It is Christmas in Germany and after sunset on Christmas Eve,
Heiligabend (Holy Evening), the sound of small bell ringing suddenly echoes through the air, the door into 'das Weihnachtszimmer' swings open and through it rush children who come to a halt only by the newly decorated Christmas tree.All light in the Christmas Room is from the tree, which in Germany is often a real conifer covered with wax candles, and a pile of presents lie by a Weihnachtskrippe, the nativity tableau with stable and figures, perhaps under the Christmas tree or on specially decorated table. A window is slightly open and some angel hair, or it could be a feather, hangs from the curtain alongside it, while outside a lamp glimmers.
Advent has come to an end, the twelve days of Weihnachten have, begun and the Christkind, the Christ Child, has made his annual visit to their home and yet again they have just missed him.
Martin Luther the protestant reformer created the Christkind with its angel's wings in 16th century Germany, as an alternative bringer of gifts on Heiligabend instead of the saints days of St. Nicholas, December 6th, or St. Martin on November 11th, when presents had been traditionally exchanged, and over the years the custom was adopted by catholic families.
Now Germany's Weihnachten, Christmas, celebrations are followed by many of the country's non-Christians as well as having spread world wide, and are a rich and colourful mixture of religious, secular, folk and food traditions, a lot of which vary slightly from region to region.
Shops and businesses shut at 1 pm on Christmas Eve throughout
the country, and the afternoon is then taken up with preparations for the evening ahead, with church services for those of the protestant faith taking place during the afternoon before the presents are given, while a catholic mass will be late in the evening. Meanwhile in homes where it is believed 'the Christkind brings the Christmas tree' it is decorated secretly with Speculatuis and Lebkuchen cookies, glass, wooden and straw ornaments, nuts and apples, and often wax candles, while the children are otherwise occupied. Perhaps at a children's church service with its nativity play and Christmas carols.
Traditionally children do not see who brings their gifts on December 24th but are told they are brought by the Christkind, this happens mainly in the Southern part of the country, or by the Weihnachtsmann, Santa Claus, and the evening is a time spent together with close family, during which there will be an an exchange of presents, known as 'Bescherung', and a traditional evening meal.
Although the fast that used to take place during Advent is no longer followed, the Christmas Eve menu for what would have been its last evening continues to remain something simple such as fish or different types of sausage with potato salad.
December 25th, the 'First Day of Christmas' der erste Weihnachtstag, is a day spent in the company of relatives, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and friends, and as
a contrast to the simplicity of Christmas Eve there is an enormous amount of food on offer with roast goose and all the trimmings perhaps the most popular.Germans then have a 'Second Day of Christmas', der zweite Weihnachtstag, to enjoy. Another public holiday with family outings and reunions, where, as it is officially the saints day of St. Stephen the patron saint of horses, a mixture of horse related events and customs take place, including in rural areas local horses led in procession through the neighborhood to be blessed.
Meanwhile, despite there no longer having been weeks of strict fasting before hand, the day is again filled with vast amounts of traditional food specialties and treats.
In fact the festive fun continues because in Germany there are twelve Weihnachtstage, Christmas days, with celebrations and traditions leading to Epiphany, but one that is rarely followed these days is the Bavarian custom 'the Twelve Quiet Days' during which the women of the family were not allowed to do any baking, washing, cleaning or spinning for the duration.
However this was not because they deserved a well earned rest, but because it was believed to bring bad luck.
With Epiphany, Twelfth Night, the celebrations finally come to an end for another year until once again it is time for Advent to begin, on the Sunday closest to 30th November, St. Andrews Day.
Froehliche Weihnachten...............Merry Christmas
This is an absolutely beautiful book, and not only for children. 'Christmas Around the World: A Pop-Up Book' is interactive and not only filled with background stories and information but could qualify as a work of art. A book to treasure and bring out every year.
You can find out more about the December celebrations with 'Holidays Around The World: Celebrate Christmas: With Carols, Presents, and Peace', still suitable for children but a more 'Grown Up' book, which has everything from seasonal recipes to the various Christmas charitable traditions followed by different countries.
Weihnachten Christkind 1893 Catholic Newspaper - Christmas Tree and Christmas candle on pine branch photographed by wiki user Malene Thyssen - Weihnachtsgans photographer Juergen Howaldt - via commons.wikimedia.org
