Weihnachten in Deutschland und der Schweiz

Die Vorweihnachtszeit The weeks before Weihnachten are almost as important as Weihnachten itself!

Der Adventskranz has 4 candles one is lit every Sunday before Weihnachten

Der Adventskalender kids get this calendar from their parents it goes from 1. Dezember bis 24. Dezember (Holy Eve) first used by German Lutherans in the 19th and 20th centuries

Der 6. Dezember - Sankt Nikolaus Tag Waiting at the window for Santa He comes carrying a big bag, a book and a bundle of twigs. if children were good, polite and helpful, they get sweets and nuts if they were not good, they get a tree branch instead for a whipping.

Waiting…...

Sankt Nikolaus Tag

Knecht Ruprecht Nikolaus’ helper He makes sure that kids were nice and that they prayed If they were bad, he either beat them with his stick or he shook his bag of ashes at them.

der Krampus Austrian tradition, but he is gaining in popularity Scary creature, who kidnaps naughty kids and takes them to his lair. He often has a chain, bells, and a bundle of sticks. There are parades

der Weihnachtsmarkt Almost every little village has it’s own Christmas Market You can drink hot wine or hot chocolate, eat a lot of great snacks and buy little Christmas gifts and decorations!

Der Weihnachtsmarkt

Der Weihnachtsmarkt

Essen auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt

Essen auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt

Das Christkind gift bringer in Catholic regions of Germany

Der Weihnachtsmann bringer of oranges, nuts and chocolates

Der Weihnachtsbaum