| Countries all across the world celebrate the winter | | | | fact it's not uncommon to see more than one |
| solstice holiday season in their own unique ways. | | | | tree in a German household! |
| Some such as Christmas and Hanukah are | | | | There are conflicting myths about how the |
| religious celebrations, while others are non-religious | | | | Christmas tree first came to be, but one of the |
| celebrations of nature, people and the coming | | | | most common stories tells the tale of an old |
| spring solstice. The reasoning behind the various | | | | woodcutter that stumbled across a young hungry |
| holiday celebrations can sometimes differ greatly, | | | | child in the woods. He stopped chopping trees for |
| but there are a surprising number of | | | | a bit to befriend and feed the child. Once their |
| commonalities among the celebratory traditions. | | | | meal was finished the two went on their separate |
| Over the thousands of years that man has | | | | ways. |
| celebrated the season, each group influenced | | | | Early during the next morning the child appeared in |
| others with their traditions. | | | | front of the woodcutter and his wife in the form |
| Today each country and faith celebrates the | | | | of a spirit. He identified himself as Christkind and |
| holiday in their own unique ways, but more often | | | | thanked the surprised woodcutter for his act of |
| than not you can detect common themes shared | | | | kindness on the previous day. To repay the |
| between countries. In this article we will take a | | | | woodcutter's good will, Christkind gave him the |
| closer look at how Christmas is celebrated in | | | | sprig of an evergreen tree and told him the tree |
| Germany, during which you will see that their | | | | from which the sprig came would bear fruit year |
| traditions are not unlike those shared by England | | | | round. In response to this miraculous incident, each |
| and America. | | | | year Germans started felling evergreen trees |
| The youth in many countries celebrate a beloved | | | | each winter and decorating them with ornaments, |
| mystical figure such as Santa Claus and Germany | | | | candies, candles and more. |
| is no different; the German equivalent of | | | | Once Thanksgiving arrives in America you can be |
| America's Santa and England's Father Christmas is | | | | sure of one thing: virtually every mall and shopping |
| none other than the kindly Kris Kringle. Unlike | | | | outlet will be adorned with many festive |
| Santa, Kris Kringle is not responsible for passing | | | | Christmas decorations. Germans know how to |
| out gifts to excited children - that duty is | | | | kick the holiday shopping system into high gear |
| reserved by another holiday figure: Christkind. | | | | too... in fact they have a name for this tradition: |
| In Germany children will write letters to Christkind | | | | Kriskringlemart. During this time vendors and |
| (translated as the Christ Child), much like | | | | merchants will line the various town streets and |
| American children send letters to Santa in the | | | | offer special sales for Christmas. The festive |
| North Pole. The German children place their letters | | | | decorations, scents and sounds of the holiday |
| into an envelope heavily adorned with glue and | | | | create a true feast for the senses. |
| sugar. These envelopes are placed on windowsills | | | | What Christmas would be complete without a |
| where they can glitter in the gentle light of the | | | | seemingly endless assortment of tasty foods and |
| moon. | | | | drinks? If you were to celebrate Christmas while |
| And as if the German youth didn't already | | | | in Germany you would have your fill of indulgent |
| celebrate enough kindly eternal figures there is | | | | treats such as spiced cakes, cookies, handmade |
| yet one more: Saint Nicholas! Traditionally children | | | | candies and cocoa. Although all the above are |
| will stuff their shoes with hay, straw or carrots | | | | enough to satisfy the palate there are two |
| every Christmas Eve and leave them on their | | | | specialties Germans are renowned for: |
| doorsteps. When Saint Nicholas rides by later that | | | | gingerbread and gluwein (which is a spiced red |
| evening on his proud white stallion he stops | | | | wine). Bakers also produce a special type of |
| momentarily by each door so that his stallion can | | | | dough called Christbaumgeback, which is molded |
| feed on the treats left behind. To thank the | | | | into various shapes and hung on Christmas trees |
| generous children, Saint Nicholas will replace the | | | | as adornments. |
| eaten hay and/or carrots with delicious candies. | | | | Each country has their own festive traditions that |
| Few things capture the holiday spirits of people | | | | take place during the winter holiday season, but |
| better than the age-old Christmas tree. While | | | | few are quite as memorable as Christmas in |
| millions of people set up their Christmas tree each | | | | Germany. Those lucky enough to vacation in this |
| and every year, a good portion of them don't | | | | wonderful country during the holiday season will |
| even realize that the tradition originated from | | | | leave with memories that will last them a lifetime. |
| Germany. Germans love their Christmas trees | | | | Copyright © Jared Winston, 2005. All Rights |
| just as much as Americans and Englishmen... in | | | | Reserved. |