Christmas market in Dusseldorf
Christmas in Germany
Nikolaus in Germany:
In Germany, preparations for Christmas start before early December, the real celebration starts from 6th December, St. Nicholas, known here as "Nikolaustag". On the night of 5th (St. Nicholas Eve) children put their shoe or boot outside the door, a tradition also practiced in many other European countries.
According to a German legend, the spirit of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, goes from house to house on the 5th carrying a book of sins in it aare written all the naughty things children have done through the year. It is said that St. Nicholas fills the shoes of all good children with treats and places a birch in the shoes of all naughty children.
Advent wreaths in Germany:
Advent wreaths (made of Holly flowers) are placed on a table and four red candles are placed in the center of it. One of these candles is lit on each Sunday preceding Christmas and the last one is lit on Christmas Eve. Advent calendars, containing pictures beneath each window, are used by children, and to count the days until Christmas, as a child I always knew father christmas would appear in number 6 window.
Christmas tree in Germany:
The Christmas tree is an integral part of German Christmas celebrations. The Christmas tree actually originated in Germany, and was bought to England by Prince Albert, In Germany children do not take part in dressing the tree, It is believed that the tree has some mysterious spell for all young eyes that rest on it before Christmas Eve. Hence, the Christmas tree is decorated on Christmas Eve, prior to the evening festivities. The father usually keeps the children in a seperate room while the mother brings out the Christmas tree from a hidden place and decorates it with apples, candy, nuts, cookies, cars, trains, angels, tinsel, family treasures and candles or lights. The gifts are kept under the tree. Nearby, beautiful plates are laid for each family member and filled with fruits, nuts, marzipan, chocolate and biscuits. The decorations finished, a bell is rung as a signal for the children to enter the room and the magic begins. The Christmas story is usually read during this time and carols are sung. Often, sparklers are lit and gifts opened too.
Christmas Crip in Germany
Under the Christmas tree, a crib is set up, ie recreated a small wooden shed in which the newborn baby Jesus is with his parents, the shepherds and the animals. In Germany, the variation of crib is very large. In churches large cribs are built.
Christmas Eve in Germany
On Christmas Eve the Christmas story is read or performed by children in the church. Although many German no longer go to church regularly, they are usually still on this one day to find peace after a long year and enjoy the Christmas spirit. Most also falls only with the church of the stress of the many Christmas preparations and purchases from.
In the evening you eat with the family and exchanged the gifts. For children it often includes the living room at first and they can enter until the candles lit on the tree and the presents are built. After all the presents for the children are taken from the Christ Child or Santa Claus.
German Christmas songs:
The most famous of all German language Christmas songs are "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht is translated into 44 other languages and is known all over the world
Traditional german Christmas dishes:
Traditional german Christmas dishes consist of plump roast goose, "Christstollen" (long bread loaves stuffed with nuts, raisins, citron and dried fruit), "Lebkuchen" (spice bars), marzipan, and "Dresden Stollen" ( a moist, heavy bread filled with fruit).
Christmas markets in Germany:
At the beginning Advent, market-places are transformed into a christmas delight where you can buy everything you need for Christmas: decorations for the tree and candles, mainger figures and gingerbread (which is mainly baked and consumed at Christmas), Christmas trees, and presents for Christmas Eve. Walking through such a market really is an exceptional christmas experience for the young and old. The smell of fir resin and roasted almonds intermingle. The twinkle of the lights from the stalls and the little stoves where sausages are fried and chestnuts roasted.Christmas songs and melodies fill the air. One of the famous Christkindlmarkt takes place in Dusseldorf and attracts lots of visitors every year.
Public christmas holidays in Germany
After Christmas Eve followed by two public holidays (25 and 26.12). Those days are mostly used for family visits.
Visit also : Christmas Time in Germany