Christmas traditions in Germany that thrill even from a distance
As this year the famous Christmas markets in Germany have been canceled due to the global pandemic, it is worth remembering how other traditions and customs are kept alive throughout the German country in the final stretch of the year. Its sixteen länders, from north to south, strive to preserve family and culinary plans that they combine with nature excursions and walks through its historic cities. This proposal is also another incentive to plan a winter trip to the Germanic country when it can be organized.
In Germany, Advent calendars are one of the classic pre-Christmas Eve traditions that children eagerly await.
The origin of this calendar, present in many German homes, dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, when the days until the Christmas party were counted by tearing out calendar sheets or with various stamps. Today most of the Advent calendars contain sweets or little surprises and there are many families who make and fill them so that they are finished at the latest on the night of November 30. The next step is to open its little doors every day until December 24. One of the largest calendars being prepared in Germany is organized in Hanau, Hesse, when a different window with illuminated motifs taken from the tales of the Brothers Grimm opens each night in its town hall.
Christmas Eve, the key day: Gifts in Germany are distributed on December 24 in such a way that in some regions of the country the baby Jesus brings them and in others Santa Claus. It is in the south of the country, as in Bavaria, where the baby Jesus has more prominence and families continue the tradition of going to the Mass of the Rooster before or after opening the gifts. Churches are filled with nativity scenes representing the birth of Christ with carefully carved figurines and in some cases it is quite common for the Christmas story to be represented during mass in the form of a living nativity scene portal. Instead, northern Germany opts for Santa Claus following the northernmost tradition of European countries.
Boat trip through illuminated Berlin. With the famous Berlin Christmas markets closed, there is still the option to walk down the Unter den Linden avenue adorned with illuminated garlands and Christmas motifs that encourage you to carry out the typical Christmas shopping, but you can also take a boat trip around Berlin resplendent full of Christmas lights that constitutes a unique experience: from the water you can admire many attractions of the city while enjoying a mulled wine accompanied by the classic regional sweets
