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Traditions
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Holidays and Observances for 2009
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| January 01 | New Year's Day (Neujahrstag) | | January 06 | Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) | | February 19 | Fat Thursday (Fetter Donnerstag) | | February 24 | Fat Tuesday (Fastnacht) | | April 10 | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | | April 12 | Easter Sunday (Ostern) | | April 13 | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | | May 01 | Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) | | May 21 | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | | May 31 | Pentecost (Pfingsten) | | June 01 | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | | June 11 | Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) | | August 08 | Peace Festival (Friedensfest) | | August 15 | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mariä Himmelfahrt) | | October 03 | Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | | October 31 | Reformation Day (Reformationstag) | | November 01 | All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen) | | December 06 | St Nicholas Day (Nikolaus) | | December 24 | Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) | | December 25 | Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag) | | December 26 | Second day of Christmas (Weihnachtstag) | | December 31 | New Year's Eve (Silvester) |
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New! Germany Calendars for 2009
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Christmas Customs
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In Germany Christmas traditions vary by region. On Saint Nicholas' Day, the 6th of December, Saint Nicholas puts goodies in children's shoes. Sometimes St. Nicholas visits children in kindergartens, schools or at public events. They have to recite a short poem or sing a song in order to get sweets or a small gift. "Knecht Ruprecht" (the servant Ruprecht - dressed in dark clothes with devil-like traits and with a stick or a small whip in the hand) sometimes accompanies St. Nicholas. His duty is to punish those children who haven't behaved during the year. Usually he doesn't have much to do. He merely stands near St. Nicholas as a warning to be good and polite. This festival is for the most part a children's festival.
A Christmas pyramid in Hauptstraße, near Albertplatz, Dresden by
Julian Mendez
The actual Christmas gift-giving (German: "Bescherung") usually takes place on Christmas Eve. This tradition first began with the Reformation, since Martin Luther was of the opinion that one should put the emphasis on Christ's birth and not on a saint's day and do away with the connotation that gifts have to be earned by good behaviour. The gifts should be seen as a symbol for the gift of God's grace in Christ. In the meanwhile this tradition is also common in predominantly Catholic regions.
A Nativity scene from Rottenburg-Hailfingen by
Andreas Praefcke
The Christmas Tree is first put up and decorated on the morning of the 24th. The gifts are then placed under the tree. Often after Christmas Vespers in the church and an evening meal the father usually goes into the room where the tree is standing, lights the candles and rings a little bell. Then the children are allowed to go into the candlelit room. In many families it is still a custom to sing Christmas songs around the tree before opening up the presents. Some families, especially Catholic families, attend a midnight church service after the evening meal and gift-giving.
A Dominostein - a sweet primarily sold during Christmas season in Germany
The culinary feast either takes place at supper on Christmas Eve or on the first day of Christmas, and usually involves poultry (typically roast goose). Some families prefer a lighter and simpler meal on Christmas Eve. They eat potato salad and sausages, carp or a hearty soup and eat goose, duck or pork roast on Christmas Day. The gifts may be brought by the Weihnachtsmann (translation, "Christmas man"), who resembles either St. Nicholas or the American Santa Claus, or by the Christkind, a sprite-like child who may or may not represent the baby Jesus. After the gifts are opened the children often stay up as late as they like, often till the early hours of the morning.
More information on Christmas worldwide
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For all your holiday needs - Visit GermanDeli.com
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| New! Collectibles from Germany |
Preview our selection of traditional pottery, ceramics, porcelain, art glass from Germany, including: Alsbach, Arzberg, Bareuther, BAY KERAMIK, Bleikristall, Blenheim China, Conta & Boehme, Eschenbach China, Frankenthal, Franzant Mehlem, Furstenberg Plate, German Dresden Porcelain, German Meissen, Gerold Porzellan, Gerz, Geschutzt, Heinrich China, Heubach, Hofbauer, Hummel, Hutschenreuther, Jasba, Johann Haviland, Kaiser Porcelain, Karl Ens, Katzhutte, KPM, Mettlach, Mitterteich, Nachtmann, Nymphenburg, Reutter Porcelain, Royal Bayreuth, Royal Bonn, RS Prussia, Rudolstadt, Scheurich, Schonwald, Schramberg, Schwarzenhammer, Schweizer Pewter, Sitzendorf, Solingen Flatware, Spiegelau, Steinmann, Tielsch, Tirschenreuth, Versace Rosenthal, Volkstedt, Waechtersbach, Wallendorf, Welmar, Winterling, WMF, and more....
Click here to see all collectibles from Germany |
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Folk Art
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Visit the Official Oktoberfest Site
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Folk Dance and Song
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The Schuhplattler is a traditional folk dance from Bavaria and Austria. The homeland of the Schuhplattler dance is the alpine region of Europe in Bavaria, Germany and Austria. In days gone by young men wished to impress marriageable young ladies with their dancing prowess. Initially the style was free without rules. Performed usually in a 3/4 time, one would carry out a series of jumps and hip movements to the time of the music. Characteristically the dancers will rhythmically strike their thighs, knees and soles of the feet, and stamp with the feet. Nowadays the dance is usually performed out of tradition, maintaining the older customs, and as part of the activities of Trachtenvereine (that is, societies which maintain traditional dress, songs and culture of earlier days).
More information on Schuhplattler
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Send flowers and gift baskets to Germany
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Traditional Costumes
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Ochsenfurt, Germany: local costumes (Ochsenfurter Tracht), 1960.
Photographed by Paul Walde (1899-1970)
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New! German Christmas Word Search Puzzle
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Print and solve the new German Christmas Word search puzzle. Search for words vertically, diagonally, horizontally and backwards. Click here to open a new browser window - use the browser's Print option to print puzzle.
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Wedding Customs
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Polterabend is the term for a German wedding custom in which the couple to be married breaks porcelain to bring luck to their marriage. The belief in the effectiveness is expressed by the old adage: "Shards bring luck". The expression is derived from a time when the word "shard" referred to the unbroken clay pots of pottery makers, and not just the broken pieces. It was said that a full jar was a lucky thing to have, therefore the expression "shards bring luck".
Wedding cake with hearts and roses on the buffet table in Germany by Claus Ableiter
The Polterabend normally takes place in front of the house of the bride (or that of her parents), although exceptions are made for space considerations, for example. The couple generally announces the occasion but does not specifically send out individual invitations. Word spreads via word of mouth, and those with a desire to show up may do so. Many couples use this as a way of including people whom they are not able to invite to the wedding itself. Something to eat and/or drink is arranged (either provided for or requested of the guests).
More information on Polterabend
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