This year is, of course, an exceptional year, yet the most important Christmas day for Germans is December 24th, “Heiligabend”.

Usually we “feiern” with our family, in a smaller or larger circle of the family with grandparents and possibly aunt and uncle. Often, on “Heiligabend”, only the nuclear family celebrates together.

In the afternoon or evening (depending on whether there are children) we traditionally go to church and when we come back, we have dinner. This can be quite different depending on the family. For some, it is important to eat sumptuously on Christmas Eve, but for many, a quite simple, quick meal is not atypical. After all, we still want to celebrate together and not just stand in the kitchen!

After dinner, we gather around the “Christbaum”, which is traditionally decorated with real “Kerzen”, and sing Christmas carols. If someone can play an instrument, that's his performance!

After the songs, Christmas poems and stories, there is finally “Bescherung”.

And who brings the “Geschenke”? Das “Christkind”, der “Weihnachtsmann” oder Amazon?

Well.... this year, more than ever before, probably "Amazon", which should actually be introduced as a new Christmas character. Do you have an idea for its look?

Santa Claus is American, thanks to Coca-Cola in a red coat, and is strongly competing with the Christkind in Germany. More and more, the American tradition is spreading in Germany and it's hard to imagine life without it. This often leads to hot kindergarten discussions: Is “Weihnachtsmann” coming to bring the presents or the “Christkind”? So, it has been agreed that for the many children, the “Christkind” needs help and “Christkind”and “Weihnachtsmann” are good partners and work together.

This leads to the fact that also “Weihnachtsmann” in Germany comes to some children on the evening of December 24th and puts the gift under the tree.

So, we open the presents one by one, eat lots of “Plätzchen” (see previous blog post), maybe drink a “Glühwein” or “Punsch”, listen to Christmas music and enjoy the evening together. Everyone enjoys their gifts (ideally), and the kids are already setting up their toys and get to play until their eyes fall shut. Some adults go at midnight to “Kirche”.

December 25th and 26th are both public holidays in Germany and it's the time to visit family and relatives and relax before the new year starts very soon.

How do you celebrate Christmas? Let us know in the comments!

Did this little culture and language lesson spark your interest to learn more about German culture or advance your language skills? Then, please feel free to check out our website where we offer language courses for all levels with effective, hands-on learning methods:

Learn more

Vocabulary:

Heiligabend/der Heilige Abend – Christmas Eve

feiern – to celebrate

der Christbaum /Weihnachtsbaum – the Christmas tree

die Kerze (Pl. -n) – the candle

das Geschenk (Pl. Geschenke) – the present/gift

das Christkind – Christus child who comes as an angel to the living rooms to bring the presents

der Weihnachtsmann – Santa Claus

der Glühwein – the mulled wine

der Kinderpunsch – punsh without alcohol

der Punsch - punsh with alcohol

die Kirche (Pl. -n) – the church

How do the Germans celebrate Christmas?