Christmas Traditions in Germany  

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Countries around the world celebrate the winter solstice holiday in their own unique way. Some, such as Christmas and Hanukah are religious celebrations, while other non-religious celebrations of nature, people and the coming spring solstice. The rationale for the various holiday celebrations can sometimes differ, but there are a surprising number of commonalities among the celebratory traditions. Over the millennia, that celebrated man, theSeasonal influences of each group and others with their traditions.

Today, every country and faith celebrates the holiday in their own unique way, but often you can identify common themes between the different countries. In this article we will take a closer look at how Christmas is celebrated in Germany, where you can see that their traditions are no different than the share of England and America.

The youth in many countries celebrate a beloved mystical figure such as Santa Clausand Germany is no different, the German equivalent of America and England is the Santa Claus is none other than the friendly Kris Kringle. Unlike Santa, Kris Kringle is not responsible for the disclosure of gifts to excited children - that duty is reserved by another holiday figure: the Christ Child.

In Germany, children write letters (to Christ as the Christ-translated), much like American children send letters to Santa at the North Pole. The German children place theirLetters into an envelope heavily adorned with glue and sugar. These envelopes are placed on windowsills where they can glitter in the soft light of the moon.

And as if the German youth were not enough to celebrate kindly eternal figures there's one more: Saint Nicholas! Traditionally, children stuff their shoes with hay, straw or carrots every Christmas Eve and leave them on their doorsteps. When Saint Nicholas rides by later that evening on his proud white stallion, which hehold momentarily by each door so that his stallion can feed on the left hand side after treatment. To thank the generous children, Saint Nicholas will replace that eat hay and / or carrots with delicious candies.

Few things capture the holiday spirits of people better than the old Christmas tree. While millions of people do set up the Christmas tree every year, a good portion of them do not realize that the tradition comes from Germany. The Germans love their Christmas trees onlyas much as Americans and Englishmen ... Indeed, it is not uncommon that more than one tree seen in a household in Germany!

There are conflicting myths about how the Christmas tree first came to light, but one of the most common stories tells the story of an old woodcutter that stumbled across a young hungry child in the woods. He stopped cutting down trees for a bit to befriend and feed the baby. After the meal was finished, the two went their separate ways.

At the beginning of the next morningChild appeared in front of the wood-cutter with his wife in the form of a spirit. He described himself as Santa Claus and thanked the surprised woodcutter for his act of kindness on the previous day. To repay the woodcutter's good will, gave him the branch of an evergreen Christmas tree and told him the tree from which the branch would have come to bear fruit year round. In response to make this wonderful event for the annual German evergreen trees each winter and decorating them withJewelry, candy, candles and much more.

After Thanksgiving in America is a thing you can be sure: are adorned virtually every electrical outlet and shopping mall with many festive Christmas decorations. Germans know how come the holiday shopping system into high gear to ... In fact, they have a name for this tradition: Kriskringlemart. During this time, manufacturers and dealers are the different streets of the city line and offer special sales for Christmas. The festive decorations, scents andSounds of the holiday create a true feast for the senses.

What would Christmas be without a seemingly endless variety of delicious foods and beverages? If we treat to celebrate Christmas while in Germany you would like to fill indulgent flavored cakes, pastries, handmade chocolates and cocoa. Although all the above are enough to satisfy the palate are two specialties Germans are known: gingerbread and gluwein (a spicy red wine). Baker alsogenerate a special type of dough called Christbaumgeback which is formed into various shapes and hung on Christmas trees as adornments.

Every country has its own festive traditions that during the winter holiday season, but few are as memorable as Christmas in Germany. The lucky people who vacation in this beautiful country during the holiday season is with memories that left them last a lifetime.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2005. All rights reservedReserved.