1. Weihnachten in Deutschland und der Schweiz

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

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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Waiting…...

7. Sankt Nikolaus Tag

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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!

11. Der Weihnachtsmarkt

12. Der Weihnachtsmarkt

13. Essen auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt

14. Essen auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt

15. Das Christkind
gift bringer in Catholic regions of Germany

16. Der Weihnachtsmann
bringer of oranges, nuts and chocolates

17. Der Weihnachtsbaum