Christmas in Germany - 5 Things You Need to Know

Christmas or Weihnachten is a catalyst for all manner of wondrous and goodly things while being regarded by Germans to be the most important of all major holidays. Germany is the place where several popular Christmas customs were said to have originated and you’ll find out that they’re done better here than anywhere else. If you’re lucky enough to be headed to Germany during Christmas time, here are five essential things you should keep in mind.

Christmas Festivities starts well in advance

In German culture, even before November is over, don't be surprised to find Christmas festivities going on in full swing. Christmas usually begins with Advent and it's not uncommon to see several Christmas markets popping up all over the country. An Advent calendar is used to count down the days until Christmas and people tend to receive a highly caloric Advent calendar as a gift. On the fourth Sunday before Christmas, many families also tend to put up an Advent wreath as well, on the living room table.

St. Nikolaus Day

In many parts of Germany, St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th in Germany. On the night of the 5th, children tend to place a freshly polished pair of boots in front of their bedroom doors hoping that Nicholas fills them with nuts, fruits, chocolate, and sweets. While most countries focus on Santa, St Nicholas reigns supreme in Germany and rewards children who have been generally well-behaved throughout the year. However, not all children are equally lucky as children who have caused mischief will receive only a switch or a piece of coal which symbolizes punishment for their bad deeds courtesy of a creature called Knecht Ruprecht or Krampus.

Opening Presents

Christmas Eve, usually the evening of December 24th, is the main day when Germans exchange presents with their families. This is a departure from the usually observed tradition of opening gifts in the morning of the 25th. Further, on the 24th, families usually prepare and enjoy a modest meal leaving the bulk of the festivities to be enjoyed over the course of the next couple of days. With two days of public holidays observed on the 25th and 26th of December, there’s a whole lot of time to enjoy the season and enjoy a huge feast.

Christmas Markets

The German Christmas market is a German tradition which is famed all across the world and usually runs through the four December weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. People congregate to these Christmas fairs to buy different types of Christmas foods such as gingerbread hearts, crepes, cookies, stolen etc. as well as decorations while indulging in warm drinks and sugar-roasted chestnuts. Also known as Christkindlmarkt, local crafts such as hand-blown glass ornaments and wooden toys are very popular items on sale while the whole place is lit up and buzzing with activity during this time.

Say Goodbye to Turkey

Although Christmas time is usually associated with a nice roast turkey dinner, Germans like to do it differently. Instead of the usual turkey fare, Germans prepare roast goose which is their traditional Christmas day dinner which is served along with some coleslaw and red cabbage. Some regions of Germany even use wild boar as an alternative to a goose. Christmas Stollen is also served during dinner which is regarded as one of the best Christmas pastries in the world!