Article written by Explorica Program Associate Charlotte Smith.
In December 2010, I was given the unique opportunity to spend the month of December in Germany. Since then I have visited many more places and seen holiday celebrations in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and back home in the United States. But memories of my time in Germany stand out against the rest!
Germans call Christmas Day Weihnachten. In preparation for Weihnachten many families celebrate Advent, a time of religious preparations for the arrival of das Christkind, or the Christ Child. During Advent, German families and churches light candles on an Advent wreath for the four Sundays leading up to Weihnachten. And for the first 24 days of December, children open Advent calendars to find a chocolate treat waiting for them behind every tiny door.
With Advent also comes perhaps my favorite part of the German holiday season, Weihnachtsmarkt, or Christmas markets, popping up in nearly every German town, large or small. The town squares are lit up with lights everywhere and people walking, shopping, and celebrating. Vendors sell baked goods, gingerbread hearts, crepes, cookies, stollen, cotton candy and many other sweets. The booths sell Christmas tree decorations and handcrafted items. People gather together to eat traditional regional food, listen to music, and drink beer, apple cider or Glühwein, a mulled wine made with wine, sugar, cinnamon, oranges and cloves.
On December 6th is Nikolaustag, a day commemorating Saint Nicholas. On the eve of the holiday, German children place a boot or shoe outside of their doors. Nikolaus, similar to Santa Claus, visits the house and fills the shoes with sweets and small gifts if the children were good. The Weihnachtsbaum, or Christmas Tree, is usually put up on the afternoon of 24th, and decorated by the parents. Gifts are also exchanged on the 24th as well as a modest meal of fish, duck, goose or fondue.
Everyone, everywhere, has their own way of celebrating the holidays, all of which are special to those who keep the traditions alive. When we look beyond our own, we may just find something truly special.
Want to plan a trip to Germany?
Meet Charlotte, one of our newest Explorica Program Associates.
Charlotte has been to 21 different countries and has been on 12 Explorica tours. She also studied abroad in Germany and attended graduate school in Scotland.