The winter holiday season: a time where families across the world spend the holidays together, laughing, eating, and rejoicing. However, last year was a little different for me. As usual, my parents stayed in Wilmington for Christmas, but I spent my Christmas 4,301 miles away in Germany.
The holiday season hit around the 5th month mark of my exchange year. The winter holidays are widely considered as the season exchange students like me tend to struggle the most. Luckily, the worst of my homesickness had already passed back in the fall, leaving me more excited than anxious about the upcoming holidays. Germans celebrate Christmas and the New Year in varying ways across regions but all practices have some sort of historical or cultural significance. After contacting my old exchange buddies, I’ve compiled a list of the most memorable customs we experienced in Germany. As December approaches, here are some quintessential tips for how to celebrate like a German!
Image shows a Christmas Market on a popular street in Goslar, Germany
Adventskalender
Advent Calendars aren’t a particularly groundbreaking concept for most Americans, but what you might not know is that the Advent Calendar tradition has roots in German culture. It was in the 19th century that German Protestants, or Lutherans, came up with creative ways to count the days until Christmas. The Lutherans used chalk lines, candles and other methods to mark down the days on a calendar. Eventually, these practices evolved to create the first wooden Advent Calendar. Later, calendars were printed and illustrated and came prefilled with chocolate, like the ones you might be familiar with. Today, the Advent Calendar is a staple Christmas festivity, and one that most German families, Lutheran or not, enjoy leading up to Christmas. After all, who doesn’t want an excuse to eat chocolate everyday?
Set your shoes out for Nicholaustag!
On the evening of December 5th, millions of children in Germany (and other parts of Europe) place their shoes by the front door in the hopes that Sankt Nikolaus (St. Nicholas) will visit in the night and leave their shoes filled with treats. The next morning, the children who have been good all year will find their shoes overflowing with oranges, chocolate coins, or in my case, a ticket to see Germany’s favorite metrosexual magic show: the Ehrlich Brothers! Thanks, St. Nicholas, just what I needed!
Lila Pfirman’s shoes filled with treats on St. Nicholas Day
Scare your little siblings and dress up like Krampus!
If you’re someone that resents positive reinforcement and the spirit of giving, then you might “pooh-pooh” St. Nicholas in favor of his devilish companion, Krampus! Krampus is a demonic goat-like beast that chases bad children with sticks. Most popular in the Alpine Regions of Germany and Austria, it is said that Krampus accompanies St. Nicholas on the evening of December 5th to punish ‘naughty’ children, and in some cases, steal them away to the underworld he comes from. Whether you believe Krampus is fact or fiction, you can witness folklore brought to life at Krampuslauf, a festival celebrated most commonly in the Bavarian region of Germany and Austria. In the dark of winter, dozens of volunteers will wear their most terrifying Krampus costumes and chase after willing spectators for an adrenaline filled, hauntingly good time!
Raclette
Are you a lover of all things ooey, gooey and cheesy? Then Raclette is one German tradition that you might want to enjoy this holiday season. Native to Sweden, Raclette is a relatively mild cheese with a tangy, somewhat nutty flavor. The word “raclette” is French for “to scrape”; traditionally, a wheel of raclette sits by an open fire until melted enough to scrape onto the plates with meat and vegetables. In the 1950s, the electric raclette grill set rose in popularity, becoming an essential asset to a successful German holiday dinner party. Everyone agrees that Raclette is delicious, but several can’t agree what time of year it should be served. I distinctly remember my German classmates arguing over whether Raclette should be eaten for Christmas Day or New Year’s. I think the American equivalent of Raclette would be the age-old debate of Ham vs. Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. (The correct answer is turkey.)
Watch the Feuerzangenbowle burn!
Feurzangenbowle translates directly to “fire-tongs punch,” and boy does it live up to the name! You start with a punch bowl full of Glühwein, which is topped with a sugar loaf that’s been soaked in rum. The quick strike of a lighter sets the bowl aflame and mesmerizing shades of purple and blue take the main stage. Even if you can’t partake in drinking the Feuerzangenbowle, it’s definitely something you’ll want to experience at least once, even if only for entertainment.
Experience the magic of the Weihnachtsmarkt
Perhaps the most festive of all German traditions, the “Christmas Market” or Weihnachtsmarkt is a staple all across Germany. Rows of booths serve fried potatoes, sausages, and of course Glüwhein, an internationally famous spiced wine, perfect for keeping visitors warm as they walk around the market. Artisans from all over sell leather goods, soaps, wooden figurines and more. In larger Christmas Markets, there are singing and dancing performances, carousels and sometimes even visits from Santa Claus. My favorite Christmas Market tradition is the Weihnachtspyramide. This is a “Christmas Pyramid” with a small wooden structure shaped a bit like a Christmas tree with a fan-like structure on top. Traditionally, lit candles line the base of the decoration, drawing your eyes up the many illuminated layers all the way to the top. My host mother’s Weihnachtspyramide was a family heirloom with small hand painted figurines on each layer. As hot air rises from the candles, the paddles of the fan begin to move and the whole pyramid spins like a merry-go-round. At many large Christmas Markets, the organizers set up a “life-sized” pyramid that often serves as the center of the market. Although you’ll be hard pressed to find an authentic Weihnachtsmarkt in America, you could recreate it with a bit of the magic at home. And, if anyone is looking for a quality, non-alcoholic, Glühwein recipe, I'm your girl!
Many of these traditions can be recreated to an extent at home here in the states, but nothing compares to the real thing. In my sophomore year, I was able to experience all this and more through the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange, a bilateral study-abroad scholarship program between Germany and the United States. If you’re interested in studying abroad during high school:
Take a look at the CBYX website (https://usagermanyscholarship.org/)
Or
Contact me personally at lila.pfirman@student.nhcs.net.
Image source:
Sack, J. (2015, June 26). The traditional Christmas Market on the historic Market Square of. . . iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/christmas-market-goslar-gm478821816-67908875