Christmas in Germany - "Waiting for the Christ child"

The Christmas season is now in full swing in Germany: many houses are decorated with lights, the Christmas markets smell of mulled wine and gingerbread, cookies are being baked, and above all, the children are impatiently awaiting the evening of December 24.

The reason: it is on "Heiligabend" (Christmas Eve) that in Germany the presents are found lying beneath a Christmas tree decorated with candles, ornaments, stars made of straw, or glittering tinsel.

Advent calendars shorten the pre-Christmas period

Enlarge image Advent wreath (© colourbox) During Advent, the final four weeks before Christmas, children above all enjoy the Advent Calendar. From 1 to 24 December each day a tiny door is opened, or a small package unwrapped. "The Advent Calendar is a product of the Biedermeier period," explains Esther Gajek, a folklore expert in Regensburg. "Initially, all sorts of possibilities of counting time were carried over to the Advent period - strings were cut off, chalk marks were put on door frames."

Today, the Advent Calendar with its tiny surprises is simply a must - in the family, but also among friends. Of importance is both the packaging as well as the contents themselves. Most suited are those tiny items which can best be wrapped up: sweet treats, decorations for Christmas, perfume vials, or toy items. For those things which do not fit into the calendar, there are vouchers. Those people who cannot or will not craft their own Advent Calendar, can buy the ready-made ones which more and more chocolate companies offer, for young and old alike.

Mail for "Father Christmas" or the "Christ Child"

Enlarge image St Nicholas opens Christmas letterbox in Germany (© picture-alliance/ dpa) Many children who can hardly wait for Christmas Eve like to write down their list of wishes and then mail them directly to "Father Christmas" or the "Christ Child." Germany's most popular Christmas post office, in Himmelpfort (heaven's gate), a small village in Brandenburg, has been open since 13 November. Each day, truck loads of letters are delivered to the office where Father Christmas and his 20 angels are guests.

"As early as last summer the first 1,000 letters had already arrived, even some from India," says Deutsche Post spokeswoman Sylvia Blesing. Last year, some 257,000 letters were delivered. Whether from Japan, China, Russia, Peru, Finland or such African countries as Mali and Ghana - they were all addressed "To Father Christmas, 16798 Himmelpfort." Father Christmas and his angels can answer back in 16 languages. The children mainly received standard letters in reply - but the man with the red suit and white beard will personally reply individually to those letters which tell a tale of woe ( www.himmelpfort.de ). Christmas postal offices are also found in Himmelstadt (Bavaria), Engelskirchen (North Rhine-Westfalia), St Nikolaus (Saarland) and in three towns in Lower Saxony: Himmelpforten, Himmelsthuer, and Nikolausdorf.

Labour office provides Santa Clauses - also suited to beginners

Enlarge image Father Christmas with his reindeer at Saariselkä, Finnish Lapland (© picture-alliance/ dpa) When it starts getting cold outside, many people begin to think of a job alongside as a Santa Claus. No extensive training is needed for such a role. For appearances at Nikolaus and Christmas parties, in families or companies, both the Federal Labour Agency, as well as private agents will also choose applicants who have had no previous "job experience." But such a job does not promise a lot of money - on average, the rate is 35 euros per appearance.

At the Hamburg labour office, there are strict guidelines for the Santas: a minimum height of 1.75 meters, a costume consisting of a "large-volume fluffy beard," black pants and boots, a cap and a belt, as well as a "composed professionalism" are required of the applicants. "Some of them appear with a beard which consists of only three strands," notes Katrin Bogatekin, a job agent in the artistic section of the labour office. "This is naturally unacceptable." During the job interview, she also tests applicants' knowledge of Christmas song texts and German Christmas customs.

Spruce or fir - for the Germans (almost) no debate

Enlarge image gifting time (© colourbox) As 24 December approaches, the search gets underway for the right Christmas tree. By now, the "favorite tree" of the Germans is the Nordmann Fir, whose needles last the longest. The Association of the North German Christmas Tree and Greenery Makers say the demand is continuing to grow. "Up till 15 years ago we mainly had Blue Spruce at Christmas," says association representative Bernd Oelkers. "Today, Nordmann Firs make up 75%, to only 15% for Blue Spruce." After around 12 years, the Nordmann Fir reaches a Christmas tree format of 1.8 to 2.2 meters tall.

According to the state of Baden-Württemberg forestry department's Working Group of Home Christmas Trees (AKHC), around 27 million Christmas trees illuminate German homes. Around 70% come from domestic forests. Christmas trees are sold in fenced-off markets in downtown city areas, as well as in supermarkets, shopping centers or hardware stores. In some places, you can go out to the forest to look for and select your own Christmas tree - and sometimes even chop it down yourself.

source: Young Germany