WZI: Culture Moment - Weihnachten in Deutschland

Culture Moment - Weihnachten in Deutschland

Read through the following notes discussing Weihnachten in Deutschland.

  • Chris Kringle comes from the German Christkindl.
  • Silent Night was composed in Austria in 1818.
  • German-American Thomas Nast created the American version of Santa.
  • Nikolaus Tag is celebrated on December 6th. Children place shoes or boots by the fireplace or in front of door. On this night, Sankt Nikolaus jumps from house to house carrying with him a book of sins in which all the misdeeds of the children are written. If the children are good, he fills their shoes with candy, but if they have been bad, then he fills the shoes with twigs and sticks. He is accompanied by a mean elf called Knecht Ruprecht who takes care of bad children. Some legends say he rides a white horse, He is known by many names in Germany including: Klaasbuur, Rauklas, Bullerklaas.
  • Der zweite Weihnachtstag (day after Christmas) is called boxing day in Britain.

  • image: Christmas tree

    Der Tannenbaum (Christmas tree was a German tradition)
    • This custom dates back to about 1550. Germans traditionally decorate it with real wax candles.
    • Symbols:
      • Use of evergreens because it stays green
      • Angel on top was supposed to signify God's guidance
      • tinsel comes from a German legend involving spiders
    • Children are not allowed to see the Christmas Tree until Christmas eve. Some say the Christmas tree was originally supposed to represent the tree of life in the Garden of Eden and was used during plays in the middle ages. The tree was at one time called the Paradise Baum. Martin Luther is said to have really started the tradition when he brought a tree into his sick child's room at Christmas time to cheer her up. In 1880, glass-makers in Thuringia discovered how to make blown glass balls and bells, which became the decorations used to trim Christmas trees all over the world.
  • Four Sundays prior to Christmas is considered the time of Advent, which ends on Christmas Eve. Advent comes from Latin (to arrive). The advent calendar is a calendar with 24 windows on it (one for each day leading up to Christmas), The advent wreath is a large wreath with 5 candles on it, four around it and one in the center. A candle is lit for each Sunday of advent leading up to Christmas day when the last candle is lit.
  • Christkindlmarkt (Christmas markets) - From the beginning of Advent until Christmas, booths and stalls are set up in the market places in all cities. People can buy everything they need for Christmas, such as a Christmas tree, decorations for the tree and candles, crib figures and gingerbread, and presents for Christmas Eve. The most famous Christmas markets is the one in Nuremberg which has a history of more than 400 years and is attended by people from many countries.
  • Die heilige Barbara (the holy Barbara) - Traditionally in the German-speaking countries, particularly in Austria and the Catholic regions of Germany, a small cherry branch is cut off and placed in water on December 4th, Barbaratag (St. Barbara's Day). Sometimes a twig from some other flowering plant or tree may be used: apple, forsythia, plum, lilac, or similar blossoms. But it is the cherry tree that is most customary and authentic. The cherry branch (Kirschzweig) or other cutting is then placed in water and kept in a warm room. If all goes well, on Christmas day the twig will display blossoms. If it blooms precisely on December 25th, this is regarded as a particularly good sign for the future.
  • The holidays last until January 6th - Heilige Drei Könige (the "Wise Men", "Three Kings", "the Magi"). To this day, the initials of the Three Kings -- C+M+B (Caspar/Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) -- plus the year are inscribed in chalk over doorways in German-speaking countries on the eve of January 6 to protect house and home. Although historically the three letters are supposed to come from the Latin phrase for "Christ bless this house", Christus mansionem benedicat, few of the people practicing this custom are aware of this fact. This day is also considered to be the end of the 12 days of Christmas between December 25 and January 6.  
  • Lebkuchenhaus (Gingerbread house) was created in 18th century Germany, made popular by the fairy tale of Hänsel and Gretel.
  • Nussknacker (nut crackers) have their origin in eastern Germany, which was a major toy manufacturing region before WWII. It was made famous by the play of the same name.
  • The Christmas Pickle is a long time German tradition. The pickle ornament was always the last ornament placed on the holiday tree. The child to find its hiding place in the branches would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas.

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