MAIN Christmas Europe Christmas in Germany

As in Holland, Christmas in Germany begins as early as December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, when children leave their shoes outside the front door in hopes that Santa will soon be there.

As they sleep, Santa Claus or Sankt Nikolaus visits and fills the shoes with special treats if they’ve been good, or a bundle of twigs if they've been bad.

In some parts of Germany, Santa is accompanied by a scary fellow traveler named Knecht Ruprecht, otherwise known as Krampas, Rumpelklas, Bellzebub or other names — depending on which region he visits.

Santa, as well, appears in different guises in various parts of the country.

There is a Santa look-alike by the name of Weihnachtsmann who may be the bearer of gifts, while in other regions it is das Christkind (the Christ child) who sends a Christmas messenger in the form of an angel to bestow treats upon little deserving boys and girls.

The German Christmas Feast

Advent calendars mark the days until Christmas, as households throughout Germany are busy cleaning, shopping and baking in preparation for Christmas Day, with its traditional feast of roast goose or pork, potato dumplings and vegetables.

Most especially, there are the German holiday breads and cookies that kids & families delight in : Christmas stollen, Zimtsterne (cinnamon stars) and rich & spicy Pfeffernüsse.

German Christmas on the Web

Elsewhere on the Web, learn more about the country's holiday traditions, additional links & resources to Christmas feasting, and discover what else is going on at world-renowned Christmas fairs & markets in our guide to A Merry Christmas in Germany ...

The Christmas fairs & markets of Germany - This year's complete schedule of Christmas markets in Aachen, Berlin, Cologne, Duesselforf, Dresden, Essen, Frankfort, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and throughout Germany with related links and descriptions.

German Christmas Museum - Take the virtual tour of a favorite Rothenburg attraction with a history of Christmas observances, customs & traditions, with maps and directions, hours & admission fees.

German Christmas - An appreciation popular U.S. Christmas traditions with German origins including a complete authentic German Christmas dinner menu with links to recipes for roast goose, German potato dumplings, lebkuchen, Christmas stollen and other holiday favorites.

Celebrate Christmas in Germany - Feature article highlighting top holiday traditions & attractions in Weisbaden and Baden Baden with a recipe & instructions for springerle cookies and Black Forest stollen.

Frohe Weihnachten! - Merry Christmas! - Festively illustrated page on German Christmas customs and traditions, with recipes, related links and resources.

also see in Travel -> Christmas German Style | German Christmas Markets

also see in Holidays -> Christmas Chocolate Recipes

Christmas Cookie Recipes | Christmas Party Ideas

Christmas Recipes | Christmas Trees | E-Cards

Epiphany | Holiday Planner | Music | Santa Claus

Oktoberfest | Germany Tourism