Weihnachten
weihnachten german ˈvaɪ̯naxtn̩ observance commonly known english christmas germanspeaking country germany austria switzerland also widespread country germanspeaking minority transylvania romania south tyrol italy eupen belgium various diaspora german brazilian german american community tradition weihnachten influenced advent christmastide culture throughout world preparation weihnachten many family celebrate advent time religious preparation arrival da christkind christ child traditional advent activity include adventskranz advent wreath set fourth sunday christmas day beginning advent season four candle adorn wreath new one lit sunday family often sing christmas carol gather around wreath celebrate preparation christmas season child also enjoy advent calendar contains door one day december leading christmas child open one door day find chocolate treat awaiting many calendar also include picture inside door often christmasrelated significant part christmas buildup occurs december nikolaustag day commemorating saint nicholas evening december child germany place nikolausstiefel boot shoe front street door overnight nikolaus figure similar appearance santa claus father christmas visit house fill boot sweet sometimes even smaller present child good otherwise left rute cane composed birch twig switzerland evening december empty small bag placed front door minute hour later samichlaus swiss german nikolaus companion schmutzli fill bag enters house christmas period weihnachtsmarkt christmas market becomes feature almost every city town village germanspeaking country visitor enjoy stall entertainment savour food glühwein mulled wine traditional christmastime treat include lebkuchen gingerbread stollen fruit cake speculaas marzipan almond confectionery often made sweet perhaps famed market christkindlesmarkt held nuremberg attracts million visitor every year weihnachtsbaum christmas tree usually put afternoon december tree bought special trader site family may still go forest cut one traditionally heiligabend christmas eve germany simple meal prepared served bescherung time exchanging gift contrast big meal christmas day various poll repeatedly declare eintopf sausage würstchen potato salad germany favourite meal heiligabend typical meal may include carp fondue raclette christmas day common dish roast goose duck many family begin celebration heiligabend literally holy evening christmas eve afternoon evening although two legal holiday germany austria canton switzerland liechtenstein christmas christmas eve one switzerland many company store open halfday morning pm celebration begin many go church celebration begin christmas massesservices often last around one hour family child go childrens mass usually shorter dramatised krippenspiel nativity play custom held upon returning church leading giftgiving vary across germanspeaking country commonly returning child wait enter locked living room little bell ring bell mark departure one delivering gift catholic regions—primarily south germany switzerland—the gift bearer role belongs christkind north germany commonly consider weihnachtsmann saint nicholas santa claus exiting child enter see decorated weihnachtsbaum christmas tree present beneath wrapped colourful paper prepared adult away church adult may also share gift child opening bescherung germany light come christmas tree light traditionally real candle though today generally replaced electric light switzerland done big meal evening alternative tradition many home include ringing bell present already lying beneath tree child return church instead although southern region weihnachtsmann usually played relative appears person knocking door family sits together let put sack rute shepherd crook aside greets family asks child child perform singing christmas song reciting poem asks naughty nice child admit always nice weihnachtsmann want promise better next year giving present retreat family spends rest evening together enjoying gift company first second day christmas th th many typical christmas meal served common include goose duck fondue many type meat raclette game dish switzerland often small meal offered christmas tree disposed second week january genuine tree left outside collection refuse collector household however opt use artificial tree instead may simply packed away next year weihnachten christmas eve stollen yule christmas nazi germany christmas worldwide central europe worldwide germanspeaking europe oscar cullmenu die entstehung de weihnachtsfestes und die herkunft de weihnachtsbaumes emergence christmas origin christmas tree stuttgart source publishing house isbn solid generally comprehensible explanation christmas christian view alexander demandt origin christmas derselbe sieben siegel essay zur kulturgeschichte kölnweimarwien essay cultural history cologneweimarvienna böhlau verlag p scientifically fastidious time generally understandable study oldeasternjewish antichristian germanicgerman root christmas henrik cornell iconography nativity christ uppsala franz joseph dölger natalis solis invicti christian christmas antike und christentum ff hugo elm da goldene weihnachtsbuch description representation origin celebration habit legend faith christmas season time guidance decorating christian tree pyramid well application creche weihnachtsgärten schwetschke resounds digitalisat archive literature science leonhard fendt today condition research birth celebration jesu xii epiphanias theological literature newspaper han förster christmas tracing berlin kulturverlag kadmos isbn x konrad onasch christmas orthodox church year berlin evangelist publishing house susan k roll weihnachtenweihnachtsfestweihnachtspredigt tre p berlin new york de gruyter lily weiseraall artikel weihnacht hand dictionary german faith bd augsburg weltbild berlin de gruyter isbn x wwwekhnde website protestant church hessen nassau wwwkatholischde website catholic church germany comment christian dignitary christmas wwwkircheinnotde interview cardinal leo scheffczyk catholic wwwkigotippsde planning childrens christmas service german author federation evangelist municipality wwwiconartinfo icon birth christ weihnachtsgeschichten für kinder und jugendliche christmas childrens service german buechernachlese wwwreligiode thomas gandow die quadratur de adventskranzes atheism christmas tree“