Christmas in Germany
Christmas starts on the 5th Dec. On the night of the 5thDecember people traditionally go to church and do lantern walks. As they walk along with lanterns Saint Nicholas rides on a horse. It is said that he was a Saint that gave gifts to the porr. He once took his red coat and cut it in half to share with a cold, poor man. This story is often acted out. Saint Nicholas then rides off on his horse and the children follow him with lanterns. That night children put a boot outside their door (or a sticking by their bed more commonly now). On the morning of the 6th Dec the stocking will have been filled with sweets, nuts and oranges. These days’ children also get small presents like a DVD or CD.
This marks the start of advent. Every Sunday in advent Germany families light a candle and sit together for family time in the evening. It is an exciting part of the countdown to Christmas.
On the night of the 24th Dec German families get the Christmas tree out and decorate it. When my Aunty Carolin was little she use to have real candles on her tree but now they have electric ones. German peopleusually go to work up until lunchtime but then come home early to set up their trees. Once the tree is decorated they lock the door and then go to church around 4:30. While they are al at church Father Christmas visits the room to leave presents (this is very helpful for him to do it now as there are sooo many children to visit in one night).
At around 6pm the family returns from church to eat a simple meal, which reflects the fact that Jesus was a poor man. They eat sausages and mash or other plain simple foods.
After dinner they open their presents and spend time together before they go to bed.
On the 25th, our Christmas day, German families get together for a meal more like the Christmas dinner we have – a more luxury meal with all the extras. However, they tend to have pork and not Turkey. They also do not have Christmascrackers.