The sugar cone is placed over the (usually pretty large mug) of mulled wine, doused in the rum and then gets lit on fire. They’re an essential part of German culture, and definitely not just a tourist attraction that the locals would avoid. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It is an official holiday in many countries, including Germany. Baking Christmas cookies is a favorite holiday activity for some people, especially those with smaller children. German Christmas markets offer a variety of things to do and see: they usually have plenty of snack booths where you can get savory and sweet treats as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Put a single shoe outside your front door to receive chocolate and presents from the OG Santa: … Many families spend the day with grandparents or godparents on the Second Day of Christmas. or. The Euro Tunnel (Le Shuttle) was decorated very festively and it was nice to arrive … These days, Germans usually visit other parts of the family or dine out. — Joyous Christmas! Both December 25 and 26 are legal holidays in Germany and are known as the First and Second Christmas Day respectively. Christmas celebrations in Germany usually last for three days. Some families even have their own recipes which are handed down from generation to generation. But … Compared to this, the German approach is almost minimalistic. Christmas Day marks the birth of Jesus Christ and is a public holiday in Germany. Most of the time, they are made out of real glass and come in all sizes and shapes — popular are not only traditional Christmas motives, but also things that technically don’t have anything to do with Christmas. The 2nd Day of Christmas is a bank holiday in most European countries and is part of the Christmas festivities. December 26 is a public holiday in Germany. While you might recognize some of the German Christmas traditions since your part of the world has similar traditions, there are some things Germany does different from the rest of the world when it comes to celebrating this time of the year. (That is, if you were a good kid that year. Since not everyone has time to bake these treats during the busy holiday time, many bakeries in Germany sell all kinds of Christmas cookies: you can buy them either as a pre-packaged mix or simply pick your favorites. For kids, there are special advent calendars that contain small pieces of chocolate, which are revealed when opening the flap. Christmas is a truly magical time of the year in Germany, and if you ever get the chance to travel there during this season, I highly recommend you do so. But before going into a tizzy about your Holiday to-do list for this year, let’s take a moment and look at the various German Christmas traditions as well as some linguistic aspects of wishing someone a Merry Christmas in German! On Christmas Day (25 th December) and 26 December, generally the family gets collected for festivities and also the holy Christians will visit Christmas mass through these days. Unlike the US or UK that celebrate Christmas on the morning of the 25th of December, in Germany Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24th. Your email address will not be published. From Christmas markets to mulled wine: in this part of the article, I’m gonna share a few of my favorites! Enough with the opening speech — let’s jump into this post about Christmas in Germany! Flowers, gifts, and chocolates are among the most common gifts of this day. The Third or Last Quarter Moon is when the opposite half of the Moon is illuminated compared to the First Quarter. One German Christmas custom the US has yet to adopt is the two-day celebration. Ein frohes und gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest! This day is usually reserved for visiting close family that lives further away such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Watching this is quite the spectacle and about fifty percent of why I love indulging in a steaming hot mug of Feuerzangenbowle — however, if you are a lightweight like me, you might want to be careful and stick to only one “fire tong punch” since it’s quite strong. Especially the latter phrases are oftentimes used in cards or personal notes, such as the ones that businesses send out to their customers. You could also keep it short and simply say: Gesegnete Weihnachten! Winter's freezing temperatures are the perfect excuse to step out on the … And while in the US presents are bought by Santa, in Germany it is the Christkind (the Christ child) that is responsible for delivering all the gifts. Everything about Germany was so new to us. If you find an error, please let us know. A more recent holiday in Germany is the Day of German Unity on 3 October, which commemorates the anniversary of German reunification in 1990. Germany celebrates two, not one, but two days of Christmas. — Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! Some families also like to put chocolates, homemade Christmas cookies or homemade ornaments on their Christmas tree. Made out of warm red wine, sugar and a variety of spices, it’s the perfect drink to keep you warm when strolling around the Christmas market in frigid temperatures. Same goes for December 26th, the “Zweiter Weihnachtstag” (second Christmas Day). Privacy & Terms. Try Clozemaster – over 50 languages and thousands of sentences to help you take your language learning to the next level. December 26 is also St Stephen's Day. — A blessed and joyous Christmas celebration! — Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year! More presents are usually exchanged and there’s lots of rich foods and more Christmas cookies. Now that we know how to say “Merry Christmas” in German, let’s have a look at the various Christmas customs and traditions leading up to Christmas that you might encounter when staying in Germany during Christmas season! What to Do After Duolingo: The Definitive Guide, Best Way to Learn a Language: A Complete Guide from Beginner to Fluent, Comprehensible Input – How Clozemaster Mirrors Natural Acquisition, How Cloze Tests Help You Learn A Language 5x Faster. If you are more intent on focusing on the religious and/or contemplative aspect of Christmas and the spirit of the holiday itself, you could say: Ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest! Yes, because on the zweite Weihnachtstag (Second Christmas Day), Saint Stephen is commemorated. Räuchermännchen are incense smokers, often depicting Santa, a nutcracker or miners. We managed to get 4 hours kip after the party before leaving London at 3am on Christmas day. Fröhliche Weihnachten! December 25, and the 26th - both days are holidays for the Germans. Serbia. “Merry Christmas” in German – Holiday Traditions and Greetings. Just like the Christmas angels, Räuchermännchen also originate from the Erzgebirge, which is famous for its unique wooden crafts mostly traditionally involving Christmas motives. and a fat goose for December 25. Many of the German bank holidays are religious and date back centuries. Skate Through the Season. Same goes for December 26th, the “Zweiter Weihnachtstag” (second Christmas Day). This day is usually reserved for visiting close family that lives further away such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The Second Day of Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Epiphany are the remains of this long festival. 3rd Day of Christmas- We both came from big concrete cities where we never seen snow. mixpanel.track_links('.box-promo-link', 'Blog box promo link click'); jQuery('body').on('click', '#boxzilla-overlay, .boxzilla-close-icon', function() { mixpanel.track('Blog box promo closed'); }); Stay up to date on the latest from Clozemaster and the Clozemaster blog. Until the 1400s, the period around Christmas and New Year was a long celebration. Speaking of Christmas markets: As I already mentioned above, Christmas markets do not only offer food, but also some of the trademark (alcoholic) drinks of the holiday season. Frohes Fest! — Blessed Christmas! These angels are little wooden figurines originating from the Erzgebirge — a mountain range in Saxony, bordering the Czech Republic. The Protestant Church celebrates the Incarnation on this day. See May's Super Flower Moon turn a shade of red as it is fully eclipsed for about 14 minutes by the Earth's shadow. The following days are referred to as the first Christmas day (25th) and the second Christmas day (26th). The Christmas market — or Weihnachtsmarkt — is one of the main reasons to travel to Germany during the holiday season (for me). English as a Second Language Spanish French German Italian Japanese ... which is after Easter. Click here to start practicing with real German sentences! Suggest as a translation of "second Christmas day" Copy; DeepL Translator Linguee. Second Christmas Day is on December 26. This is an especially easy way to test your child’s self-control (since when there’s a sweet treat involved, it gets significantly harder to stick with opening one flap a day). While traditionally Glühwein is made out of red wine, there’s also a version made out of white wine. The Second Day of Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Epiphany are the remains of this long festival. What is the Advent Season in Germany? Some people attend a special church service on St. Stephen's Day. The Holidays are more or less right around the corner — close enough, in fact, to perk up a bit if all of your preparations happen at the last minute like mine usually do (hey, no judgment!). Christmas time in Germany officially starts already at the beginning of December with the Adventszeit. Children may find that Father Christmas, Santa Claus or the Christ child left them presents at their relatives' homes. Excellent, answered a number of questions that I had. The 26 December is called the “2nd Christmas day” in my native Germany. While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. Another favorite of the Holiday season is Lebkuchen, German gingerbread. On this day, the closest family members have dinner together, sometimes potato salad (Kartoffelsalat) and Wuerstchen (sausages). Ever since moving from Germany to the US, I have noticed that the “American way” of decorating the tree is much more elaborate. And just like the tree is real, the candles on the tree are oftentimes as well (to the horror of many of my American friends due to the possible fire hazard). Advent calendars are especially popular with kids, but I know even some adults who love following them simply because they make counting down the days leading up to Christmas Eve so much sweeter. Traditionally kids (and sometimes adults, depending on the family) leave their shoes out overnight to find sweet treats, mandarin oranges, walnuts and/or small gifts in them on the morning of the 6th. The day after Christmas Day — der zweite Weihnachtstag, known as Boxing Day in Britain — is also a holiday in Germany. December 26 is St Stephen's Day and is a public holiday in Germany. Christmas ornaments have a longstanding tradition in Germany, as well as other European countries. It is always served in mugs and steaming hot. © Time and Date AS 1995–2021. Linguee. Last year, everything here was still so new, Noah was tiny, we didn’t know many people, and Ken got really sick- all of which combined for a not so great first Christmas here. Language learning, getting fluent faster, and Clozemaster. Oktober (October): Oktoberfest . Christmas pyramids, or Weihnachtspyramiden, are another traditional staple in German households when it comes to Christmas decoration. This is where we write about language learning as well as post useful resources. Also known as Heiliger Abend, which means "holy evening," … Frohe Weihnachten und alles Gute für das neue Jahr! The following Sunday, a second candle is lit, and so on. It is on December 25 each year. Serbian medieval rulers' title was Stefan (Stephen). This period included aspects of the Christian feast days marked in modern German and pre-Christian rituals. There are many other Christmas customs and traditions — national, regional, and local — unique to German-speaking Europe. Both cities will be lively and both have big fireworks displays over the river. With the atheistic Cult of Reason in power during the era of Revolutionary France, Christian Christmas religious services were banned and the three kings cake was renamed the "equality cake" under anticlerical government policies. So walking as we explored the main city was something we frequently did as a family. Clozemaster has been designed to help you learn the language in context by filling in the gaps in authentic sentences. Mother’s Day in Germany is an event celebrated on the second Sunday of May, so it falls in different date each year. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world's nations, is ... Christmas being much more popular in Germany than in America at this time. or Weihnachtspyramiden are usually decorated with nativity scenes, however, there are also some decorated with winter or forest scenes. Blog Press Information. Saint Stephen's Day falls on 9 January because the Serbian Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar. Check out the The Great Translation Game. The 26th of December is – as Second Day of Christmas ... Czech: druhý svátek vánoční) – a public holiday in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. Stuttgart is renowned for its traditional, hearty fare with many eateries offering dishes like … Many families spend the day with grandparents or godparents. Clozemaster is a game to learn and practice language in context. How each family celebrates these three days of Christmas varies greatly depending on the family and the region of Germany they come from. There are some restrictions on selling alcohol, public performances and dancing. — A blessed Christmas celebration! If you are sure the person is celebrating Christmas or you’re simply more of a traditionally minded person, you can say: Frohe Weihnachten! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Everyone loves mulled wine in Germany. Mulled Wine. This period included aspects of the Christian feast days marked in modern German and pre-Christian rituals. After the incense cone has been inserted, the Räuchermännchen is re-assembled. However, stores in some areas may be open, especially those at railway stations, airports and along highways. Traditionally, people who haven’t been good are left with a couple of pieces of coal in their shoe as “presents”.). More. Christmas markets are a longstanding tradition in Germany, and they’re the perfect place to enjoy a mulled wine (Glühwein) or two with your friends. There are a few ways to wish someone a Merry Christmas in German — and just like in many other countries, there is a variety of phrases that might come in handy, particularly when you aren’t sure whether the other person is celebrating Christmas or not. — A joyous Christmas celebration! Until the 1400s, the period around Christmas and New Year was a long celebration. Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr! Translator. Public transport service schedules vary depending on where one lives and intends to travel. Glühwein (mulled wine) is probably the most popular of the two. Translate texts with the world's best machine translation technology, developed by the creators of Linguee. Advent calendars are usually sheet calendars to hang on your wall with 24 small flaps, often with Christmas images or winter scenes. On these days, pretty much everyone is traveling (sometimes even cross-country), which means that traffic is usually iffy, especially when snowfall or — more likely — heavy rain or sleet is involved. The German celebration season begin at of the November month or initial December with the Advent festivities. Although there are two legal holidays in Germany, [Austria], most cantons of Switzerland and Liechtenstein for Christmas, Christmas Eve is not one of them, and in Switzerland, many companies and stores are open for a half-day in the morning until 4 p.m, after which celebrations begin. In Great Britain it is also known as Boxing Day. Church services are held but not to the extent that they used to be, there are well wishing messages from public figures and public services, shops and public attractions will be operating on different hours. Christmas Day(s) – Der erste und zweite Weihnachtstag. Open menu. Your email address will not be published. Others eat the remains of the large meals served on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While Santa doesn’t play much of a role in the actual