Christmas Traditions in Germany

Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.
~ Francis C. Farley

This is the time when people all over the world break free of inhibitions and shake off all reservations to celebrate the birth of the Nazarene and welcome the new year with open arms and warmth in their hearts.

The 25th of December, which we know as the Christmas Day, is known as Weihnachten in Germany. The following paragraphs discuss the various German Christmas traditions that are observed to celebrate this festive stretch of winter.

Advent is the day that falls four Sundays preceding Weihnachten and is celebrated by making Christmas wreaths of fir or pine branches and decorating them further with four candles.

Besides these cookies, loaves of sweet bread and cakes with candied fruit fillings are also baked in most households, filling the air with the tempting aroma that prompts you to wonder if something's cooking (wink!)! Bakeries present a festive extravaganza of goodies like sugar candies and marzipan that entice the sweet tooth and seduces the palate!

St. Nicholas covers for Santa Claus in Germany as it is to him that German children write letters requesting for presents. Some children also write letters to the Holy Child. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on the 6th of December every year.

The Christmas presents are piled under the brightly lit and colorfully decorated branches of the Christmas tree and all the children of the house wait eagerly to hear the bell which is a prompt for them to rush into the room to behold the tree. Christmas poems are recited, songs and carols are sung and gifts are exchanged among each other thereafter.

An old tradition of children leaving their shoes out on Christmas Eve is still followed in many parts of Germany. Most of the time, these shoes are filled with carrots and hay so that St. Nicholas' horse gets some refreshment as St. Nicholas rides by the house.

The last Advent candle is lit on this day to mark the arrival of Christ. This is a day of family get together and all family members and close relatives attend church and have Christmas dinner together.

There is a lot of after-dinner fun, merriment, anecdotes and festivities that take place in the living rooms in the glow of merrily crackling flames at the fireplace on Christmas.

January the 6th is marked as the Epiphany and it is the Twelfth Night after Weihnachten. On this day, young boys dress up as the Magi who visited Baby Christ in his manger to pay their respects and to offer Him presents. These boys carry a pole each with a star fixed on the top and carry it around the town, singing Christmas carols.

For the days that fall between Weihnachten (25th December) and Epiphany (6th January), German residents beat drums as a sign of warding off evil and trickster spirits.

That, precisely outlines Christmas traditions in Germany. So, get your Christmas carols list ready and take out that family organ and dust it well so that it can accompany your carols with its deep, melodious bass.

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"?
Sure we did!