Germnay

On a Knocking night or Klopfelanchten (another name for the night), children wearing masks go to house to house banging lids and clanging cowbells in their neighborhood.
It is similar to our Halloween, because the children dress up in frightening masks and receive sweets, coins and fruit. The children have to recite a rhyme at the door before they are given anything.
Frohe Weihnachten und alles Gute im Neuen Jahr
'Frohliche Weihnachten' is Merry Christmas in German.

Germany is famous for its Christmas Markets. Early in December, the oldest and most famous market, Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt (Christ Child Market) is opened. The stalls have red and white striped roofs and sell Christmas decoration, food, toys, and presents.

The advent wreath is an essential part of a German Christmas. Every home has an Advent Wreath (“Adventskranz”). Schools also hang an advent wreath in the classrooms.
Monika, from Germany, wrote to us and said ' At school we light the candles every morning, sing Christmas carols together and open another door or gift at the advent calendar'.

December 6 is Nikolaustag, or St. Nicholas' Day. Before going to bed the evening before, children put their – freshly polished – shoes by the door or on the windowsill for St. Nicholas to fill with presents. Sometimes he comes to visit in person, wearing a long robe and carrying a tall, curved staff. If they have been good, the children receive sweets or chocolate. If they have been bad they receive slaps from St Nicholas companion, called “Knecht Ruprecht”

The traditional German Christmas decorations are prune men or prune women ( Quetschenmännchen ) and straw stars.
The Prune people are about 25cm tall. Their arms and legs are made out of prunes and their bodies are made of dried figs. Walnuts are used for the heads and faces are painted on. Clothes are made for the prune people too. The Germans say "You will never be without gold and happiness, if you have a prune person in your house."

December 21st, in Germany is known as St. Thomas Day. In some areas of Germany, whoever wakes up late or arrives late to work on that day is issued the title "Thomas Donkey." They are given a cardboard donkey and people make jokes about them.

Children in Germany write letters to the Christ Child, like we write letters to Father Christmas. They send the letters either by post or leave them on the windowsill for the Child Christ to collect.



Children open their Christmas presents on Heiligabend (Christmas Eve). On that day, while the children wait in another room, Father Christmas or the Christ Child (Christkind), as he is known in southern Germany, leaves presents under the Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) and lights the candles on it, ringing a bell to announce the arrival of Christmas. Everyone gathers to open presents, play music and sing carols.

For their Christmas Dinner, Germans eat Christmas goose (Weihnachtsgans) with potato balls (dumplings) and red cabbage.