Christmas celebration on the 24th of December, he—or more precisely, somewhat more of his equivalent—plays an important role on December 6th, the so-called Nikolaustag (St. Nicholas Day). Advent wreaths, as you can probably tell by the name, are wreaths usually made out of evergreen or pine branches with four (usually red) large candles and other Christmas or winter decorations on top, such as red bows, stars, or pine cones. Take your German to the next level. Frohes Weihnachtsfest! It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Founded in the 1960s, Käthe Wohlfahrt is one of Germany's best-known Christmas vendors. Another way of celebrating Christmas in Germany happens on December 6th. These sweet treats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with different flavors and/or sprinkles or dipped in chocolate. Write thank you notes to everyone who had been kind to you during the year. In 2021, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. Christmas in Germany doesn't last for one day but for three. So if you are looking for a souvenir or some Christmas presents to send to your loved ones back home, this is definitely the place to go! You might be a little surprised to hear this name — after all, Christmas and pyramids have next to nothing in common. Some friends and families prepare a communal meal that may be cooked at the table, such as pancakes, fondue or meat and cheese cooked on a small grill or hot stone. 2nd Day of Christmas- Exploring your new environment is so important when you move to a new place or country. Pro tip: head over in the late afternoon or early evening to see everything light up and experience the magic unfolding! Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and the start of the Christmas celebration. December 25th in Germany is also known as “Erster Weihnachtstag” (first Christmas Day). Many go to church before the celebration begins. There are plenty of German Christmas traditions that aren’t just popular among tourists, but also with the German locals. The next morning, thanks to Saint Nicholas (St. Nick), the shoes are filled with all kinds of delicious treats, usually edible, but … and thus starts spinning slowly when the candles are lit. It’s usually sold at Christmas markets or in supermarkets, and often heart- or star-shaped and filled with sweet jam. Stuttgart. For others, the Second Day of Christmas is an opportunity to: December 26 is a quiet day to recover from the Christmas celebrations and prepare for the winter sales. St Stephan was the first Christian martyr and was convicted of blasphemy against Moses and God, as well as for speaking against the Temple and Law. By Christmas, all four candles on the wreath are lit. Starting on the first Sunday of December, one candle is lit to symbolize Christmas Eve approaching. Tuesday (25th) We arrived at Folkestone for a 6:20 am crossover to Calais. If Cologne and Frankfurt are both places you want to see, I would spend New Year's Eve in either place. I hope I could give you a good insight into Christmas in Germany — both regarding some vocabulary as well as German Christmas traditions — to get you into the holiday spirit! For many people, it is a quiet occasion spent with friends or family or an opportunity to enjoy the German countryside. The Euro Tunnel was pretty quiet, I think most people were warmly tucked away in their beds waiting for Christmas morning present opening! (Personally, I have never tried the latter.). Visitors from Germany or abroad can purchase Christmas tree ornaments, along with other holiday glitz. Advent calendars are popular in homes throughout Germany, especially those with children. Required fields are marked *. These often begin on December 27, which is sometimes known as the third day of Christmas. These holiday calendars have 24 tiny doors with one door being opened each day to reveal chocolate or a small present in the lead up to Christmas Day. On both these days, many people visit friends and other family to give them Geschenke, or to have some food together or some more Kaffee und Kuchen. Christmas festivities begin in Germany an Eve prior to Christmas day when Christmas presents are exchanged. As I previously mentioned, there are a plethora of Christmas traditions in Germany — however, there are also traditions leading up to Christmas. by Andrea in cultural differences, family, friends, Germany, holiday, then & now Tags: Christmas, Heiligabend This December marked the second time we got to spend Christmas in Germany. In modern-day Germany, Vatertag is closer to a boys' day out, with a pub tour than the more family-friendly American version of the holiday. In general christmas time here is all about spending time with family, eating enormous amounts of food and celebrating the coming of the … who visits all families on the night of December 5th to December 6th when everyone is asleep. or He was stoned to death in 34 CE or 35 CE. On 25th December (Christmas Day) and 26 December, usually the family gets together for celebrations and also the religious Christians will visit Christmas mass during these days. EN. I remember on Dec. 5, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, a friend and her boyfriend from my dorm hall made a real to-do that I had to leave my shoe out in front of my door that night. Wooden toys as well as jewelry or Weihnachtsplätzchen (Christmas cookies) can also be found here. The most important day is the 24 th of December (Heiligabend). Also: The Christmas trees used in Germany are real evergreen trees — not