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 Frohliche Weihnachten

Merry Christmas
 

        Frohliche Weihnachten!
        What have I just said? I said "Merry Christmas" in German!

        How much do you know about the custom of celebrating Christmas in Germany? This area of the site intends to give you some interesting information about the festivals, such as the origin of the festival, when  it starts, important figures, decorations, food, music and the famous Christmas markets.  

  Origin of the Festival 

        Christmas is a day for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ who was born nearly 2000 year ago. In most of the christianity countries, people attend mass organized by churches on the Christmas Eve. While people in most of the other countries nowadays celebrated these festivals by having parties and banquets.

  When does it start? 

        The Christmas season begins with the beginning of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day. Germans traditionally have Advent wreath in their families, it is said to be originated with the German Lutherans. The wreath is made of a circle of greenery in which four candles are set, a large white candle is set in the middle. It is attached with pine and fir cones, little red mushrooms, or red and yellow ribbons. One candle is lit the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit the second Sunday, and so on ,until the fourth Sunday. On  Christmas Day, the large candle in the middle is lit. These wreaths are usually hang from the ceiling in large houses, shops and in churches.

        On the first Sunday after November 26th, German children receive the Advent calendar from their parents. The calendar has bright little pictures with numbers on each of them. One, two, three, and so on up to 24. Wherever the numbers are, there are small paper windows. Children hang the calendars alongside their beds and open a "window" each morning. Candles, balls or chocolate can be found inside. Children can count the day towards Christmas when having their little toys. When all the windows are opened, then it will be the Christmas Day!

    Important Figures           When Christianity enter Germany, St. Nicholas, a 4th Century bishop of Asia Minor, became popular. He was known for his miracles and generosity and became a saint to children. The feast of St. Nicholas was celebrates on December 6 and he became the Santa Claus figure in children's hearts.

        It is said that St. Nicholas rode a white horse and carried gifts to all the good little children on the eve of his feast day. He traveled with dark- faced companion who was most commonly called Knecht Reprecht. After the reformation, the authorities did not feel like the idea of having a character representing the bishop or saint distributing gifts. As a result, the figure Santa Claus, who has long white beard, always in red suit and sleigh, was born to replace the position of St. Nicholas.

        St. Nicholas is known by various names in different regions of Germany including Klaasbuur, Rauklas, Bullerklaas, and Sunnercla. In eastern Germany, he is called Ash Man, Shaggy Goat, or Rider. Nowadays, he is increasingly known as Weihnachtsmann or Father Christmas throughout Germany. He appears no more on St. Nicholas Day Eve, but on Christmas Eve!

  Decorations  
         The Christmas tree is the soul of this festival for Germans, it was originated in Germany. In the middle Ages, the Germans would put on a mystery play each December 24th, the feast day of Adam and Eve. The plays featured a decorated evergreen which represented the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. The tree was once called the "Paradise Baum". Over the centuries, the plays and associated festivities strayed from their religious origins and the church ceased to sponsor them. However, the people continued to set up and decorate a tree in their home every year at Christmas.

        It has been long thought that Martin Luther began the tradition of bringing a fir tree into the home. One Christmas Eve he brought in an evergreen tree to his daughters nursery for her to enjoy since the weather was too bad for her to go outside. He decorated the tree with candles.

        In German tradition, the Christmas tree is presented prior to the evening feast. The tree has a mysterious magic for the children because they are not allowed to see it until Christmas Eve. When the children are occupied with another room usually by their father, mother brings out the Christmas tree and decorates it with apples, candy, buts, cookies, cars, trains, angles, tinsel, family treasures and candles or light. The presents are placed under the tree. When all is ready, bell is rung as a signal for the children to enter the "Christmas Room". Children sing carols, listen to the  Christmas story and open their gifts under the tree.

        It is inconceivable for a German Christmas without a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree lights and candles are the essential part of the festival for Germans. All German families have their  Christmas trees in this festival, even if they live abroad in distant countries.

      Food           During the season, Germans often set aside special evenings for baking spiced cakes and cookies. It is a time for people to enjoy all kind of delicious food. The highlight of the Christmas food is the cookies, they are shaped like figures of Christmas or stamped with familiar designs. The gingerbread cookies are one of the most delicious among them. The Christmas Eve is also known as "Dickbauch" which means "fat stomach". There is a tradition that those who do not eat well on Christmas Eve will be haunted by demons during the night. So the opportunity is given to enjoy dishes such as sucking pig, "reisbrei"or sweet cinnamon, white sausage, macaroni salad, and other regional dishes.

        On the Christmas Day, people have a banquet of plump roast goose, "Christstollen" (long loaves of bread bursting with nuts, raisins, citron and dried fruit), "Lebkuchen " (spice bars), marzipan, and "Dresden Stollen" (a moist, heavy bread filled with fruit).

   Music 

        Starting with the first Sunday in Advent, sounds of bells and other musical instruments present in all households. It reaches its peek in the Holy Evening of the Christmas Eve. The famous Christmas song "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" (Silent Night) is actually a German Christmas song. This song was composed by Franz Taver Gruber and was written by Joseph Mohr in 1818. It was first heard during Christmas 1818 at the small church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf (Austria), which is near Salzburg and the German- Austria border. Today this famous song is translated into 44 other languages and is known all over the world.

   Christmas Markets  
        Form the beginning of Advent until Christmas, booths and stalls are set up on the market places in all cities. People can buy everything they need for Christmas, such as Christmas tree, decorations for the tree and candles, crib figures and gingerbread, and presents for Christmas Eve. The most famous Christmas markets is the one in Nuremberg which has a history of more than 400 years and is attended by people from many countries. People usually have hot "Rotwein" (red wine) and "Wrust" (sausage) when they are in the Christmas market. 

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