CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY
The Christmas tree was to become an important focus of 19th century American
celebrations thanks to the German people. Local New England lore in several
communities claims that the first American Christmas tree was cut and decorated
by Hessian soldiers serving under Continental Army officers in the northern states,
but the first real record of a decorated tree in New England comes from Harriet
Martineau who was visiting a family in Boston in 1832. A German immigrant,
Charles Follen, decorated a tree each Christmas for his son, and according to Martineau's
account there were wax candles on every branch, carefully placed so as to light the tree
but not set it afire. Baskets of sugarplums, gilded egg cups, colorful paper cornucopias
filled with sweets, smart dolls, and other whimsies glittered in the evergreen branches.
Not a twig was left uncovered with something sparkling.
In present day Germany, as in America, people love to decorate their houses at Christmas. Many German
houses will have little wooden frames holding electric candles in their windows,
and colored pictures of paper or plastic which look beautiful from the
outside at night. Most homes will also have little wooden 'cribs' - a small model of the
stable where Jesus was born, with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and
animals.
Christmas in Germany is celebrated on Christmas Eve, the
24th of December. The four Sundays before Christmas Eve are
Adventsundays. On the first Advent (which means 'coming') you light one candle at the
Adventwreath or Adventskranz (it can be a garland or wreath out of firbranch and leaves). On the second
you light two candles, on third you light three candles on the 4th
Sunday you light four candles. From the first December until
Christmas Eve they have an Adventcalendar. A calendar with 24
little doors. Day after day they will open one door. Father Christmas - 'Der Weihnachtsmann' - brings presents in the late afternoon of Christmas Eve (December 24th), after people have been to a church meeting. The presents are then found under the Christmas tree. One person in the family will ring a bell and call everyone to come to the room.
On the 6th of December, Germans have St. Nicholas' Day. On the eve - the
children put cleaned shoes outside the door. The next morning
the shoes are filled with chocolate. On Christmas Eve morning they
put the Christmas firtree in the living room and decorate the
Christmas tree. At midday they eat Christmas dinner . Fish (carp) or goose is a favorite meal. At four o'clock
many of them will head to church . After the service it 's distribution of Christmas
presents.