CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY

WHEN CELEBRATED

WHERE CELEBRATED

HISTORY

• Very similar to christmas here
• Saint Nicholas visits German children on Dec. 6
• However, Christkind visits them on Christmas Eve.
• The Weihnachtsman is Germany's version of our Santa

SPECIAL TRADITIONS

• Children leave letters on the window sills for Christkind
• Make gingerbread houses
• On Dec. 6, Saint Nicholas day, one shoe or boot is left outside the door
• Laying out advent wreaths of Holly with 4 red candles in the center,
• Lighting one each Sunday and the last on Christmas Eve.

CHRISTMAS CHARACTERS

• Boys dress as kings, carrying a star and sing carols
• Krampus - beast-like creature with a demonic appearance that punishes the bad kids
• Belsnickel - fur dad gift bringing figure, spooky appearance, thumps naughty children
• Knect Ruprecht – made kids preform a dance and those who did well got gifts

SYMBOLS

• Christmas tree
• Incense burners in various shapes
• Schwibbogen - decorative arc - shaped candle holder
• Mistletoe - kissing under was thought to bind the souls together

SONGS

• Alle jarhe weirder kommt das Christkind
• Jingle bells (german)
• Ein kleiner weißer schneemann
• Ihr kinderlein kommt
• Kling, Glökchen

FOODS

• Goose (weihnachtsganz)
• Carp (weihnachtskarpfen)
• Cheese fondue
• Sausages (würstchen)
• Kartoffelsalat (potato salad)

INTERESTING FACTS

• Christ Kind doesn't come on christmas
• Christmas comes a whole 12 hours earlier than in the U.S.
• There is an extra christmas holiday, which is St. Nicholas day
• Turkey's are safe in germany
• There's also no snacking between courses, no junk foods.