German Christmas Traditions
German Advent and other Customs
Learn here german christmas traditions - especially how Christmas is celebrated in Germany. Read also about typical Christmas activities, customs and recipes and get of course some inspirations for german christmas gifts.
German Christmas appears in red and dark green
Christmas or "Weihnachten", is a calm time in Germany. People are in a thoughtful mood. Business offices and town streets are decorated with Christmas lights and branches of fir-needle and pine-needle trees. Houses are usually scarcely decorated and often appear in red and dark green - the traditional colors of "Weihnachten" in Germany.
Of course in the meantime you'll find german christmas decorations also in silver, gold, blue and many other trendy colours.
Germany Christmas Traditions: Advent
Advent is similar celebrated in the USA. The only exception makes the wreath which doesn't hang on the doors but is displayed with 4 candles on a table.The four weeks before Christmas are called the Adventszeit - each week includes an Adventssonntag. It is very custom to light that number of candles on the wreath matching to the number of the Advent Sundays having passed.
In this time you will find too a lot of calendars with 24 small doors to open (Adventskalender) and some pictures, toys, chocolates or other goodies behind especially for children in German homes. We pack 24 small selfmade presents and give them to our kids. As you see below the german food and toy industry reacts every year with new Adventskalender Creations.
More German Christmas Traditions
Christmas in Germany is very traditional. Another thing which has to be done before christmas is to buy a christmas tree (it is mostly a pine or fir).German Christmas Eve
Christmas itself begins at Christmas Eve (24.). The shops are open until noon on this day. Each family has its own "small family tradition".Some first go to church and then "exchange" their german christmas gifts, have a wonderful dinner together, sing some christmas songs and so on. Other families give their first gifts on Christmas Day (25.).
Typical german christmas food
On Christmas Day you can expect a banquet of plump roast goose, German Christmas cookies, a typical german christmas cake called "Christstollen" or "Dresdner Stollen", "Lebkuchen" (spice bars) and Marzipan. This results in three days of being together with your family and eating, talking, drinking...Learn German Christmas Expressions
The following german terms and expressions are good to know for authentic german christmas greetings live or written on a christmas card. Enjoy it!German Christmas Ornaments and Decorations
Find in this section some helpful informations regarding german christmas ornaments. Very special "christmas ornaments" originating from the Erzgebirge are the
German nutcrackers (Nussknacker) and the incense smokers (Räuchermännchen).
And not to forget the German Pyramids - those play also an important part in German christmas traditions.
Related articles
- German Christmas Gifts- German Christmas Cards
- German Christmas Markets
Photo: Brigitte Heinen, pixelio.de
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