Weihnachten (Christmas)

Nothing means more to Germans than Christmas.

The Yuletide (even the name has German roots) is very special indeed in a land where family, faith and fantasy are so beloved. Many, if not most, of our own celebrations, including Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, gingerbread cookies and many popular carols, come to us from Germany.

Christmas in Germany begins four Sundays before Christmas Eve. The so-called Advent season and its celebration have changed over the years from being quite serious (including foregoing pleasures) to one of a more joyous nature — where we receive treats like chocolate-filled Advent calendars. The tradition is meant to "count-down" the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. The Advent or Christmas calendar began as a plain card with paper backing. On the face were 24 windows that when opened revealed various Christmas symbols and scenes. Today the most popular version of this calendar is the candy-filled variety. Instead of mere pictures, the windows open to reveal pieces of chocolate shaped to resemble stars, fir trees, and other Christmas symbols.

Many families also set up an Advent wreath on the first Advent Sunday (the fourth before Christmas) to start off the Advent season. Traditional families gather around the wreath on each Advent Sunday to light the next candle and sing Christmas carols. This was even more important in the past, when the Christmas tree was usually reserved for a special unveiling only on Christmas Eve. Until then, the Advent wreath provided the evergreen look and aroma in the house.

Perhaps one of the most cherished Christmas traditions in American is the opening of gifts! The original concept came from Europe and is based on the legend of the former holy bishop Nikolaus of Myra who was later named St. Nicholas or Santa Claus. On the evening of December 5th, St. Nicholas knocked on the doors of homes and enquired about the behavior of the children living there. He would then reward the children that had been well behaved with gifts. Later, the opening of gifts was moved to Christmas Eve when they are brought by the Christkind or "Christ Child" (from which Kris Kringle derived his name) and are usually opened after a family meal consisting of roast goose or deer accompanied by red cabbage and potato dumplings. However, today in Germany children still place their boots in front of their bedroom doors or hang their socks in front of the fireplace and hope to find them filled with delicious German candies and chocolates on the morning of December 6th.

Lastly, one of the most anticipated rituals of the holiday season is the festive Christmas dinner. The traditional holiday meal consists of duck, goose, rabbit or a roast, accompanied by well-known Germany delicacies, including apple and sausage stuffing, red cabbage, and potato dumplings. Even the American fruitcake was adapted from one of the most famous German delicacies, "stollen." Since 1329, this unique "fruitcake" has been considered one of the most precious Christmas pastries in the world. The most famous kind of Stollen, which can be found at most local supermarkets, is called Dresdner Christstollen, originating from Dresden, Germany. This tasty version bursts with nuts and fruit and is sure to change your mind about the term "fruitcake." The Stollen is shaped with tapered ends and a ridge down the center, symbolizing the Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes, in which it was customary to wrap newly born children.

Other traditional foods associated with the Christmas season in Germany, and readily available here in the USA, are Lebkuchen (gingerbread), chocolate shaped Santas and various other Christmas confectionery. In Germany, Christmas is also a time for baking "Plätzchen" or Christmas cookies. For those that don't have time to bake during the Christmas season, German Christmas cookies can be found on your supermarket shelf!