Christmas Traditions in Germany

German Christmas customs, Advent and Nikolaus

Favourite Christmas traditions in Germany include a visit to German Christmas markets, baking yummy Christmas cookies, and decorating the home. But there are many more traditonal Christmas customs in Germany that make December a very special time of the year.

There is no doubt that Christmas (Weihnachten) has become very commercialised since I was a child 50 years ago, so you might hear some Germans saying they don't care about Christmas anymore. This is a minority, however.
I admit, sometimes I say the same. Especially when I see Christmas cookies and chocolate Santas appearing in supermarkets in September. I am still in summer mood then.
However, as soon as December comes, I put the candles and the Christmas ornaments out.

The magic of Christmas is hard to deny if you grew up with all the wonderful German Christmas traditions. Weihnachten has still a deep meaning for Germans and espcecially for families with children. As soon as the kids open the first window on their Adventskalender, they are held in joyful anticipation.

christmas traditions in germany - decorated Frankfurt opera house

Christmas trees in front of the old opera house in Frankfurt

Despite the commercial hype, Weihnachten is the most important holiday in Germany. Actually, the Christmas season begins with the first Advent Sunday. Depending on which weekday Christmas falls, the first Advent Sunday is from 27th November to 3rd December.

Christmas Traditions in Germany - Advent

For the Western Christian Churches Advent is the time to wait and prepare for Jesus's birth at Christmas. The first Advent Sunday is also the beginning of the Western Christian Year. Advent in the Eastern and Orthodox Churches is slightly longer, and begins already on 15th November.

The first Advent Sunday is the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day (25th December). An Adventskranz (advent wreath), usually made of fir twigs, decorated with small stars, ribbons, fir cones and four candles, can be found in nearly every home. In the first week only one candle is lit, the second follows on the second Advent Sunday, and so on.

Advent is the time when houses smell of freshly baked cookies, Stollen and candles. The kids do handicraft Christmas decorations or small presents for the parents. Of course the kids love to help with baking traditional German Christmas cookies, and pinch a few of the fresh goodies. It is also common that children write a letter to the Christkind or the Weihnachtsmann with their wishes for Christmas.

An Adventskalender (advent calendar) also belongs to German Christmas traditions. In former days it was a simple painted cardboard with 24 windows, or doors, to open. Behind each window was a Christmas themed picture. These days, Advent calendars often contain a piece of chocolate, or a small toy, when you open the window. It is also very common to create an individual advent calendar with 24 small packets or stockings containing a little gift.

When I was a child, I loved the Adventstunde, it was one of my favourite Christmas traditions in Germany. The family sat around the Adventskranz singing Christmas carols and nibbling homemade Christmas cookies. We kids were always very excited and dreamt about the presents the Christkind (Christ child) hopefully would bring on Christmas Eve (Heiligabend).

"Advent, Advent ...ein Lichtlein brennt
erst eins, dann zwei, dann drei, dann vier
dann steht das Christkind vor der Tür."

This is a famous Christmas poem in Germany. Roughly translated it says: Advent, Advent, a light is burning, first one, then two, then three then four, then the Christkind stands at the door.

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Another old German Christmas custom is to cut a cherry branch and put it in vase inside the home on December 4th (St. Barbara's Day). The Barbarazweig will usually bloom at Christmas and brings luck for the following year, and a scent of spring in the dark season.

Christmas Traditions in Germany - Saint Nicholas Day

Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus), Santa Claus (Weihnachtsmann) and the Christchild (Christkind) ... they all bring gifts to children (and adults), either on Nikolaustag (6th December) or on Christmas.

Saint Nicholas of Myra (today Turkey) was a bishop in the 4th century. Very little is known about the historical Saint Nicholas. However, lots of legends and folklore surround the bishop, who is the saint patron of Russia, Croatia, Serbia, children and sailors. He was known as a generous man, a secret gift giver, who put coins in shoes of those who were in need, and he had a great fondness for children. No surprise, he became the model of Santa Claus.

Before the Reformation, Saint Nicholas Day was the day children received their Christmas gifts. Reformer Martin Luther didn't approve the veneration of saints like Saint Nicholas. He "invented" the Christchild, a spirit-like figure with blonde hair and wings like an angel.
It took about 200 years until the Christchild was adopted by Catholic families in southern Germany and Austria. At the same time the Christchild was more and more replaced by the Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) in the Protestant regions of Germany.

Anyway, back to St. Nikolaus who often visited children at home. We kids were always a little worried what he would tell us from his golden book. Mysteriously, Nikolaus had a list of our bad behaviour throughout the year in this book. How could he know?
After we promised to be good next year, we had to recite a Christmas poem and jump over the rute ( rod, usually a small tree branch) to receive a slight smack on the back with the rod.

That's me and my brother in the picture, and this was towards the end of Saint Nicholas' visit, we got a bag with sweets, nuts and fruits, at last. My brother still looks a bit guilty, but he got his bag as well :).

In Germany, Nikolaus was originally wearing a bishop's robe and he was a different figure than the Weihnachtsmann (literally translated Christmas man). However, these days Nikolaus and Santa Claus seem to be mingled.

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Christmas Traditions in Germany - Christmas markets

German Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) are romantique, unique, and they have a long tradition. The oldest markets date back to the late middle ages.
In most cities markets open on the first advent weekend and they run until one or two days before Christmas. Small towns often have a market over one week, or just on one weekend.

Weihnachtlich decorated German town

Historic houses, the smell of tasty food and mulled wine, along with the sound of Christmas carols contribute to a special atmosphere.

If you are interested in joining a guided tour to the most famous Christmas markets in Germany, you should look at this tour. The tour visits wonderful cities and towns with the most delightful Christkindlmarkets. Visiting Christmas markets is the best way to experience the best Christmas traditions in Germany.

Four Day Christmas Delight - Leipzig, Dresden and Plauen.

This tour begins and ends in Frankfurt, so you'll get to see the famous Frankfurt Christmas market as well.

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How Christmas in Germany is celebrated these days

Finally, Christmas Eve (Heilig Abend), the day that has held the family in eagerly anticipation for weeks, has arrived.

When I was a child, it was very common that the kids didn't see the Christmas tree (Weihnachtsbaum) before Heiligabend.
This has changed slightly. Some families decorate the tree together with the kids a day before Christmas to reduce the stress from the working parents.
Although most people don't have to work, shops are usually open on Heiligabend (24th) until the early afternoon. Then public life in Germany falls quiet. It is a widespread custom to visit the graves of family members in the afternoon, before the Christmas celebrations begin.

When it gets dark, families gather around the Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols (Weihnachtslieder) and share their joy with the gifts everyone unwraps. Finally, they join for a simple meal around the nicely decorated table.

Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtsfeiertag) and Boxing Day (2. Weihnachtsfeiertag) are reserved to visit grandparents and other family member for a festive Christmas meal, or just stay at home and relax after all the festivities.
Both days are public holidays and shops are closed.

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