• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

German Christmas traditions - which ones do you like?

I like these .....

  • The Advent Wreath - Der Adventskranz

    Votes: 4 28.6%

  • The Advent Calendar - Der Adventskalender

    Votes: 7 50.0%

  • Christmas markets - Weihnachtsmärkte

    Votes: 4 28.6%

  • Saint Nicholas - Sankt Nikolaus

    Votes: 4 28.6%

  • Santa Claus - Der Weihnachtsmann

    Votes: 5 35.7%

  • Christmas Eve - Heiliger Abend (also Heiligabend)

    Votes: 6 42.9%

  • The Christmas tree - Der Tannenbaum

    Votes: 10 71.4%

  • others

    Votes: 2 14.3%

  • none

    Votes: 3 21.4%
  • Total voters
    14
R

Rumpel

DP Veteran
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Messages
42,608
Reaction score
8,992
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
German Christmas traditions - which ones do you like?


Christmas, or Weihnachten, is considered by Germans to be the most important of the major holidays. Although secularized and commercialized compared to Christmas celebrations of yore, the German holiday season is a time for introspection, celebration, and family and friends; it is less consumption-oriented than in the United States. Not only the holiday itself, but also the weeks leading up to the celebration of Christmas involve many traditions and customs of diverse origins.
Click to expand...

All those traditions in the poll are explained here:

>>> German Christmas Traditions - Weihnachten in Deutschland - Christmas in Germany <<<<
 
What's the evil dude who comes and takes bad kids away?
 
”Stille Nacht”

Lebkuchen

Marzipan
 
Maybe I've got the wrong country.

I googled "christmas demon"

Krampus?
 
Rexedgar said:
”Stille Nacht”

Lebkuchen

Marzipan
Click to expand...

You ever have those dominosteine? OMG. And, of course, Lebkuchen...my mother was an exchange student when she was 18, spent a year with a wonderful family in Germany. Every year after that, until fairly recently, the family she stayed with sent her a tin of Schmidt lebkuchen...which, in my opinion, is the kobe beef of gingerbread. They always came in time for Christmas in the mail, we waited for it every year. They stopped coming when the woman passed away - she was in her 90's, and had been sending them for over 40 years. I went to look at the price to order online, wishing to have it again to share with my son, but ... hehe ... well, the preventative nature of the cost made me fully appreciate the generosity of this family.

Of course, my Oma made the world's best almond crescents at Christmas as well... Good grief, but I miss her cooking and baking!
 
OlNate said:
You ever have those dominosteine? OMG. And, of course, Lebkuchen...my mother was an exchange student when she was 18, spent a year with a wonderful family in Germany. Every year after that, until fairly recently, the family she stayed with sent her a tin of Schmidt lebkuchen...which, in my opinion, is the kobe beef of gingerbread. They always came in time for Christmas in the mail, we waited for it every year. They stopped coming when the woman passed away - she was in her 90's, and had been sending them for over 40 years. I went to look at the price to order online, wishing to have it again to share with my son, but ... hehe ... well, the preventative nature of the cost made me fully appreciate the generosity of this family.

Of course, my Oma made the world's best almond crescents at Christmas as well... Good grief, but I miss her cooking and baking!
Click to expand...

My paternal grand parents were Berliners. Until Oma passed, she would send walnuts from the tree in the yard, lebkuchen, and the most detailed, wood carved, candle powered carousels, every Christmas.
 
Voters 1

Why is it such a pleasant hobby for some to boycott a poll?

It is a real pity.
 
Rumpel said:
German Christmas traditions - which ones do you like?




All those traditions in the poll are explained here:

>>> German Christmas Traditions - Weihnachten in Deutschland - Christmas in Germany <<<<
Click to expand...

I grew up with a lot of those traditions, my dad's side of the family, though not from German recently, were "Volksdeutsche" - my Opa said he was from Prussia until the day he died, and my Oma was from Czechoslovakia. They moved to Canada after the war. I love German Christmas traditions - though presents after church on Christmas eve was a piss off...hehe... By the time we would get home we'd be so tired that we'd only open one, and then open the rest Christmas morning, which was a nod to the more Canadian traditions on my mother's side.

One thing my Oma would make every Christmas was something she called pfannkuchen, which seems weird when I google that, as it was definitely not a pan cake. Rather it was a loaf made of grated potato, mixed with smoked pork and onions, and cooked in a sort of clay dutch oven. It would come out of the oven with this golden brown crust and soft yet heavy inside...we'd eat it with sour cream. It was heaven.

I grew up in the Lutheran church, so I expect most of the traditions I got used to were very similar to those in Germany. I miss that...but it was nice to have the opportunity to think of it again. :)
 
Rexedgar said:
My paternal grand parents were Berliners. Until Oma passed, she would send walnuts from the tree in the yard, lebkuchen, and the most detailed, wood carved, candle powered carousels, every Christmas.
Click to expand...

haha...ah yes, the carousels. We had one. It's funny to think about now - they really were fire hazards... lol... But I used to love looking at them as a kid. And, yes, of course, the walnuts. :) My Oma didn't have walnut trees, but she did plant hazelnut trees on her property, that used to keep her at war with the squirrels and chipmunks. She had sour cherry trees as well, which kept her at war with the birds.

Did your oma ever make you pflaumenkloesse?
 
OlNate said:
haha...ah yes, the carousels. We had one. It's funny to think about now - they really were fire hazards... lol... But I used to love looking at them as a kid. And, yes, of course, the walnuts. :) My Oma didn't have walnut trees, but she did plant hazelnut trees on her property, that used to keep her at war with the squirrels and chipmunks. She had sour cherry trees as well, which kept her at war with the birds.

Did your oma ever make you pflaumenkloesse?
Click to expand...

Speaking of fire hazards, I have a fleeting memory of a tree trimmed out with real candles! I’m not remembering the dish you a asked about. We also had the two Xmases. Dad was German and mother was Danish, so we did the major celebration on the evening of the 24th and did stockingS on the 25th.
 
I am adding the Christ Child now:

WHAT DOES THE NUREMBERG CHRISTKIND DO?



The Nuremberg Christkind, with her white and golden dress, long blond curls and golden crown, has been the symbol of the Christmas Market for many decades. In fact, the event – the “Christkindlesmarkt” – is named for her. During Advent, the Christkind is the most important representative of the city and the Christmas Market.
Click to expand...

What does the Nuremberg Christkind do? - Christkind - christkindlesmarkt.de
 
4 out of 4 now name:

The Advent Calendar - Der Adventskalender
and the Christmas Tree
 
Rexedgar said:
Speaking of fire hazards, I have a fleeting memory of a tree trimmed out with real candles! I’m not remembering the dish you a asked about. We also had the two Xmases. Dad was German and mother was Danish, so we did the major celebration on the evening of the 24th and did stockingS on the 25th.
Click to expand...

pflaumenkloesse is a potato dumpling filled with a pitted plum - I can't remember the particular kind of plum my Oma used, but it was only available seasonally - covered with breadcrumbs and an apricot sauce. So good.

We never had the real candles on the Christmas tree, but my dad did as a kid. :) But, yeah, quite the fire hazard... lol... What could go wrong?
 
@ plums

We never had "Pflaumen" - only "Zwetschgen". :)
 
Rexedgar said:
Speaking of fire hazards, I have a fleeting memory of a tree trimmed out with real candles! I’m not remembering the dish you a asked about. We also had the two Xmases. Dad was German and mother was Danish, so we did the major celebration on the evening of the 24th and did stockingS on the 25th.
Click to expand...

Danish Christmas trees traditionally had candles. I remember as a child seeing one with candles lit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom