German language
German Christmas

GERMAN CHRISTMAS

One of the major holidays in Germany is Christmas or Weihnachten. The Christmas celebration is a time for introspection and share with family and friends besides involves customs and many traditions. It is something that many German families do. A simple way to have a picture of a greate time.

The traditional German celebrating begins on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day. As part of the tradition the children hang a shoe or boot in the fireplace. During the night, St Nicholas visit house by house, if the children have been good the boots are filling with delicious candies but if they have not been good the boot are filling with twigs.

According to legend, in Germany during Christmas Eve a lot of magic things happen. The rivers turn to wine, the ringing of the church bells can be listened from the depths of the sea, animals speak to each other, tree blossoms are full of fruits and in a magical event the mountains open up and reveal precious gems; but only the pure of heart can be part of this magic.

The most popular Christmas tradition in Germany is the Christmas tree. These trees have a special significance for Germans and also are known like "trees of life". As Germans immigrated to other lands, the custom of Christmas trees was spread. The people buy holiday cookies and marzipan sweets of the bakeries that in this season are well stocked. A variety of toys and other gifts are offered in the outdoor markets. Also the people wish each other "Merry Christmas" or Weihnachten. Little dolls of fruit are traditional Christmas toys. The German Christmas tree pastry, Christbaumgeback, is traditional too; is a white dough that can be molded into shapes and baked for tree decorations.

Before the evening feast, is presented the Christmas tree which is decorated with candies, cookies, apples, angels, candles, lights and toys. All the presents are placed under the tree and decorated plates full of nuts, marzipans chocolates, biscuits and fruits are prepared for each member of the family. The sound of the bell announces that everything is ready to share this magical moment with the family. A Christmas story is read, the presents are opened and traditional Carols are sung. Officially, the German Christmas begins the first Sunday of Advent or Adventszeit. The lights in the exterior decorations of houses, business and the city streets, beautiful gingerbread houses, traditional Christmas cookies, German Christmas pyramids and nativity scenes are signs that Christmas is coming.

In Germany, there are important figures like the angel called Christkind who is a messenger of Christ Child and brings with a basket of toys; other recognized figure is the "Christmas man" called Weihnachtsmann who looks like Santa Claus. Other popular German tradition in Christmas is the Christbaumloben on December 26th, St. Stephen's day, friends visit each other announcing their arrival with the popular phrase "Ein schoener Baum!" or "A nice tree!". They stay a while in the house before moving on to the next house to make the same proclamation.

German Christmas Food and Drink

During Christmas feast dishes such as suckling pig, a sweet cinnamon known like reisbrei, macaroni salad, white sausage and other traditional dishes are part on the menu.

For the banquet of the Christmas Day delicious dishes are prepared: plump roast goose, long loaves of bread bursting with nuts, raisins, citron and dried fruit known like Christstollen, marzipan, "Lebkuchen" and "Dresden Stollen". For the Christmas season, special dishes are prepared like:

Weihnachtsplätzchen: Christmas cookies Springerle: is a type of German biscuit Lebkuchen: are spicy cookies similar to gingerbread Stollen: is a type of German Christmas cake, a kind of sweet, fruit-filled dense and moist bread Christstollen: are long loaves of bread stuffed with citrus, dried fruit, and nuts. Pfefferkuchenhaus: a gingerbread house decorated with candies, sweets and sugar icing Marzipankartoffeln: is a circular treat of marzipan. Roasted Goose: the protein of choice for many Christmas feasts

• Weisswurst: sausages with veal and bacon, usually flavored with parsley, lemon, mace, onions, ginger and cardamom
• Sauerkraut with Apples: is a sauerkraut dish
• Kartoffelsalat: (potato salad) with Wiener (sausages) is traditionally eaten in northern Germany for lunch on Christmas Eve.
• Schäufele (smoked ham) usually served with potato salad in southern Germany for dinner on Christmas Eve.

The traditional drinks are:

• Glühwein: mulled wine
• Kinderpunsch: is a non alcoholic beverage made with tea, apple juice, and honey.
• Christmas ale: or winter ale, a robust and full bodied winter ale produced for the Christmas festivities.

German Christmas Carols Lyrics

Stille Nacht “Silent Night” in German DEUTSCH Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Halleluja, Tönt es laut von fern und nah: Christ, der Retter ist da! Christ, der Retter ist da! Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund, Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'. Christ, in deiner Geburt! Christ, in deiner Geburt!

Der kleine Trommler “Little Drummer Boy” in German DEUTSCH Durch die stille Nacht pa rampa pam pam Da ging ein kleiner Junge rampa pam pam Hielt seine Spielzeugtrommel in der Hand Wollt' zu dem Stalle, wo die Wiege stand Rampa pam pam, rampa pam pam Und die Trommel klang parampa pam pam Durch das Land. Liebes Christuskind pa rampa pam pam Bin nur ein kleiner Junge, rampa pam pam Wo alte Knige mit Gaben stehen Lt man vielleicht mich gar nicht zu dir gehen Hab' ja kein Geld, hab' ja kein Geld. Kann nur trommeln fur dich rampa pam pam Wenn's dir gefllt. Und vom Himmel hoch parampa pam pam Da kam ein Stern herab parampa pam pam Er fhrte in die stille Straen entlang Und seine kleine Trommel klar im Sang Rampa pam pam, rampa pam pam Da zum Heil der Welt pa rampa pam pam Christus kam pa rampa pam pam, rampa pam pam

See more:
German Christmas Carols Lyrics

German Christmas Carols videos:

Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

Der kleine Trommler (Little Drummer Boy)

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