Christmas in Germany

             There are many different ways to celebrate Christmas in the world. I picked Germany and France & Canada (as one b/c the info I got was on both).

             In France, they use Christmas trees just like we do. It"s used as a symbol of showing what creation has to offer: light and the movement of angels, the gifts of orchard and field, forest and sea, all topped off by the star that pointed to the end of the journey, the place of peace. The ornaments are called "kugels", a glass ball believed to protect houses against evil spirits. They use electric lights after real candles proved a fire hazard. The custom of gifts being given on Christmas Day is fairly new. It used to be done on New Years". They also replaced shoes by the chimney with stockings. They called Santa Claus "Pere Noel" (Father Christmas). Reveillon was a meal that was served after Midnight Mass. They fix a wide variety of foods such as blood pudding, white pudding, sausages, patties, meatballs of finely minced meat to be served in a stew with pigs" trotters, tourtieres (meat pies) crackling or potted meat and headcheese or pates. Christmas Day there would be a great feast of the same types of food served at Reveillon. It also included vegetable or pea soup, meats dressed differently and pastries. They also drank imported or home-made drinks. Another custom is the Yule log. On Christmas Eve, an enormous log of fresh cut wood would be fetched and carried into the house with great ceremony. The master of the house would place it on the hearth and sprinkle it with oil, salt and mulled wine while saying suitable prayers. It was said that the cinders of this log could protect the house from lightning and ,malevolent powers of the devil. Christmas Day ended with about 50 people, singing, dancing, telling stories and celebrating the birth of Christ.

             Germany celebrates Christmas so much they start on December 6.

Related Essays: