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Ed Heinlein: German Consultant

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Christmas is regionally and religiously celebrated differently!!!

• Background: "Holiday Treats: Christmas, Traditions, and Trinkets"
  How Germany invented Christmas as we know it
  • die Geschichte von Weihnachten (history of Christmas)
    1. Custom of celebrating Christmas was introduced by Karl der Große (Charlemagne) in Franconia
       • He was crowned by the Pope on Christmas day in the year 800.
       • At the time of Charlemagne, the church year had established most of the Christmas holidays already: Advent, December 6, New Years, and Epiphany.
    2. The name "Christmas" goes back to "urgermanische" times
       • Heathen festival in northern Europe (Scandinavia) was called Jul.
       • In Holland, it was called Kerstmis.
       • The name designates 12 holy nights, also 12 holy nights of the winter solstice.
       • Religious customs became connected to the winter solstice.
       • When Christianity came to Germanic tribes, the church had already been celebrating birth of Christ on December 25 for a long time.
       • Since this day fell in the 12 holy nights, the Germanic tribes simply took the name of the Old Festnächte with the Scandinavians, and the name stayed Jul.
  • German Christmas customs coming to America:
    1. der Weihnachtsbaum, die Weihnachtsbäume (Christmas tree)
    2. der Weihnachtsmarkt, die Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas markets)
    3. der Weihnachtsschmuck, die Schmucke (Christmas decorations)
    4. die Kerze, die Kerzen (candles)
    5. der Adventskranz, die Adventskränze (Advent wreath)
    6. der Adventskalender, die Adventskalender (Advent calendar)
    7. das Weihnachtslied, die Weihnachtslieder (Chrismas songs)
    8. der Sankt Nikolaus (Santa Nicholas)
    9. die Zuckerstange, die Zuckerstangen (candy canes)
• Weihnachtssitten und Weihnachtsbrauche (customs and traditions)
  • Weihnachtsvorschläge (Christmas tips)
    1. Everything you need to know about preparing for Christmas
    2. 10 Step Guide for doing Christmas like a German
    3. How to prepare for Christmas like a German
    4. 10 ways to celebrate Christmas like a German
    5. How to prepare for Christmas like an Austrian
    6. German words and phrases you need to know to survive the holidays
    7. Understanding the different names for Christmas across Switzerland
    8. Ore Mountains sparkle at Christmas
  • Weihnachtsvorbereitungen (Christmas preparations)
    1. Weihnachtsgebäck und Weihnachtsgetränke (baking and traditional pastries and beverages)
    2. Weihnachtswunschzettel (Christmas wish lists, letter to Christkind or Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas))
    3. Weihnachtsschmucke (Christmas decorations)
    4. Weihnachtsgeschenke kaufen (shopping / einkaufen and buying presents)
    5. Weihnachtskarten schicken (sending Christmas cards)
  • Weihnachtssitten (Christmas customs)
    What's the history behind Germany's Christmas traditions?
    1. Weihnachtsgrüße () (Christmas greetings)
    2. einen Weihnachtsmarkt besuchen (visit a Christmas market)
    3. Weihnachtslieder singen (sing Christmas songs)
       • „Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" () ("Silent Night, Holy Night")
       • „O Tannenbaum" () ("O Christmas Tree")
    4. Weihnachtsgedichte lesen (read Christmas poems)
       • „Rudolf mit rotem Näschen" () ("Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer")
       • „Als der Nikolaus kam" () ("When Santa Claus came")
       • „Vorweihnachtsabend" () ("Night Before Christmas")
    5. Weihnachtszüge, Weihnachtsschauspiele, und Weihnachtsaufführungen besuchen (attend Christmas processions, plays, & performances)
  • Weihnachtsglauben und Aberglauben (Christmas beliefs and superstitions)
    1. Gabenbringer (bringer of gifts):
       • Wer bringt die Geschenke? (Who brings the gifts?)
       • Gabenbringer varies as to region
       • Sankt Nikolaus (Santa Claus)
         • Nikouaustag (St. Nicholas Day) is December 6th
         • He is known in southern Germany and Catholic regions.
       • Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas)
         • Nikouaustag (St. Nicholas Day) is December 6th
         • He is known in northern Germany and Protestant regions.
       • Christkind (Christ Child, Kriss Kringle)
         • heilger Abend (Christmas Eve) on December 24
         • der heiige Geist (Holy Spirit) brings gifts in northern Germany
         • Knecht Ruprecht comes with the Christkind in some areas.
    2. traditional Christmas figures
       • Who is Nikolaus scary companion, servant, and helper? (Helfer)
         • Knecht Ruprecht in northern Germany
         • Krampus or der schwarze Peter (Black Peter) in Bavaria
         • Grampus in Austria
       • andere Namen (other names):
         • Pelznickel, Belsnickel, Belznickel (Rhine River regions)
         • Pelzmartel or Pelzmarte (Rhine)
         • Ruklas; Hans Trapp; Habersack; Bercht
         • Polterklas or Pulterklas
    3. „Knöpfelnächte" ("Knocking Nights")
• Christmas Trends
  • Christmas in the other regions and German-speaking countries:
    1. Weihnachten im Bayern (Bavaria)
    2. Weihnachten im Österreich (Austria)
    3. Weihnachten in der Schweiz (Switzerland)
  • Weihnachtsferien (Depending on the province in Germany, students have between one and three weeks vacation from school.)
  • 6 Ways Germany cashes in at Christmas
  • 5 ways Germans think Christmas has gotten worse
  • What makes German Christmas customs different American customs?