Weihnachten
Encyclopedia
Weihnachten is the German
observance of what is commonly known in English as Christmas Day.
), which is set up on the 4th sunday before Christmas Day, the beginning of the season. Four candles adorn the wreath, and a new one is lit each week. Families often sing Christmas carols as they gather around the wreath to celebrate the preparation and Christmas season.
Children also enjoy the Christmas calendar, which contains 24 doors (one for each day of December leading up to Christmas). Children open one door each day, and find a chocolate treat awaiting them. Many of the calendars also include pictures inside the doors, often Christmas-related.
Each year, millions flock to Nuremberg
for the Christkindlesmarkt
(Christmas market). Visitors enjoy booths, entertainment, and food. Famous Christmas-time treats include Lebkuchen
(gingerbread), stollen
(fruit cake), and marzipan
(confectionary often made into sweets).
The Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree
) is usually put up in the afternoon of December 24. The trees can be bought at special traders' sites, but some Germans may still go into the forests and cut one themselves. The event of gathering the Christmas tree often involves the drinking of Glühwein.
Traditionally, on Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) a simple meal will be prepared and served before or after the Bescherung ("time for exchanging gifts"), in contrast to the big meal on Christmas Day that is eaten in certain other countries. A typical meal on Heiligabend may include Fish, Duck, Fondue or Raclette.
Before the Bescherung (gift giving) begins, many Germans go to church. Christmas masses/services often last around one hour. Families with children go to a children's mass which is usually shorter and dramatised with a Krippenspiel, which is a nativity play
.
While everyone else is at church, one of the adults prepares the Christmas tree and turns on electric lights or lights decorative candles, and puts on festive Christmas music and places the gifts under the tree.
When the family comes back from the church, the living room is locked. The children must wait to enter into the prepared room until a little bell rings. This bell marks the departure of the Christ Child (Christkind
) who, according to tradition, brings the presents (instead of Saint Nicholas
or Santa Claus
). Revealing the decorated Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas tree) with all the presents is a big surprise. For the Bescherung, the only light comes from the Christmas tree lights (in the past real candles, today electric lights rather than candles).
Many families will sing traditional Christmas carol
s or play music on flutes and/or guitars around the tree before opening the gifts.
The gifts lie under the tree, wrapped in colorful paper, and the children unwrap them before the big Christmas feast. Adults may also share gifts while the children are opening theirs. Many families also prepare decorated paper bags or carton plates (Weihnachtsteller) for each of the children and adults. These are full of treats and are often in the shape of angel
s or Santa Claus, who is called Weihnachtsmann in German.
This is just one version. The celebration of Christmas in Germany varies by region. In many parts there are no presents underneath the tree but the Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus) actually appears in person. The Weihnachtsmann (normally played by a relative) knocks on the door while the family sits together. Once he is let in, he puts his sack and 'rute' (shepards stick) aside and greets the family. He then asks the child or children to perform by singing a Christmas song or reciting a poem. He then asks if they were naughty or nice. Most children admit that they have not always been nice, so the Weihnachtsman wants the promise that they do better next year before giving all their presents. He then retreats and the family spends the rest of the evening together enjoying their gifts and company.
(with many types of meat), raclette
and lamb.
The Christmas Tree is also decorated with candies and chocolates (Kringel), which can be eaten when the Christmas Tree is being "plundered" (geplündert) on December 25. The Christmas tree is disposed after the second week of January, often by the municipal waste management.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
observance of what is commonly known in English as Christmas Day.
Preparations
In preparation for Weihnachten (Christmas), many German families celebrate Advent. This is a time of religious preparation for the arrival of das Christkind (the Christ Child). Traditional advent activities include the Adventskranz (Advent wreathAdvent wreath
The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church...
), which is set up on the 4th sunday before Christmas Day, the beginning of the season. Four candles adorn the wreath, and a new one is lit each week. Families often sing Christmas carols as they gather around the wreath to celebrate the preparation and Christmas season.
Children also enjoy the Christmas calendar, which contains 24 doors (one for each day of December leading up to Christmas). Children open one door each day, and find a chocolate treat awaiting them. Many of the calendars also include pictures inside the doors, often Christmas-related.
