Christmas Blogging: Germany

We have heard about christmas in Sweden, Spain and Bayram-celebrations in Turkey (which is not exactly christmas, but has some similarities). I will give you a brief insight into how christmas is celebrated in southern Germany.

Christmas is definitely about the family, but about old friends as well. The “Gymnasium” (sth. like the German high school) where I went to holds a get together for Alumni on the 23rd of december. That’s where you meet your teachers, old schoolfriends, the older students you admired as a kid and the younger ones you teased when you were an “old student” at high school.
In Germany “Heiligabend” (”Christmas Eve” or the 24th) is the most important day. That’s when you are allowed to bring the tree into your living room, decorate it and the kids get their presents. Traditionally you would have rather simple food on the 24th – as its still quite a busy day – and keep the goose for the 25th. We normally play and sing some christmas carols and just enjoy being together.

Many people go to church on christmas, no matter if they actually are religious or not. It’s probably the only day in the year, where you might not catch a seat and end up standing in the church. And in the city where I grew up, the young generation meets in the local nightclub around midnight, just after the older ones went to bed. So after a full day of family activities you can get down with your friends again. Keep the balance.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Posted by onkel-mario in Culture, Family, Internationalization | Trackback |