Christmas is truly the most magical time of the year. Although I may be biased, there is truly nothing like Christmas in Germany. I lived in Munich, one of the largest cities in Germany, for many of my adolescent years and it was always transformed for the Christmas season. Some of my favorite parts were the traditions that differed from those I celebrated in the United States that made the season extra special. Here are some of my favorite highlights:
The biggest Christmas tradition by far in Germany and its neighboring countries is the Weihnachtsmarkt, or the Christmas markets. Most Christmas markets begin four weeks out from Christmas (Dec. 25) and are the ultimate celebration of the season. It involves little huts that are set up by local vendors and businesses that sell food, clothing, jewelry, toys and every present or treat you could imagine! Most of the items that are sold are usually handmade, which makes them unique and special.
In Germany, Holzkunst, or wood artwork, is very popular. Many Christmas market vendors will hand carve artwork out of wood that makes for the perfect Christmas decoration. The most popular Holzkunst are definitely the Weihnachtspyramide and the Räuchermann. The Weihnachtspyramide is a tall wooden structure with mills at the very top and candles and the bottom. The mills then spin around due to the heat that comes off the fire. The Räuchermann is a fun device to light incense though that looks like Santa is smoking a pipe! It directly translates to “smoker man”! The smoke from the incense comes out of the hole that forms his mouth and makes for a hilarious Christmas gift.
The Christmas markets also include a lot of food and Christmas food in Germany is no joke. One of my personal favorite Christmas treats is the Baumstriezel, which are chimney-shaped pastries that you can unwind from the top as you eat them and typically have sugar or cinnamon coated on the outside. Although this treat originates from Romania, they make an appearance at almost every German Christmas market. Another German Christmas classic is the Mandeln. Mandeln are almonds that are roasted and coated in cinnamon. They are absolutely delicious and a true treat on a cold day. Christmas dinner is also a big deal in Germany, which is usually eaten on Christmas Eve with the main course being a Christmas goose!
The toys are also a big part of German Christmas. The star in Germany is the stuffed animal brand Steiff. While Steiff is originally known for their teddy bears, they have every possible animal imaginable. Not only are they cuddly, but the stuffed animals are absolutely adorable! Outside of the Steiff stores around Christmas, they set up scenes in the windows displaying the animals in their own little village. It is a delight for everyone to walk past and admire. Christmas presents, however, are handled a little differently in Germany than they are in the U.S. Firstly, presents start way before Christmas with advent, which they take to a whole new level with Adventszeit. Typically, children will be given some sort of advent calendar where they can open a door to get chocolate, or they will have little stockings for each day that are filled with small presents or candy.
On Dec. 6, children celebrate St. Nikolaustag where they put a pair of boots out the night before and in the morning they are filled with candy or fruits from St. Nikolaus himself! Furthermore, Santa Claus (or in Germany, Weihnachtsmann) typically comes on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to all of the children who made it onto the nice list. The naughty children, however, get a whole other treatment…Traditionally, a horned, demonic goat-like figure named Krampus comes for them. He is said to kidnap children in a sack, take them into the woods and whip them with branches before taking them back with him into the underworld. Trust me, it is truly terrifying and if this doesn’t motivate kids to be nice, I’m not sure what will!
When you’re not hiding from the dreadful Krampus, Christmas time in Germany is truly so unique and magical. The traditions and the Christmas markets bring it to life in a way that I have never seen before. Unfortunately, due to the spread of COVID-19, many German Christmas markets have not been operating for the past two years. However, with the many other special traditions, Christmas is positively going to be special in Germany. If you have the chance, I would highly suggest going to visit Germany during the Christmas season to experience the magic for yourself! Merry Christmas, or as we say in Germany, Frohe Weihnachten!
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