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Advent, advent — A cheerful holiday season
Advent is a special time full of century-old traditions as well as modern customs in Germany. The noun “advent” refers to ‘a coming into place, view or being; arrival.’ More commonly the term is used to describe the season and the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
Advent wreaths
One of the older customs is that of the Adventskranz, a wreath bound out of fir branches and decorated with four candles. The first candle is lit on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas, taking place on Dec. 1 this year. The second candle is lit on the following Sunday and so forth up to Christmas.
Advent calendars
Another fun-filled tradition, especially loved by younger (and maybe even older) children is the Advent calendar. The calendar can be store bought filled with chocolate, sweets or other small surprises or just as well be homemade using small jute sacks, colorful boxes, cloth pockets sewn onto textile backgrounds or in any other creative style. The individual days are marked with numbers from one to 24 and starting on Dec. 1, the recipient can open one “door” and find a surprise to sweeten the waiting time and countdown to Christmas.
St. Nicholas
Dec. 6 marks the arrival of St. Nicholas who visits children and fills their freshly shined shoes with small presents such as chocolate, fruits, nuts or small toys. The tradition dates back to the fourth century when Bishop Nicholas of Myra (now Demre in Turkey) brought fruits, nuts and tangerines to poor families. More on St. Nicholas in next week’s ABC in KMC.
Cheerfully decorated cities
Shops, streets and private houses are brightly decorated with lights, decorated indoor and outdoor trees and colorful ornaments as in many other countries around the world. Glamorously decorated stores are packed with presents to be bought, gifts to be wrapped and special seasonal dishes are on offer.
Christmas Markets
Legendary German Christmas markets! Picture fairy lights twinkling against the night sky, the aroma of mulled wine (Glühwein) wafting through the air, and charming wooden stalls brimming with handmade ornaments, festive treats, and unique gifts. These markets date back to the late Middle Ages, embodying a rich tradition of holiday spirit and community.
Places like Nürnberg, Dresden with Germany’s oldest market, and Trier transform city squares into winter wonderland. The market in Saarbrücken offers a Santa Claus in his sled “hovering” high above St. Johanner Markt, fascinating children and parents alike. Medieval markets at castles and historic town centers draw guests from near and far and “catapult” visitors into the mystic Middle Ages with ladies, knights and traditional music.
The Christmas market in Kaiserslautern around Stiftskirche and Schillerplatz will be held from Nov. 21 to Dec. 23, and Dec. 27 – 30 as New Year’s Market, while the annual Cultural Market, located within the Fruchthalle takes place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 22 this year.
Cheerfully decorated wooden booths offer handcrafted gifts, decorations, toys, candles and ornaments. Delicious Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Rostbratwurst, crepes and sweets will let your mouth water and drinks such as spicy Glühwein, punch and hot chocolate will keep visitors warm on cold winter evenings, while the aroma of cinnamon, cloves and oranges, and scented candles will lift you into the holiday spirit.
Heiligabend / Christmas Eve
Finally, on Christmas Eve on Dec. 24, families traditionally meet for a light dinner and wait for the gentle tingling of a bell. This marks the arrival of the Christkind (Christ child) or the Weihnachtsmann (similar to Santa Claus) who brings children gifts. Some families sing Christmas carols together, others might visit a church service, while it has become popular for the younger folks to head out to swinging Christmas parties after exchanging gifts.
See a full list of Christmas markets in the KMC, in Germany and neighboring countries in “Unterwegs” on Page 19
