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Frohe Weihnachten! Part One

Christmas is coming, bright and sparkling, and next features will make up a collection of festive stories. In Part One we will get acquainted with German Christmas traditions and customs, history of Christmas tree, and the traditional Christmas carol - "Silent Night".

Soon, very soon the whole world will celebrate one of the most wonderful and joyful holidays. Christmas is extremely popular worldwide. It is one of the most powerful and certainly oldest traditions in human history. Holiday celebrations in Germany start in earnest with the beginning of Advent. On that day children get to open the first of the 24 doors of their Adventskalender. The most miraculous children's holiday in German-speaking countries is St. Nikolaus Eve, celebrated on December 6. This is the day when all obedient children get presents, mostly sweets, from St. Nikolaus, whose custom is to put them into the shoes, providently set outside the bedroom door.
Germany (and most other countries) celebrates Christmas on December 24, the Holy Night. Shops are open much of the day and celebrations do not start before the afternoon. The children have to leave the room until the Christmas bell rings. At that point they will either find their presents under the tree, or Father Christmas himself will pay a visit. Dinner is served after presents have been unwrapped, and many families conclude the evening by attending a midnight Christmas Mass. The 25th and 26th of December are official holidays, mostly spent with family and friends.

Related links:

Christmas in Germany