What It is Like Celebrating Christmas in Germany

Germany holds a lot of traditions and legends when it comes to Christmas. One of the very important legends in Germany that many people listen to on Christmas Eve is that of how things change. The rivers will turn to wine, tree blossoms will bear fruit, the animals will talk to each other, church bells will be heard ringing from the bottom of the sea, and the mountains will open to reveal the many precious gems they have. The main key to this lovely legend is that you must be pure of heart to be able to find all the magic Christmas gives. This is where traditions come into play.

Most people do not have the pure heart that it requires to witness the magic of Christmas, so they have to rely on traditions. December 6 is the beginning day to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. On the eve of December 6 children will place a shoe or some type of boot by the fireplace. St. Nicholas, sometime during the night will come by the house and look in his "Book of Sins." If the children have been good, he will fill their shoe or boot with edible goodies. If the children have been bad, their shoe or boot will be filled with twigs.

December 21 is supposedly one of the shortest days of the year, making it the longest night. This day has been therefore been named, St. Thomas Day. Whoever wakes up late or early on this day will gain the title of "Thomas Donkey." These people will be given cardboard donkeys and are made the brunt of the joke throughout the day. For the Thomas Donkeys, this will end very well. They get to eat what is called, "Thomasplitzchen," which are round, ice currant buns.

When it is finally Christmas Eve they prepare for the feast that they have in the evening. During the feast they have the presentation of the tree. The Christmas tree has a mystical magic for the youth because they are not allowed to see the Christmas tree until Christmas Eve. For the time when the Christmas tree is being decorated, the children are being occupied. The Father will usually bring in the Christmas tree and the Mother will bring out all the decorations. She will decorate it will apples, candy, nuts, cookies, cars, trains, tinsel, treasures, lights and more. The Father and Mother will then place the presents underneath the tree. When the Christmas tree is done, they concentrate on the feast. They lay out decorated plates loaded with fruits, nuts, chocolates, biscuits, marzipan, and much more for everyone in attendance. When this has all been completed, a bell will be rung to let the children know that they can now enter into this Christmas fantasy room. They sing carols and read the Christmas story. In some households, they light sparklers. At the end of the night, gifts are opened.

With the huge feast that happens on Christmas Eve, they have renamed it to the name of Dickbauch, which means fat stomach. They believe that anyone who does not eat well on Christmas Eve will be haunted for the night by demons. They believe that to keep the demons away during the night, they must have a full stomach that has tried everything that has been set out.