Each year, millions flock to Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
for the Christkindlesmarkt
Christkindlesmarkt, Nuremberg
Christkindlesmarkt is a Christmas market held annually in Nuremberg, Germany.. It takes place during Advent in the Hauptmarkt, the central squaree in Nuremberg’s old town, and in adjoining squares and streets. With about two million visitors a year the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt is one of the...
(Christmas market). Visitors enjoy booths, entertainment, and food. Famous Christmas-time treats include Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen is a traditional German baked Christmas treat, somewhat resembling gingerbread.Lebkuchen were invented by Medieval monks in Franconia, Germany in the 13th century. Lebkuchen bakers were recorded as early as 1296 in Ulm, and 1395 in Nürnberg...
(gingerbread), stollen
Stollen
A Stollen is a loaf-shaped cake containing dried fruit, and covered with sugar, powdered sugar or icing sugar. The cake is usually made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts and spices. Stollen is a traditional German cake, usually eaten during the Christmas season, when called...
(fruit cake), and marzipan
Marzipan
Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal. Persipan is a similar, yet less expensive product, in which the almonds are replaced by apricot or peach kernels...
(confectionary often made into sweets).
The Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
) is usually put up in the afternoon of December 24. The trees can be bought at special traders' sites, but some Germans may still go into the forests and cut one themselves. The event of gathering the Christmas tree often involves the drinking of Glühwein.
Traditionally, on Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) a simple meal will be prepared and served before or after the Bescherung ("time for exchanging gifts"), in contrast to the big meal on Christmas Day that is eaten in certain other countries. A typical meal on Heiligabend may include Fish, Duck, Fondue or Raclette.
Order of events
In some families the whole family comes together; in others December 24 is celebrated only by the close family, whereas the larger family (grandparents, uncles & aunts, etc.) will visit on the first or second Day of Christmas (December 25 and 26 respectively).Before the Bescherung (gift giving) begins, many Germans go to church. Christmas masses/services often last around one hour. Families with children go to a children's mass which is usually shorter and dramatised with a Krippenspiel, which is a nativity play
Nativity play
A Nativity play or Christmas pageant is a play which recounts the story of the Nativity of Jesus. It is usually performed at Christmas, the feast of the Nativity.-Liturgical:...
.
While everyone else is at church, one of the adults prepares the Christmas tree and turns on electric lights or lights decorative candles, and puts on festive Christmas music and places the gifts under the tree.
When the family comes back from the church, the living room is locked. The children must wait to enter into the prepared room until a little bell rings. This bell marks the departure of the Christ Child (Christkind
Christkind
Das Christkind is the traditional Christmas gift-bringer in regions of Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, parts of Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary, parts of Hispanic America, in certain areas of southern Brazil and in the Acadiana region of Louisiana...
) who, according to tradition, brings the presents (instead of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
or Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
). Revealing the decorated Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas tree) with all the presents is a big surprise. For the Bescherung, the only light comes from the Christmas tree lights (in the past real candles, today electric lights rather than candles).
Many families will sing traditional Christmas carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
s or play music on flutes and/or guitars around the tree before opening the gifts.
The gifts lie under the tree, wrapped in colorful paper, and the children unwrap them before the big Christmas feast. Adults may also share gifts while the children are opening theirs. Many families also prepare decorated paper bags or carton plates (Weihnachtsteller) for each of the children and adults. These are full of treats and are often in the shape of angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s or Santa Claus, who is called Weihnachtsmann in German.
This is just one version. The celebration of Christmas in Germany varies by region. In many parts there are no presents underneath the tree but the Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus) actually appears in person. The Weihnachtsmann (normally played by a relative) knocks on the door while the family sits together. Once he is let in, he puts his sack and 'rute' (shepards stick) aside and greets the family. He then asks the child or children to perform by singing a Christmas song or reciting a poem. He then asks if they were naughty or nice. Most children admit that they have not always been nice, so the Weihnachtsman wants the promise that they do better next year before giving all their presents. He then retreats and the family spends the rest of the evening together enjoying their gifts and company.
After Heiligabend
On the first or second Day of Christmas (25th and 26th), many of the typical Christmas meals will be served. The most common include goose, chicken, fondueFondue
Fondue is a Swiss dish of melted cheese served in a communal pot over a spirit lamp , and eaten by dipping long-stemmed forks with bread into the cheese...
(with many types of meat), raclette
Raclette
Raclette is both a type of cheese and a Swiss and French dish based on heating the cheese and scraping off the melted part.-Cheese:Raclette is a semi-firm, cow's milk cheese - most commonly used for melting...
and lamb.
