Christmas in Germany

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Christmas in Germany

• Froeliche Weihnachten

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Map of Germany
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Christmas in Germany

• Germany is a country in northern Europe. The
  people there are called Germans and they speak
  the German Language. In German, Merry Christmas
  is said Frohliche Weihnachten
• The German people celebrate Christmas on December
  25th. Their Christmas season ends on January
  6th. January 6th is known as the Epiphany or
  Three Kings Day.
• Christmas time in Germany is very cold. Snow
  covers the ground and much of the country is near
  freezing.

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Christmas Trees

• The very first Christmas trees were decorated in
  Germany. The Germans think of the Christmas tree
  as their symbol of Christmas.
• Legend says that the German people believed that
  evergreens and light kept away bad spirits. So
  every year for the 12 days of Christmas, the
  German people put candles on an evergreen tree to
  keep away harm.
• Another legend says that a German preacher named
  Martin Luther was walking in the forest one night
  and thought that the stars shining on the trees
  were beautiful. So he cut down the tree and
  covered it in candles to show the beauty of the
  stars on the trees.

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Legend of the Pickle

• Pickle ornaments were considered a special
  decoration by many families in Germany where the
  tree was decorated on Christmas Eve by the
  parents. It was always the last ornament to be
  hung on the Christmas tree, with the parents
  hiding it among the green branches. When the
  children were allowed to see the tree they would
  search excitedly for the pickle ornament. The
  children knew that whoever found the pickle
  ornament first would receive an extra gift left
  by St. Nicholas.

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Decorations
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Christmas Markets

• Many Germans celebrate the Christmas season at
  the Christmas markets. People can shop for toys,
  food, and decorations. While shopping, Germans
  can enjoy listening to Christmas music and
  watching plays and puppet shows.

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Christmas Markets
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St. Nicholas

• The people of Germany celebrate St. Nicholas Day
  on December 6th.
• St. Nicholas wears a long robe and a pointed hat.
  He carries a cane and has a long white beard.
  He is known to be the Saint of Children.
• On December 5th, German children leave their
  shoes out for St. Nicholas. When they awake on
  December 6th, their shoes are filled with toys
  and treats.

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Holiday Foods

• Roast Goose or Pork
• Turkey or duck
• Carp
• Gingerbread To eat and hang on the tree.
• Marzipan Candy made from roasted almonds and
  sugar.

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O Christmas Tree
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! How lovely
are thy branches. O Christmas Tree! O Christmas
Tree! How lovely are thy branches Not only green
when summers here, But it the coldest time of
year. O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! How
lovely are thy branches!
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Silent Night

• Silent Night.
• Holy Night.
• All is calm.
• All is bright.
• Round yon virgin.
• Mother and child.
• Holy infant, so tender and mild.
• Sleep in heavenly peace.
• Sleep in heavenly peace.

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