Many Germans make or buy an Advent wreath. Four candles are placed on the circlet, one for each Sunday during Advent. The candles represent light and hope which were traditionally meant to defend against evil forces during the long winter months.
The tradition reportedly originated in a children's home in Hamburg, Germany, where in 1838 theologist Johann Hinrich Wichern lit a new candle for each day of Advent to symbolize that Christ was the “Light of the World.” Later, the candles were placed on wooden rings and then on pine wreaths.
Every Sunday until Christmas another candle is lit until all four candles give a cozy “Licht”. The Advent wreath is meant to shorten the time until Christmas and to bring light into the dark season. The increase of light symbolizes the joyful expectation of the arrival of Jesus Christ.
The Christmas tree tradition started in Lutheran Germany in the 16th century when devout Lutherans brought decorated trees into their homes. If trees were scarce, some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles . Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree.
What is it? The 26-foot carousel-like structure is called a Weihnachtspyramide, or Christmas Pyramid. These wooden pyramids are a traditional German decoration dating back to the 16th century.
5 German Christmas traditions you should know | History Stories
What is the most famous German Christmas decoration?
Advent wreaths, known as an Adventskranz, is a tradition which the German Lutherans in the 16th century kick-started. Typically, the wreath consists of four candles in a bed of pine cones, berries, dried flowers and various festive ornaments.
The Christmas tree has found its place into German homes at the end of 18th century. In 2019 29,8 million of Christmas trees were sold in the country. Germans love the mulled wine – each year they drink 50 million liters of it. Several tons of ginger bread cookies and printen are made every year in Germany.
The term Weihnachtsmann is a very generic German term for Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus. The German Weihnachtsmann is a fairly recent Christmas tradition having little if any religious or folkloric background.
The tradition of the Christmas tree finds its roots in Germany around 16th Century. The German Christmas tree, known as Tannenbaum or Weihnachtsbaum, was recorded to be used as a central décor of Christmas by the southern Germans.
The candles represent light and hope which were traditionally meant to defend against evil forces during the long winter months. During their childhood, most Germans will have learnt a popular song called 'Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt', which is often recited when a candle is lit on the 'Adventskranz'.
If you are like me, you may have wondered why you put a fairy on top of your Christmas tree! This tradition can be traced back to Germany where it's believed that fairies bring good luck to new babies and are a symbol of fertility. It also represents the Angel that announced the fore coming and birth of Jesus.
The "original" or also called "Wichern's" wreath consisted of a wagon wheel covered with spruce branches, with four large white candles, symbolizing the Sundays, interspersed with smaller red ones, representing the working days.
Candle arches are an integral part of the German Christmas tradition. Their romantic light adorns countless window sills - not only in the Erzgebirge (ore mountains) - at Christmas time. In the days of mining, the glowing candle arches were a symbol of the longing for the light and unscathed return from the mine shaft.
What Does the German Candle Arch Represent? The candle's arch symbolises the entrance of the miner's tunnel, while the candles represent the torches used to illuminate the interior of the mine. Traditionally, candle arch figurines display scenes of everyday life, such as Christmas traditions or forest landscapes.
Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage. and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.
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 ...
Nikolaus Day — still celebrated Dec. 6 every year — is a preliminary round of Christmas gifts and holiday cheer in Bavaria. During this holiday, St. Nikolaus visits towns to read from his book and hand out small gifts of nuts, fruits and chocolate from a burlap sack.
The Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on Christmas Eve. In some parts of Germany, during the evening, the family would read the Bible and sing Christmas songs such as O Tannenbaum, Ihr Kinderlein Kommet and Stille Nacht (Slient Night).
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. Throughout Christmases past, people have incorporated numerous items into their Christmas celebrations.
The nations that celebrate on December 24 are mostly Christian, and a Christian liturgical day always begins and finishes at sunset. As a result, Jesus is said to have been born at 5 p.m. on December 24, and his birthday finishes at the same time on December 25.
If the wick in a fat candle is so short that it burns out too quickly, stick a toothpick down into the wax beside the wick, letting it extend a bit above it, and the candle will burn fine!
Teacher Explanation: When a candle is placed underneath a balloon, the energy from the candle (heat) is transferred to the surface of the balloon. The air inside of the balloon does not absorb a lot of heat from the candle. As a result, the rubber absorbs the heat, which causes expansion of the balloon at this point.
