Today in Germany many families set up an Advent wreath (Adventskranz) on the first Advent Sunday to welcome in the Advent season. The wreath has four candles, one lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas. This was even more important in the past, when the Christmas tree was usually reserved for a special unveiling only on Christmas Eve. Until then, the Advent wreath provided the evergreen look and aroma in the house. 

See below for a beautiful story of the Advent Wreath and the candles meanings.

This tradition dates back to the 19th century. At that time, most of the calendars were handmade and were made to help the children as their anticipation increased while waiting for Christmas. In earlier times the children would often make 24 pictures on 24 separate pieces of paper and hang them in the house. It was not uncommon to make the calendars with Bible verses, which the children would learn. It is thought that a pastor’s wife around 1880 created the Christmas boxes (Schachteln) for her son, Gerhard Lang…each box containing a cookie. This son went on to work for a manufacturing firm in Munich (Reichhold & Lang) where manufacturing the first commercially illustrated Advent calendar was made. The first calendar with windows appeared around 1920 and the first with chocolates in the mid-1950s. There is a nice video explaining the Advent calendar, especially their rise in popularity both here and in Germany over the past few years.

 There are many ideas to help make your own Advent Calendar. Just go to YouTube and type in How to make an advent calendar.

In Austria, Bavaria and Tyrol, St. Nicholas is accompanied by Krampus. Krampus is scarier than Ruprecht. He is a monster like creature…almost demonic. It is said that he punishes children who have misbehaved during the year. The really bad are captured and carried away in his sack to his cave. In some areas December 5th is known as Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) in which the hairy devil appears on the streets. He is often in the company of Nicholas who delivers the gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and the ruten bundles.

Could Krampus be the beginning of the ‘naughty list’?

I have enjoyed many Krampus paraded in German and Austria.  Just about every village regardless of size has a Krampus parade.  There is even one in Baltimore in the Hampden neighborhood.

Unlike Krampus, Belsnickel is human, not a demon.  Belsnickel is a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of Baden-Württemberg. The figure is also preserved in Pennsylvania Dutch communities and Brazilian-German communities. 

Knecht Ruprecht is the servant and helper of St. Nikolaus.  Being Nikolaus dark companion, it is his job to frighten mischievous children into being good. 

Knecht Ruprecht is a well-known figure in German speaking Europe and typically carries a long staff or stick and a bag of ashes.  This symbolizes the punishment children will receive for their misdeeds.  Generally, the Knecht Ruprecht asks children whether they can pray or not.  If they can the children receive an apple, nuts or gingerbread.  However, if they cannot, he punishes these children.

He is one of the ‘dark’ companions of St. Nikolaus, just like Krampus and Belsnickel.  It all depends on the location.  

A miner's figure and the Angel figure are traditional Christmas decorations from the Ore Mountains. The figures are turned or carved out of wood, and often carry two candles. They are usually displayed together.  This pair is intended to symbolize the relationship between man and woman or the worldly and spiritual aspects of life.

In the towns in the Ore Mountains, the miners and angels are often joined with Schwibbogens (candle arches-see earlier post), smokers and nutcrackers.  They are often used in windows.

The history of the miner, as well as the candles is the fact that the area was maintained economically by mining.  The miners found carving, using the wood of the surrounding forest, an excellent hobby. 

One of the traditions of the area was that the men in the area, when he became a father, would carve a figure, a miner for a boy and an angel for a girl.  The figures would be placed in the window……people passing would know how many children were in the house.  The figures became symbols of the region.  When miners went to the pit early in the morning, it was still dark. . Likewise, it was dark in the mine itself and when their long shift was over the moon was already in the sky. In order to light the way for their menfolk in the dark winter's night, the women placed the Light Miner (Lichterbergmann) and the Light Angel (Lichterengel), as the figures were called, in the windows.

The angel became a symbolic figure for the pious mining folk of the Ore Mountains. The angels acted as guardians and light-bearers on the dark and difficult road into the mine.

Nutcrackers (not only from Tschaikowski’s ballet) are a very famous and traditional part of the German Christmas season.  The first nutcrackers were crafted in the mid-18th century, around the Ore Mountains, which run through Germany and the Czech Republic.  The most famous Nutcrackers come out of Sonneberg in Thuringia, and from the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). The Erzgebirge persons originally made their money from mining… but as the mines dried out, miners used their wood-working skills to create toys and Christmas figurines that were sold at Christmas Markets around Germany. As the name entails nutcrackers were originally used as a functional household device, but nowadays they are mainly used for decoration and have lost their functional task-cracking nuts.  They have become big collector’s items in the US. 

How did they get to the US-our soldiers of course.   In the 1950s Soldiers stationed in Germany started visiting the Christmas Markets. They were captivated by these brightly painted wood “Soldier” Nutcrackers, and brought them home. At that same time, Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker Suite was becoming a popular Christmas Event, and so demand for Nutcrackers skyrocketed! Sadly, the increased demand means the market is flooded with cheap knock-offs from China.  If you are looking for the real deal, the most famous makers are Steinbach Nutcrackers, Christian Ulbricht Nutcrackers and Kurt Adler Nutcrackers.  They are more expensive, but will become family heirlooms. 

