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Christmas traditions in Germany

Toytown Germany > Discussion forum > Germany-wide > Life in Germany
JDee
Can someone give a little run-down on Christmas traditions here.. I got given two little Chocolate Santas yesterday tongue.gif one at work and one at home.. I presume this was more than coincedence?! Was yesterday a special date, are there any others ???
Hannah
your kidding? tongue.gif
JDee
no ??! Am I being really dumb here or something ??

There was one on my desk at work, which everyone had, and then when I got home another one in my shoe! laugh.gif

And when my other friend went to London for a holiday she left me little packets of nuts and chocolates last week..

So I'm feeling a bit like scrooge because I haven't joined in!
JRD
Well if you had been in OR's you would have had Bunny force feeding you chocolate all night!!

Seems it is some kind of tradition
Hannah
http://www.christmas.com/pe/1189 biggrin.gif
JDee
QUOTE
chocolate all night!!

and I wondered why some people stay here for ever!
Ami in Berlin
We don't celebrate Nikolaus in the US, either. I also though it was strange to get box of marzipan from my boss.

I knew about two families growing up who did the shoe thing, but their parents were immigrents and obviously has brought the tradition with them. My parents had never heard of it.
Hannah
QUOTE
I also though it was strange to get box of marzipan from my boss.

I could think of worse things biggrin.gif
Loopy
spot the person who has only just sobered up from Saturday, did you miss this JDee laugh.gif

My flatmates and I will be indulging in another seasonal German tradition next week:

Feuerzangebowle
JDee
@loops no I didn't see it at all!! bit of a doh!

That's what you were trying to explain to me on Saturday about the cone of sugar etc.. i wonder if they show the film with subtitles anywhere! Makes more sense now I'm ohne beer.
Loopy
I don't think you can get a version with subtitles, seems to be a German-only thing.

They showed it in Tübingen last year on a big screen in one of the squares (not far from you!), and you can also buy it on DVD from Müller for €8 - which reminds me...
maaph
QUOTE
That's what you were trying to explain to me on Saturday

JDee, are you sure then the fault lies with you? Or did she tangent off in the direction of some science bull? ph34r.gif
Jay
Did you not know that December 6th is Saint Nikolaus Day. I got a chocolate from the canteen and home-made biscuits from various people in the office. biggrin.gif

From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas

In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot, called Nikolaus-Stiefel, outside their front doors on the night of December 5 to December 6. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good. If they were not, they will have charcoal in their boots instead. Sometimes a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they "have been good" (sometimes ostensibly checking a book for their record), handing out presents on a per-behaviour basis. This has become more lenient in recent decades.
Loopy
QUOTE
tangent off in the direction of some science bull

ahhh, you can tell Neilg is back... are you having trouble keeping up with the conversation level again?
therealjade
Being a German know-it-all tongue.gif I recommend reading the above wikipedia link, as it explains how Nikolaus turned into Santa Claus, who was given his red and white outfit by none other than Coca Cola.
I come from a very rural part of Germany and when I went to primary school (about 20 years ago), all my fellow students got their main xmas presents on St Nikolaus day - I was the only one who had to wait until xmas!
HamburgChris
I covered this on my Christmas Page - see my CARD for link.
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