Christmas Fact 13

German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day 13. Dezember – Regional Christmas Customs Lucienhäuschenschwimmen and Other Regional Christmas Customs Germany is a country of regions with many different dialects and customs. Many Advents- und Weihnachtsbräuche are not...

Christmas Fact 12

German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day 12. Dezember – Exchanging Gifts In German-speaking Europe, there is no Santa Claus coming down the chimney (and usually no chimney!) on Christmas Eve. As we mentioned before, Sankt Nikolaus brings his gifts on December...

Christmas Fact 11

German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day 11. Dezember – Weihnachtsbeleuchtung Weihnachtsbeleuchtung • Weihnachtshäuser • Christmas Lights The traditional Christmas lighting seen on houses in the US and Canada is not widespread in German-speaking Europe. While you...

Christmas Fact 10

German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day 10. Dezember – “Weihnachten” The Origin of the German Word for Christmas The English word “Christmas” comes from the combination of Christ + mass, from Old English Cristes maesse (Christ’s Mass). The word Yule...

Christmas Fact 9

German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day 9. Dezember – Weihnachtskarten (Christmas Cards) The custom of sending Christmas cards began in England in 1843 when Henry Cole (1808-1882) had 1,000 cards printed with the simple message: “A Merry Christmas and a Happy...