What I learned about German Christmas as an American

[@equinox7839]

And don't make the mistake to go grocery shopping on the last day that the shops are open. It will be complete madness. 😂

[@JJONNYREPP]

What I learned about German Christmas as an American 24.12.24 1441pm i celebrated st john's day in austria - the superior germany - and teh had me dish out bread to people sat in a restaurant and the partakers of the bread gave me money. which was excellent being an english kid in austria and having no concept of being in a foreign land...

[@nriamond8010]

If I notice that I have forgotten to buy something at the evening of December 23rd, I try to go to the supermarket on the 24st as early as it opens (usually 7 in the morning) and/or I go to one that is less popular (we have several supermarkets in my small town and some are somehow always less crowded than others). It's usually rather empty then :)

[@youtubekommentar5494]

Krampus is IMHO completely unknown in Baden-Württemberg (south-western Germany). But you didn't mention Knecht Ruprecht :-(

[@michisizou6732]

Die Umzüge gibts nur ganz im Süden, also zum Beispiel im Allgäu. Komplett unbekannt ist es demnach in Ba-Wü nicht. Bei uns gibt es das aber auch nicht und bis ins Allgäu ist es von uns aus nicht sehr weit.

[@garellekrisbacaron1544]

Well..if you want a more culture shock, check out the Philippines. They celebrate Christmas by the start of September.

[@JJONNYREPP]

or if yer catholics round here, steal into your home and have it away with the gifts... the scran.... the booze.

[@apoorvjadav8194]

Even in Munich Germany, some celebration in January also.

[@SayanGiant]

Further west of Ohio, in the Midwest, where we are also mostly of German heritage, Christmas Eve is generally the day of exchanging gifts with friends and/or extended families. Christmas Day may be for a nuclear family. Also, December 6th (Saint Nicholas Day) is definitely celebrated by German and Polish (and many other) Catholics in the U.S. In fact, it's quite popular amongst those groups. I remember being a kid, and being much more excited about Saint Nicholas Day than Christmas, mostly because of the chocolates and other foods. I think there's a mix of gifts in shoes, and then stockings. In more modern times, specialized decorative stockings seem to be a more practical option than putting food items into people's shoes. Most of the German heritage Protestants I know in the Midwest U.S. don't celebrate Saint Nicholas Day. Regional differences may be due to migration patterns; the Midwest seems to have mostly Western and Southern Germans.

[@dweuromaxx]

Interesting perspective! Thank you for sharing 🎄

[@RoterPaelzer]

Fun Fact: Santa Claus is an alternation of St. Nikolaus. So the Nikolaus is the original one 😉

[@weirdshibainu]

Germany sounds like a really good place to spend Christmas

[@greenheart9087]

In Mexican tradition, we open gifts on Xmas Eve at night. I wonder if this is an old European custom or if we got it specifically from German immigrants or perhaps something else entirely ??

[@apoorvjadav8194]

Your Christmas dresses are absolutely stunning! I spent the last four years living in Munich, and I truly miss the charm of a Bavarian Christmas. It seems like Hamburg and the northern parts of Germany are becoming more Americanized. Frohe Weihnachten, DW!

[@erikaporras4416]

What about lightening the tree with candles?

[@AnjaJ-wl1wz]

My mom told me that when she was a child they used to have real candles on the tree. They only lit them once - on christmas eve, because it was too dangerous to light them again as they burnt down. Nowadays I only know one family who still has real candles on the tree. Many have lights that look a bit like candles but it's getting more popular to just put regular lights on the tree. Greetings from Bavaria - Germany

[@erikaporras4416]

@ Thank you so much for your answer!! I had read about the candles long time ago and didn’t know if it was still done and how. Greetings from Mexico City!

[@josephinelujan5530]

In Germany a lot of families decorate their Christmas tree a few weeks or a week before Christmas

[@LettersFromAFriend]

That is a very (!) recent development.

[@angelikapreu9323]

Nein, traditionell ist das nicht. Ich kenne keine Familie, die das macht. Warum auch? Vor Allem für (kleinere) Kinder ist das in Kombination mit den Geschenken unterm Weihnachtsbaum freudig-aufregend.😊

[@LukasBiosphere]

Meine Eltern stellen den Baum ein paar Tage vor Weihnachten auf. Wenn man es zu früh macht hat der Baum seine ganzen Nadeln vor dem 24.12. schon verloren. Heutzutage kaufen die Leute fast nur noch Nordmanntannen die weniger schnell Nadeln verlieren. Aber Früher hat man meistens Blaufichten dafür genommen, die duften mehr aber verlieren die Nadeln schon innerhalb weniger Tage. Durch die Nordmanntanne und auch plastikbäume ist es natürlich möglich den Baum Früher aufzustellen.

[@wandilismus8726]

Krampus is mostly Bavaria and Austria, in civilized parts we have Knecht Ruprecht

[@gottfriedheumesser1994]

Krampus and Perchtenlauf are pre-Christian traditions from at least the Celtic era. Their job is to drive out winter and the short days.

[@josephinelujan5530]

Kids can also get little gifts for St.Nicholas Day

[@Catchthiswaver]

Germans have a lot of visitors for the holiday lol

[@سبحاناللهوبحمده-ي8ب]

ماذا يعني هذا الإحتفال بالضبط 😃

[@JaneH76]

The birth of Jesus Christ. 🥰

[@QuentinPlant]

For most Germans, it's just a cultural thing. Meeting with family, having meals together and give gifts.

[@JaneH76]

@@QuentinPlant For most Germans? Not true.

[@QuentinPlant]

@@JaneH76 OK - you're right. The majority of Germans (52.1%) still are registered as christians - but how many have not left the church only because leaving the church involves a lot of effort and time and even costs money? And many are so called "U-Boot-Christen": nominally they are christians but like a submarines are rarely visible and go to church only at Christmas - and usually more out of tradition and because of the nativity play than for religious reasons. So - it's a cultural thing for most people.

[@JJONNYREPP]

What I learned about German Christmas as an American 1438pm 24.12.24 or if yer me mum, 23rd dec...

[@ismailhendricks40]

Is this about birth of jesus or what dont look so all a viking belief pagans

[@QuentinPlant]

Germany is cultural christian, but most arent't very religious per se.

[@rainbowmanfromoriginalid8724]

MARTIN LUTHER THE GREAT

[@QuentinPlant]

The great anti-semit?

[@countrygirl7656]

Too bad your foolish migration policy has ruined the Christmas Markets. Sad to see what Germany has become.

[@shahlabadel8628]

ditto!

[@QuentinPlant]

One of the most successfull countries with a big, stable economy?

[@equinox7839]

🤦‍♂️

[@countrygirl7656]

@@QuentinPlant Stable countries don’t import people who hate them to grift off of generous social welfare programs. You smugly act like the huge Christmas Market tragedy didn’t happen. This is why leftism is being rejected and populism is winning.

[@heikos4264]

Too bad that you have no idea what you talking about. Sad to see that you have the intelligence of a piece of wood.

[@oakey03]

You have a face for radio, Hallie.