The Christmas Tree is also decorated with candies and chocolates (Kringel), which can be eaten when the Christmas Tree is being "plundered" (geplündert) on December 25. The Christmas tree is disposed after the second week of January, often by the municipal waste management.
See also
- Christmas EveChristmas EveChristmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
- StollenStollenA Stollen is a loaf-shaped cake containing dried fruit, and covered with sugar, powdered sugar or icing sugar. The cake is usually made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts and spices. Stollen is a traditional German cake, usually eaten during the Christmas season, when called...
- YuleYuleYule or Yuletide is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic people as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January...
- Christmas in Nazi GermanyChristmas in Nazi GermanyThe Christian festival of Christmas was celebrated in Nazi Germany, although with variations from traditional practice. It was referred to as "Julfest".-Changes during the Nazi era:...
- KirchenkampfKirchenkampfKirchenkampf is a German term that translates as "struggle of the churches" or "church struggle" in English. The term is sometimes used ambiguously, and may refer to one or more of the following different church struggles:...
- Christmas worldwide / Central Europe
- Worldwide / German-speaking Europe
Literature
- Oscar Cullmann: Die Entstehung des Weihnachtsfestes und die Herkunft des Weihnachtsbaumes (The Emergence of Christmas and the Origin of the Christmas Tree); Stuttgart: Source Publishing House, 19944; ISBN 3-79182326-4 (a solid and generally comprehensible explanation of Christmas from Christian view)
- Alexander Demandt: The Origin of Christmas, now in: ders.: Sieben Siegel. Essays zur Kulturgeschichte; Köln-Weimar-Wien: (Essay on Cultural History; Cologne-Weimar-Vienna): Böhlau Verlag, 2005; P. 1-18 (scientifically fastidious and at the same time generally understandable study of the old-eastern-Jewish, anti-Christian and Germanic-German roots of Christmas)
- Henrik Cornell: The Iconography of the Nativity of Christ; Uppsala 1924
- Franz Joseph DölgerFranz Joseph DölgerFranz Joseph Dölger was a German Catholic theologian and church historian who was a native of Sulzbach am Main....
: Natalis Solis Invicti and Christian Christmas; in: Antike und Christentum 6.1976, 23 ff - Hugo Elm: Das goldene Weihnachtsbuch: Description and representation of the origin, the celebration, the habits, legends and the faith of the Christmas season and at the same time guidance for decorating the Christian tree, the pyramid, as well as the application of the creche and Weihnachtsgärten. Schwetschke, resounds 1878 (Digitalisathttp://www.digibib.tu-bs.de/?docid=00000332) Archives for Literature Science 2, 1952
- Leonhard Fendt: The today's conditions of research over the birth celebration Jesu to 25. XII. and over Epiphanias; in: Theological Literature Newspaper 78 (1953)
- Hans Förster: Christmas - A Tracing; Berlin: Kadmos Publishing House, 20052; ISBN 3-93165-947-X
- Konrad Onasch: Christmas in the Orthodox Church Year; Berlin: Evangelist Publishing House, 1958
- Susan K. Roll: Weihnachten/Weihnachtsfest/Weihnachtspredigt; in: TRE 35, P. 453-468; Berlin - New York: de Gruyter, 2003
- Lily Weiser-Aall: Artikel Weihnacht; in: Hand Dictionary of the German Faith, Bd. 9; Augsburg: Weltbild, 2005 (=Berlin: de Gruyter, 1941); ISBN 3-8289-0808-X
Explanations of Christmas in German Christianity
- www.ekhn.de Website of the Evangelical Church in Hessen and Nassau
- www.katholisch.de Website of the Catholic Church in Germany Comments of Christian dignitaries to Christmas
- www.kirche-in-not.de Interview with Cardinal Leo Scheffczyk (Catholic)
Weihnachtsgottesdienste
- www.kigo-tipps.de planning of Children's Christmas Services by German author of the Federation of Evangelist Municipalitieshi
Christmas in German art and children's literature
- www.icon-art.info Icons of the Birth of Christ
- www.geschichten-zu-weihnachten.de.vu Christmas children's services
Critical analyses
- www.religio.de Thomas Gandow: Die Quadratur des Adventskranzes or: "Atheism Under the Christmas Tree“