German Christmas Traditions |
|
|
German Christmas traditions is said to have many pre historic origins beginning with ‘Advent Wreath’ a Lutheran custom that originated in Eastern Germany symbolizing God's eternity and kindness. In old German tradition, on the first Sunday of Advent, the children used to write letters to ‘Christkindl’, to bring the Christmas tree and gifts. It’s also believed that Saint Boniface, an English missionary, known as the "Apostle of Germany", in 722 A.D discovered the evergreen holy tree, as a symbol of Christ Child. |
Traditional German Christmas begins on first of December to the twenty-fourth, with each day having a great historical and religious significance. Traditionally, before Christmas, people engage in fasting and prayers. The whole family builds up nativity scenes and goes to the ‘Christkindlmarkt’, or ‘Christmas Markets’ to buy new clothes and gifts for their loved ones. Traditional German Christmas rituals start by observing feast in memory of the great St.Nicholas, who helped the needy and the poor. ‘Advent calendars’ and ‘Advent wreaths’ are decorated while on each ‘Advent Sunday’when candles are lit and Christmas carols are sung and on Christmas day, the last candle is lit followed by various religious rituals.
German Christmas custom of adorning Christmas tree is known as ‘Weihnachtsbaum’. The Christmas tree is decorated with fruits, cookies, beautiful hand blown glass ornaments and lighted candles. On the last day of the ‘Advent season’, the feast of Christmas is held when people exchange gifts and traditional dishes like ‘Christstollen’, ‘Lebkuchen’ and ‘Stollen’ are cooked and enjoyed by the whole family. Christmas traditions in Germany is particularly celebrated on 24th of December as the ‘First day of Christmas" or ‘der erste Weihnachtsfeiertag’ and December 26th,as the "Second day of Christmas"or ‘der zweite Weihnachtsfeiertag’ also known as St. Stephan's Day. Thus, unlike other parts of the world German Christmas traditions reflects a deep religious philosophical view of human life.
Dgreetings.com. offers more information’s on German Christmas Traditions.
|
|
