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...

Christmas Fact 8

German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day 8. Dezember – Lichterzug der Schulkinder A key event during the Christkindlesmarkt (Christmas market) in Nürnberg (Nuremberg) is the Lichterzug der Schulkinder (“school children’s light procession”). Each...

Christmas Fact 7

German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day 7. Dezember – Festive Shooting Berchtesgadener Böller (Small Cannons) The “silent night” of the Bavarian Alps is suddenly pierced by the sound of gunfire! Gunshots echo throughout the Berchtesgaden region of Bavaria at...