Christmas in Germany

Christmas in Germany falls on December 25 (with main celebration on December 24). For many families the celebration stretches across several days, with quieter moments at home alongside the busier public events.

Families light a candle on the Advent wreath each Sunday before Christmas. Children open windows on an Adventskalender from December 1. Cities host outdoor Weihnachtsmärkte selling crafts, ornaments and Glühwein. Many families decorate the tree on Christmas Eve afternoon and exchange gifts that evening, followed by a church service.

Christmas Eve dinner is often simple, such as potato salad with sausages. Christmas Day brings roast goose or duck with red cabbage and dumplings. Stollen, Lebkuchen and Spekulatius are baked through Advent.

Gifts are exchanged on the evening of December 24. Small children are told the Christkind brings the presents. In some regions Sankt Nikolaus also fills shoes left out on the night of December 5.

The festive figure most associated with Christmas in Germany is Christkind (in many regions) or Weihnachtsmann. Names, costumes and gift giving dates can vary from family to family and from region to region.

The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world, with records going back to the 17th century.