the fake ones popular with a lot of households in the US. Boxing Day is a public holiday. Christmas angels (Weihnachtsengel) are a staple when it comes to the Christmas decoration in many German households. Christmas cookies (or Weihnachtsplätzchen) are a must during the Christmas season! — A happy celebration! Just like the two ornaments mentioned before, Christmas pyramids also originate from the Erzgebirge in Eastern Germany. Look up words and phrases in comprehensive, reliable bilingual dictionaries and search through billions of online translations. What originally started out as a church celebration of Christ’s birth has gradually become a family celebration. In Germany, it’s all about that … A lot of times, especially on Christmas cards, you will find the phrase: Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein frohes neues Jahr! These angels are often depicted in various positions: holding tiny candles or banners or (and this is probably the most popular variant) playing instruments. They are often decorated with lots of glitter, whether they are classic Christmas ornaments or of a more “non-traditional” kind. … Local vendors sell beeswax candles, ornaments, handmade soaps, and household goods as well as winterproof clothing items (from sweaters to hats and mittens). A Christmas pyramid consists of a pyramidal outer frame (usually containing spots for about four tea candles) and a pyramid-shaped, usually decorated carousel with a rotor at the top. Top Tweets for 2nd Christmas Day - Some of them are more popular with children, and some of them are observed by families with or without children alike. The best thing about Christmas markets though is the atmosphere: usually, they are richly decorated and illuminated with Christmas lights and decoration, and even the booths are decorated as well. The Räuchermännchen comes apart in two pieces, usually at its hip, where you insert a lit/burning cone-shaped incense block, the so-called Räucherkerze. The gathering, eating, and gift exchanges that take place on Christmas Day in the West is enjoyed are Christmas Eve in Germany. Soon after, you can watch incense smoke coming from the Räuchermännchen’s mouth (hence the name “Little Smoking Man”). This tongue-twister of a drink is made out of mulled wine, rum (with a high alcohol content) and a sugar cone. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With features such as Grammar Challenges, Cloze-Listening, and Cloze-Reading, the app will let you emphasize all the competencies necessary to become fluent in German. Post offices, banks, stores and other businesses are closed. This is probably my favorite pre-Christmas tradition observed in Germany: Advent wreaths! or Since my father’s birthday fell on the 25 and was not celebrated because of Christmas, the 2nd Christmas day was usually the day his friends came to visit and congratulate him for his birthday. It was a tradition to honor mothers with a medal until WW II, for bringing forth children. Weihnachtsengel have a longstanding tradition and oftentimes families don’t have just one or two, but an entire “parade” that is put up every year during the holidays. Just like in the US, Christmas trees are a staple in German households during Christmas time. Christmas celebrations start in Germany on 24th December (Christmas Eve) when Christmas gifts are exchanged. Practice writing out and translating full sentences. If you want to keep things a little bit more “neutral”, either because you aren’t sure whether the person is not celebrating a traditional Christmas holiday (or because you know they aren’t), you could also simply opt for: Traditionally, most people are off between December 24th and December 26th, so even if the person you are talking to might not be celebrating Christmas, you can be pretty sure they will have some time off. Saint Stephen is the patron saint of Serbia. December 25th in Germany is also known as “Erster Weihnachtstag” (first Christmas Day). Advent wreaths are essentially a Christmas countdown for adults. The 26 December is also called St. Stephens Day and is a Christian saint's day to commemorate Saint Stephen, who was the first Christian martyr. Christmas in Germany – St. Nik’s day It was in Heidelberg, Germany, several decades ago, that I first realized what a big deal this whole Christmas thing was. The night before, children put their shoes (the largest they can find) at their bedside. It was also declared an official German holiday in 1933. Another favorite at German Christmas markets is the so-called Feuerzangenbowle (fire tong punch). December 25th and 26th are official holidays called First and Second Christmas Day (Erster und Zweiter Weihnachtstag). St. Nikolaus, better known as “der Nikolaus”, in popular depiction is a rather heavy set, friendly man in a red frock with a white beard (sound familiar?) Christmas Day is a good day to go for a long walk... the second year we found there were even a few shops open and we took the funicular to the old fortress. It always falls on December 24 in Germany. Even though it starts in September, the most German of holidays is called Oktoberfest. Said rotor is driven by the warm air arising from the tea candles (hello, physics!) “Clozemaster is THE best app to learn a language after Duolingo.”. Forget about having a turkey roast. Learn to write like a native speaker. For each day from December 1st to the 24th, you open a flap and there is a small picture or sometimes even a short poem underneath. 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