How to Have a Merry German Christmas
Colette Miyoko Kronenberg (Tübingen University)
Katharina Kuhring (Tübingen University)
Even though Christmas season has just ended, we would like to introduce to you the German way of celebrating Christmas. While many American and European customs have already reached the Far East and took hold here, there are still a few you might hear for the first time.
Advent customs
The Advent season starts on the first Sunday after 26th November and ends 25th December. For Christians this time is viewed as preparation time for Jesus Christ’s arrival (“Adventus” is Latin for “arrival”). Based on this belief, there are several customs that European countries usually do. One of them is the Advent wreath: This wreath is made of 10 to 15 cm long dark green fir branches that are fixed around a disc. It is topped off with four candles – usually red or white – that are to be lit one after another on every Advent Sunday so that all four candles will finally burn on Christmas Eve. You can also embellish the wealth with festive or wintry decorations such as stars, cinnamon sticks, or small fir cones.
An important part of Christmas – especially for the children – is the Advent calendar. From December 1st until Christmas Eve, one door of the calendar is opened every day. Behind each door, the children can find a piece of chocolate. Some parents like to make Advent calendars themselves, instead of buying one from a supermarket: therefore, they use 24 little bags or boxes filled with candy or little toys. This custom is not only reserved for kids: for those of you who are creative, it might be a nice idea for a pre-Christmas present for your girlfriend or boyfriend. ;)
St. Nicholas' Day
St. Nicholas’ Day is celebrated every year on 6th of December in honour of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. The custom begins the night before, when kids put their polished boots in front of their bedroom door or front door. During the night, according to the belief, Saint Nicholas comes and fills the empty boots with Christmas cookies, wrapped candy or small gifts that can be enjoyed by their owners the next morning – on 6th of December. Another custom that is prevailing in Northern and Middle Germany is the visit of Saint Nicholas and his nasty companion Servant Rupert. Saint Nicholas questions the children how their behaviour has been throughout the year. Were the kids good then they will receive a present; were they bad then Servant Rupert will beat them with a birch.
Secret Santa
Secret Santa is a lovely custom that is often carried out by a group of friends or school classes. With the beginning of Advent the name of every participant is written on a small piece of paper and tossed into a cap, bag or something similar. Then everyone draws one paper, thus everyone learns whose Christmas present they have to take care of. At the Christmas party that usually takes place before Christmas Eve all the presents are switched anonymously. The most important rule is to keep it a secret whose “Santa” you are - until the very end! To do so, all the presents are placed on a table, marked with the name of the receiver but not the giver. Additionally, to make sure that everyone get's a present of the same value, you can set a limit to how much can be spent on the present in advance.
Christmas Market
From the end of November until 25th of December, it's Christmas market season! During this time little wooden huts and booths with very Christmassy decoration are set up at the marketplaces throughout Germany. In the evening people like to meet there with their friends, strolling between the cute little huts while searching for Christmas presents or drinking a cup of hot wine. Typical foods you can eat at a Christmas market are for example "Schupfnudeln" (finger-shaped potato dumplings) with sauerkraut, "Germknödel" (yeast dumplings with plum filling and vanilla sauce and "Kartoffelpuffer" (potato pancakes) with applesauce. There are also sweet snacks like roasted almonds and of course gingerbread. In some cities you can find different kinds of Christmas markets like for example the medieval Christmas Market in Esslingen. The oldest Christmas market in Germany is the "Striezelmarkt" in Dresden, which is hold every year since 1434. Other very famous ones are those in Cologne, Nuremberg and Stuttgart with up to 5 million visitors every year.
For those who would like to experience a real German Christmas Market, it's not necessary to travel all the way to Europe: Thanks to several German societies every year from the mid of November until Christmas, in Osaka, Tokyo and Sapporo it's possible to taste original Christmas Market food like mentioned above.
Glühwein / Hot Wine (or Mulled Wine)
Thinking of Christmas, every German will definitely think of drinking a delicious cup of hot wine. Being an essential part of the Christmas Season hot wine is not only enjoyed at the Christmas Markets but also hand-made at home. Even though it’s difficult to get the so-called “Glühfix” – an instant mixture you just have to add to heated red wine – round here, you can try this very easy recipe to make your own hot wine:
Preparation
Fill the spices - cloves, cinnamon and star anis - in an empty tea bag. Heat the red wine together with the lemon slices and the teabag in a pot - but don't boil it! When the wine is heated, add the rock candy and wait until it's dissolved/melted.
Pour your self-made hot wine in cups and enjoy! :)
(Read on to the “My Christmas Eve” section for a taste of Christmas traditions in two German families.)