Traditionally, on Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) in Germany, 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.
How is Christmas celebrated differently in Germany?
Unlike Christmas Day celebrations in England, the Germans know 25th December as 'Erster Feiertag', which means first celebration day. While the presents will have all been opened on Christmas Eve, the 25th is still a day where families gather, good food is eaten and people enjoy well-deserved time off work.
What is the difference between Christmas in Germany and England?
Unlike in the UK or the USA, where the Christmas holiday period begins on the 25th of December, in Germany, Christmas Eve on the 24th of December is considered the main day for Christmas celebrations. That's when the Christmas tree is put up and decorated and presents are opened.
Christmas Eve (Weihnachten): December 24, 2022 (Saturday) Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag): December 25, 2022 (Sunday) Boxing Day (Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag): December 26, 2022 (Monday) New Year's Eve (Silvester): December 31, 2022 (Saturday)
No, Christmas wasn't really recognized. Basically there isn't any non-religious context to it that wasn't integrated into the New Year (such as the fir tree, decorations, exchange of presents, feast), and the devout Christianity was suppressed for 70 year, so almost nobody would care about the religious context.
Between 1933 and 1945, some government officials attempted to remove these aspects of Christmas from civil celebrations and concentrate on cultural pre-Christian aspects of the festival. However, church and private celebrations remained Christian in nature.
Traditionally, on Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) in Germany, 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.
The Second Day of Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Epiphany are the remains of this long festival. December 26 is also St Stephen's Day. St Stephan was the first Christian martyr and was convicted of blasphemy against Moses and God, as well as for speaking against the Temple and Law.
Everything that shines and glitters, such as Christmas balls, bells, angel figures or shimmering tinsel, is popular. In Germany, it is still customary to put up real trees and decorate them with real candles.
How did both the British and Germans spend Christmas night?
The Germans placed candles on their trenches and on Christmas trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols. The British responded by singing carols of their own. The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other.
Ethiopia and Eritrea. Christmas Day, known as Ledet in Eritrea and Gena in Ethiopia, is celebrated on 7 January (27 Tahsas of the Ethiopian calendar). Many Christians in Eritrea and Ethiopia observe a 40-day fast before the holiday, culminating in dawn church services on Christmas morning.
German Good Luck Symbols or German Christmas Symbols: As Found in German Pyramids, German Smokers, German Cuckoo Clocks and German Nutcrackers. Germany is known for providing the candle pyramid, nutcrackers, and smokers to Christmas celebrations, but there are many other Christmas symbols, which stem from this country.
What is the difference between German and English Christmas?
✨ Festive Food – Germans indulge in Stollen (fruit bread), Lebkuchen (gingerbread), and bratwurst at Christmas. In the UK, it's all about mince pies (filled with dried fruit), Christmas pudding (rich, fruity, and flambéed!), and Christmas cake, covered with marzipan and a thick layer of icing.
Nowadays, Germans typically exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, but the Nikolaustag tradition continues. On the night of December 5, children and adults clean their shoes and place them outside their front door.
There are two days of Christmas in Germany, the 25th and the 26th of December. For many people, Christmas Eve, on the 24th of December, has a hectic morning part and a festive evening part.
They include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, North Korea, Libya, Mauritania, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Yemen. In these countries, Christmas is not considered a day off from work.
They saw Christmas as a wasteful festival that threatened Christian beliefs and encouraged immoral activities, to (in Stubbs' words) the 'great dishonour of God'. The discontent felt within the Puritan community towards festivals led to the enactment of forceful legislation even before Cromwell's protectorate.
Some families (29% of Germans) go to church in the afternoon of the 24th for a special Christmas mass (Christmette). In Germany, Christmas gifts are placed underneath the Christmas tree and opened on the 24th in the evening. Traditionally, Christmas gifts are brought by the Christkind (child of Christ).
At the centre of a German Christmas evening spread you'll usually find a roasted goose, turkey or duck, traditionally served with lovely plump bread dumplings – the classic round ones, or one great big festive loaf-shaped one, known as a Serviettenknödel (pictured sliced, above), plus braised red cabbage or stewed kale ...
On Christmas Eve, Krampus travels with a sack or a basket strapped to his back; this is to cart off evil children for drowning, eating, or transport to Hell. Some of the older versions make mention of naughty children being put in the bag and taken away.
In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, rather than stockings, children typically leave an empty boot or shoe by the fire for Saint Nicholas to fill with goodies. Shoes and boots were similarly dried by fires, and so developed as an alternative of the winter tradition.
How long do Germans leave their Christmas tree up?
Once the tree has been decorated on Christmas Eve, the tree remains in the house for the 12 days of Christmas, which ends on January 6. Also known as Epiphany, the day which the wise men were said to visit baby Jesus. However, some Catholic parts of Germany keep their tree up until February 2nd (Candlemas).
Why do Germans hang a pickle on their Christmas tree?
In the tradition, an ornamental pickle is placed on a Christmas tree as one of the Christmas decorations. On Christmas morning, the first person to find the pickle on the tree would receive an extra present from Santa Claus or would be said to have a year of good fortune.
What does the upside down Christmas tree mean in Germany?
Folklore attributes the upside down tree to Saint Boniface, a Catholic priest who led a mission to Germany and central Europe in the 7th century AD where he used the upside down tree to symbolize the Holy Trinity. By the 12th century the upside down tree was popular in many homes in north and central Europe.
