Did Christmas originate in Germany?

Christmas did not start in Germany, but many of the holiday's traditions began there, including decorating trees. The celebration of Christmas started in Rome about 336, but it did not become a major Christian festival until the 9th century.
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Where did Christmas really originate?

The first time the birth of Jesus Christ was attributed to the date December 25 was in the 4th century, according to early Roman history. Early celebrations of Christmas are thought to have derived from Roman and other European festivals that marked the end of the harvest, and the winter solstice.
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What is the legend of Christmas in Germany?

The legend of the Krampus dates back centuries, originating as a German Christmas tradition during the 12th century. Beginning in early December, the children of Germany would begin to hear whispers of a dark haired creature bearing horns and fangs, carrying a bundle of birch sticks used to swat naughty children.
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What is the history of Christmas trees in Germany?

1600s – By the 17th century, it was common in Germany to decorate Christmas Trees with apples. This practice was a holdover from the 14th and 15th centuries when evergreen boughs hung with apples were the only prop used in the “miracle plays” that were performed at the churches on December 24.
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Did Christmas originate in Turkey?

The roots of Father Christmas lay in Turkey, to be precise in Patara near Myra. Already within the 4th century A.D.E. St Nicholas dropped bags of cash down the chimneys to assist people. But today, in a very country with a 98% Muslim population, Christmas may be a day like several other days.
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Origins of Christmas | History

Did Santa Claus start in turkey?

Saint Nicholas, who is known worldwide as Santa Claus, was born in the ancient Lycian city of Patara, an important city on the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye. Around 300 AD, during a prosperous era for Patara, a rich wheat merchant had a son and named him Nicholas.
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Why do Brits have turkey for Christmas?

There is documentation of turkeys being imported into the UK in the early 16th century, and Henry VIII was apparently the first British monarch to enjoy turkey on Christmas day. However, it took over 400 years for the turkey to go from a specialty, luxury item to the most popular festive centrepiece across the UK.
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What did Germany invent for Christmas?

5. Christmas trees. The modern Christmas tree (weihnachtsbaum) originated from Germany. In the 16th century, German Christians brought decorated trees into their home to celebrate the holiday, with many families building Christmas pyramids of wood and decorating them with evergreens if wood was scarce.
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Did Germany put up the first Christmas tree?

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition—as we now know it—by the 16th century when sources record devout Christians bringing decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce.
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Why did Germany start putting up Christmas trees?

Whether that tale is true or not, evergreen trees became part of Christian rites in Germany, and in the Middle Ages “paradise trees” began to appear there. Meant to represent the Garden of Eden, these evergreen trees were hung with apples and displayed in homes on December 24, the religious feast day of Adam and Eve.
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Why is Christmas in Germany unique?

First, the presents are not delivered by Santa Claus, but by the Christkind (originally the Christ Child Jesus, nowadays an angel like figure). Since Germans celebrate his birthday that day, they receive presents and joy in return. That is why secondly, the opening of presents occurs on the evening of Dec.
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When did Germany start doing Christmas?

Some of Germany's existing Christmas markets trace their origins as far back as the 15th and 16th centuries. Dresden's market first opened for one day on Christmas Eve in 1434. Meanwhile, the oldest evidence of Nuremberg's Christmas market dates it to 1628, though some suspect it stretches back at least to 1530.
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What did Germany call Christmas?

Weihnachten (German: [ˈvaɪ̯naxtn̩]) is the observance of what is commonly known in English as Christmas in the German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
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Who first created Christmas?

The origins of Christmas stem from both the pagan and Roman cultures. The Romans actually celebrated two holidays in the month of December. The first was Saturnalia, which was a two-week festival honoring their god of agriculture Saturn. On December 25th, they celebrated the birth of Mithra, their sun god.
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How did December 25 become Christmas?

Under Emperor Constantine, the Church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 in 336. Some say the date was chosen to outshine the Sol Invictus and pagan celebrations. But there's much doubt around whether Christians had been trying to steal Sol Invictus' thunder.
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What country did Santa Claus originate from?

The Origin and History of a Christmas Legend. The story behind Santa goes back to the third century during the time of St. Nicholas, a monk, even though some sources state that he was a bishop. Nicholas was born around 280 A.D. in Patara, in modern-day Turkey.
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Did Germany or Latvia have the first Christmas tree?

1510 – The first written record of a decorated Christmas Tree comes from Riga, Latvia. Men of the local merchants' guild decorated a tree with artificial roses, danced around it in the marketplace and then set fire to it. The rose was used for many year and is considered to be a symbol for the Virgin Mary.
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Who brought the Christmas tree to England?

Christmas Trees

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, is usually credited with having introduced the Christmas tree into England in 1840. However it was actually 'good Queen Charlotte', the German wife of George III, who set up the first known tree at Queen's Lodge, Windsor, in December 1800.
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How did the Germans initiate the unofficial Christmas tree?

It really began with the Germans singing Christmas carols and setting up Christmas trees on top of their parapets. And so, they came to very much empathise with one another.”
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Why do Germans celebrate Christmas on 24th?

It is said that the royals have kept this practice going for almost 200 years because of their German origin. For these countries, December 24 marks the beginning of Christmas, which, rather than being an all-day event, often begins in the afternoon.
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What is the oldest Christmas market in the world?

The Dresdner Striezelmarkt is considered the first genuine Christmas market in the world, dating all the way back to its first iteration in 1434, when it was held for just one day. Today, it's a massive multiday event where over 200 stalls can be found selling sweet treats, Christmas tchotchkes, and more.
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What is the traditional Christmas bird?

Turkeys have become a staple of the festive season, and it's hard to imagine a traditional Christmas dinner without one. In this blog, read on to learn about the unlikely history of the Christmas turkey and find out how it isn't quite as traditional a Christmas bird as you might think.
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Why do we eat goose at Christmas?

Goose Through The Ages

Many English customs and traditions, especially at Michaelmas (September 29), were celebrated by feasting on goose whose meat was always regarded as superior to other poultry. In Victorian times, Goose Clubs flourished with members making payments throughout the year.
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What did English people eat on Christmas before turkey?

Other favourite Georgian Christmas foods included turtle soup, fish, cockles and mussels, brawn (a meat jelly made from the boiled head of a calf seasoned with spices), mince pies, plum pudding and frumenty – a kind of porridge made with grains, almonds, currants and sugar, which was often served with meat.
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Is Santa Claus Turkish or German?

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends.
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