Transcript Christmas in Germany

Christmas in
Germany
CREATED BY: DANIEL, ABIGAIL, ALEX
Christmas Eve in Germany
Many people travel to spend the late afternoon and
evening with family members on Christmas Eve.
Many people decorate a Christmas tree and some
attend midnight mass. Midnight mass is a church
service that traditionally starts late in the evening but
now often starts earlier in the evening to allow whole
families to attend.
Later in the evening, many families open their Christmas presents
that were placed under the Christmas tree. In many Protestant
families, children are told that Father Christmas or Santa Claus
brought the presents. In many Catholic families, they are told
that the Christ Child gave the presents. A traditional Christmas
Eve meal consists of carp (a type of fish), potato salad, boiled
potatoes, cucumber salad and lemon slices
A large meal is traditionally eaten in the afternoon or
early evening. Typical dishes include:
•Roast goose or duck stuffed with apples, chestnuts,
onions or prunes.
•Red cabbage with onions and apple.
•Boiled potatoes.
•Dumplings.
People generally spend Christmas
Day with family members or close
friends. Some attend church
services and many sing traditional
Christmas carol.
German Christmas Traditions:
The Pickle,
The parents hang the pickle last after all the other
ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew
the most observant child would receive an extra gift
from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle
traditionally gets good luck for the whole year.
The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is adorned with four candles, one
of which is lit on each of the four Sundays preceding
Christmas. The first Advent wreath, which appeared
in the mid-19th century, had 4 larger candles and 19
smaller ones. Each day one additional candle was lit
to help the children count the days until Christmas.
Today only the four larger candles remain. However,
the tradition has been exported to many other
countries around the world and was adapted to
existing customs. The Advent wreath of the Eastern
Orthodox Church uses 6 candles to last through its
somewhat longer Advent season.
Almost every German city for the cold winter
season, but soon celebrates the holiday season
with a traditional Christmas market. The fairs,
which date back to the 15th century, originally
provided food and practical supplies the
markets became a beloved holiday tradition
and a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.
On 6th of December, Nikolaustag or St.
Claus day is celebrated and children
leave out a shoe or boot outside the
door on the previous evening.
Fun Facts
Merry Christmas
English- Merry Christmas
German- Frohe Weihnachten
Santa Clause
English- Santa Clause German- Weihnachtsmann
The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees
out of dyed goose feathers.
Are Resources were: www. Science kids .com,
Google translator. Com,
Time and Date . Com , www. Traditions of Germany