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By Jennifer Beam Wreaths of evergreen, candles and beautifully decorated fir trees complete with tinsel and lights are significant reminders to so many of us that Christmas has arrived. It seems we should credit many of our beloved traditions to Germany. Not at all dissimilar from the U.S., the Christmas season in Germany is marked by trees and lights and cookies and candy. If you love Christmas, Germany is the place to be. December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, through January 6th or twelfth night, makes Christmas a month long celebration there. The decorating usually begins the first week of Advent (the four weeks leading up to Christmas). It is a busy first week with a visit from St. Nicholas and the lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath. One candle is lit every Sunday during Advent. There are also many fairs to attend in the market places and if you lived in or near Bavaria, you would want to polish your pistol for the Christmas shootings. It is where men go into the mountains to fire off rounds in what was originally thought to wake any "sleeping vegetation" and scare off evil spirits, though today it is observed more as a tradition. In most homes, stores and town squares you would find a Christmas tree much like the one you probably have in your own home. In fact Germany inspired the tree as we know and love it today. While the fact that the Christmas tree originated in Germany is not disputed, there are very deeply rooted stories as to the origin of the very first tree. Some make reference to an early English missionary, St. Boniface, while others say the custom began with Martin Luther sometime in the 16th century. Regardless of the origin, the Christmas tree is probably the most wide spread of all Christmas traditions and very beloved and cherished in German homes. It is in the homes where most of the celebrations of Christmas take place. Dinners on every Sunday of Advent and not to mention Christmas Eve where there is often a table placed near a window with bowls or plates for each of the children in the home. It is time for a visit from Christkind and the bowls will be filled with fruit and sweet treats and presents will be placed on the table. And the celebration goes on.... The nights during the week between New Years and Twelfth Night (January 6th) there is a tradition known as Star-Singing (similar to our Christmas Caroling only after Christmas). Adults and sometimes children walk around to sing their wishes for a prosperous and happy New Year. Whether or not you ever get to Germany for Christmas, isn't it a wonderful feeling to know the world is in so much harmony during the month of December with so many of the same things going on in so many different places. A child in Germany may be staring at the lights on his tree while a child in Oklahoma falls asleep looking at his own. O Tannenbaum! Jennifer can be reached via email at jennifer@mymerrychristmas.com. If you would like to comment on this article, please email
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