Christmas in Germany

Christmas trees are very important in Germany. They were first used in Germany during the Middle Ages. If there are young children in the house, the trees are usually secretly decorated by the Mother of the family. The Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on Christmas Eve, and during that evening the family would read the Bible and sing Christmas songs.

Children leave letters on their windowsills for Christkind, a winged figure dressed in white robes and a golden crown who distributes gifts. Sometimes the letters are decorated with glue and sprinkled with sugar to make them sparkle.

Santa Claus, known as Weihnachtsman in Germany, will visit each home during the night of December 5 and the early morning of December 6 and place small gifts like sweets and chocolate in the shoes of children who put them by the door before going to bed. Weihnachtsman brings German children their Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve, December 24th.

Sources:

http://www.whereig.com/germany/

"Flag of Germany." Image. CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 6 Dec 2013.

http://www.whereig.com/germany/

http://www.makingthishome.com/2010/12/13/baking-lebkuchen/

http://whydyoueatthat.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/800px-stollen-dresdner_christstollen.jpg

http://www.london.diplo.de/contentblob/2511790/Galeriebild_gross/605702/Santa_Claus.jpg

http://phila.steubenparade.com/common/2011/images/ChristmasVillage_ChristkindSanta.jpg

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