Christmas Celebrations In Germany, Christmas celebrations start on Christmas Eve.   Shops close in the afternoon and there are special church services for the children..   Often the children put on a nativity play.    The celebrations on Christmas Eve differ from family to family.    However, it is considered a very special evening and children as well as adults dress up for the occasion.     Children receive their Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve.   The giving of gifts is called the “Bescherung”. Church bells ring in the evening and this is often a time to begin with the handing out of gifts under the Christmas tree. During the night of the 23rd or on the 24th the living room becomes the scene of  Christmas preparations.  The tree is put up and presents are put under the tree.    The door of the living room is then locked (German houses have locks on the doors of the rooms).  The children eagerly wait for the arrival of the Christkind or Weihnachtsmann..   In Southern Germany they wait until they hear a little bell ringing, which tells them that the Christkind has been and is now leaving  through the open window.   Only then are they permitted to enter the room, where the tree is lit and the presents are under the tree.   Children are often told that the Christkind brought the tree as well as the gifts. In most families it is the custom to sing Christmas carols before opening the presents.   In some families the Christmas story is read to the children or they put on a special play that they have rehearsed prior to Christmas Eve.   Others will recite poems.   Finally they are allowed to open their presents. Again families differ as to whether to have a meal before or after the “Bescherung”.    Each region has it own unique meal for Christmas Eve.   It is also customary to bake special cookies and these are  enjoyed after the “Bescherung”   Some families attend  Christmas services at midnight, while others go on the following morning, The  custom is to wish everyone “fröhliche Weihnachten”. On Christmas Day families enjoy a dinner, which in many areas includes the goose “die Wiehnachtsgans”.   The preparation often varies from region to region, some use apples and pears while others special spices.   The carp “Karpfen” is also another traditional Christmas meal. There seems to be no information available to explain why children in Germany receive their gifts on Christmas Eve and not on Christmas Day.    One explanation could be that the Germans based their custom on  the shepherds and wise men bearing gifts who arrived at the stable in the evening.
In Australia, England and the United States, Santa Claus who originated from  St. Nicholas follows his custom of coming during the night to leave the presents.    Stockings are left for Santa Claus in the same way as boots were left for St Nicholas. Back to German Festivals and Celebrations