opened on each day leading up to Christmas. Behind each window is a Christmas scene or motif. Nowadays, calendars may contain chocolate or candy behind each window, and sometimes even small toys. The Advent calendar is a more recent invention of modern capitalism. Originally, families would mark the 24 days of December preceding Christmas with a chalk line on the wall. The first hand-crafted Advent calendars were produced in the mid-19th century; the first printed calendar appeared in Munich in 1903. Eventually the custom was exported all over the world.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Christmas markets - Weihnachtsmärkte

    When the Advent season opens, Christmas markets also crop up in nearly every German town, large or small. The town squares, normally dark early in winter months, are lit up and buzzing with activity during this time. Townspeople gather together, listen to brass band music, drink beer or hot mulled wine (Glühwein) or apple cider, and enjoy the hearty traditional fare of the region. Vendors peddle baked goods, including gingerbread hearts, sugar-roasted almonds, crepes, cookies, stollen, cotton candy and other sweets. Christmas tree decorations, seasonal items, and handcrafted articles, such as wooden toys and hand-blown glass ornaments, are also sold.

    Christmas markets date back to at least the 14th century and were one of the many markets held throughout the year. It was here that people bought everything they needed for the Christmas celebration: baking moulds, decorations, candles, and toys for the children. In fact, until well into the 20th century, the Weihnachstmärkte were the only place for people to buy such seasonal items.

    Markets differ from place to place; each has its own regional imprint. The market at Aachen, for instance, is known for its gingerbread men (Aachner Printen). The regions around the Erzgebirge mountain range are famous for their handmade wooden crafts. Augsburg has a life-sized Advent calendar and opens the holiday season with its famous "Angel Play." At the Frankfurt Christmas Market, visitors will find Quetschenmännchen (little prune men) and Brenten (almond cookies).

    The most famous Christmas market is the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, which is known for its gold foil angels and locally produced gingerbread cakes. At least 375 years old, it is one of the oldest, and with over 200 vendors participating each year, it is also one of the largest Weihnachtsmärkte in Germany.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Christmas Day(s) - der erste und zweite Weihnachtstag

    Both December 25 and 26 are legal holidays in Germany and are known as the First and Second Christmas Day respectively. What originally started out as a church celebration of Christ's birth has gradually become a family celebration. Businesses are closed, and time is spent visiting with extended family. Goose is the traditional fare on the First Christmas Day, or perhaps rabbit or a roast. These are accompanied by traditional German fare such as apple and sausage stuffing, red cabbage, and potato dumplings. The second Christmas day is usually a quieter time, a day for peaceful contemplation.

    ReplyDelete
  5. NO MORE COMMENTARIES AND REPLIES!

    ReplyDelete