The fairy tale behind the nutcracker:   Once upon a time, a farmer offered a reward for anyone who could help him easily open the Walnuts from his tree. A Carpenter said he should saw them open. A Soldier told him he should SHOOT the nuts. Finally, a puppet maker brought him a brightly painted wooden doll with a strong jaw designed to crack the nuts. The Farmer was delighted!  And rewarded the puppet maker with his own workshop.

“Räuchermännchen” translates to smoking men.  It is an incense burner, originally, in the form of a wooden man.  They stand anywhere from 4” to 10”. 

Where the first ‘Smoker’ was made depends on your source.  One source stated the first smoker was developed around 1850 in Heidelberg, while another dates it around 1820-1830 at Seiffen.  There are also those that feel the one piece wood carvings made in the late 1600s were the beginning of the smoker.  All sources agree that it was the invention of toy makers in the Ore mountains.

At first paper or dough served as material.  Wood and woodturning eventually became the choice and technique for ‘Smokers’.   Mostly figures of the everyday life were used as motif, primarily craftsman, peddlers, miners and soldiers.  Nowadays, Santa Claus and other modern figures, such as doctors, priests, salesmen, bakers, foresters, chimney sweepers, and so on are made.  One of the newer developments is the ‘edgesitters’ that may be placed on the edge of a table or shelf.  The female smokers are called Räucherfrauen.

Their purpose is to burn off incense candles and incense cones, called Räucherkerzen and spread a fragrant scent around the house.  Many believe they are meant to symbolize the gifts brought on the Epiphany January 6, as well as clear out the spirits of the previous year.

A few of the most common scents are pine, lavender, apple cake, coffee, and frankincense.

Glühwein is the traditional Christkindlmarkt ‘warm up’.  It is a mulled wine usually made with red wine and mulling spices.  It is served hot and is, in most cases, what gets you through the bitter cold weather as you walk through the beautiful Christmas Markets of Germany. 

As an added bonus, Glühwein is served in a Glühwein mug that usually advertises the year and the town.  Just about every town, big and small, have Glühwein mugs.  You pay a deposit on the mugs and if you do not want to keep them…(I have kept all of mine), you get your deposit back when you return the mug. 

In the past few years some areas have begun making a ‘white’ Glühwein and in 2019 we had the good fortune to find a Blueberry Glühwein.  All are served hot….it is the best.  Glühwein is sold in many of the liquor/package goods stores in the area.  There are also a few stores that sell the spice bags to add to your own red wine.  

This is not your Mother's eggnog.  It is much stronger than the eggnog we have become accustomed to in the US. The German beverage is a blend of egg yolks,varied spirits, sugar, brandy, vanilla and sometimes cream. Traditionally served in a wide glass with whipped cream and cocoa powder sprinkled on top, your hosts might serve it as an aperitif, digestive or simply pour it over the dessert – the Germans use it for just about everything. It’s rich, but worth knocking back, especially if you can get your hands on the homemade stuff.

Feuerzangenbowle is a popular drink at Christmas and New Year’s.  It begins with filling a bowl with red wine already heated with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, three peels of oranges and lemons, and often their juices as well. The bowl stands over a small burner, and a grill over the bowl, with a rum-soaked sugar cone set alight atop the grill.  The flames caramelize the sugar cone and dissolve it into the mulled wine - a process hastened by slowly and most carefully pouring on more rum from a ladle. At last the wine is served in mugs as meanwhile the remainder is kept warm over the burner.

What is a Weihnachtssingen?

A Weihnachtssingen is a Christmas caroling event, a tradition in German-speaking countries. The origin or tradition began when adult men visited homes to sing carols. The events include sing-alongs to Christmas songs. This is often done on the ‘big screen’ and there are hundreds of participants. Some, like the local Weihnachtssingen at Zion Church, include a few musical performances with instruments and often includes poetry, etc.

They are meant to bring a sense of community of belonging and a grea way to begin your Christmas holiday.

They are often followed by traditional Christmas fare such as Glühwein and Stollen.

Each year, Zion Church holds a traditional Weihnachtssingen.  Check their Calendar.

Wichtel is a German noun denoting a small creature, usually a gnome, elf, fairy, which does good things while no one is watching.  They are similar to Heinzelmännchen (Remember the story about the shoemaker and the elves?).

The Christmas version of Wichtel, the Weihnachtswichtel, is popularized in America as Santa’s little helper.  

Wichteln is also the German verb for taking part in secret Santa, which in Germany is typically done among family, friends, or co-workers.  Some groups even like to take part in a funny adaptation of the tradition, whereby participants give away the ugliest present they can find.

Wunschzettel schreiben, known in English as the Wish List, is a Christmas tradition where letters are sent to the Christkind and/or the Weihnachtsmann.  In Germany, children address this letter to the Christkind (Christ Child see above) and send it to her post office in Engelskirchen, Germany.  Engelskirchen (literally means 'Angel's Churches) is a municipality in Oberbergischer Kreis, Germany in North Rhine-Westphalia.  The address is An das Christkind, 51777 Engelskirchen.

Another location where letters are sent is Himmelpfort (translated, it means Heavenly Gate), a tiny German village north of Berlin.  In the early 1980s the town began receiving letters when children mistook the name of the town for the home of Father Christmas.  The town’s population is about 500, but boasts one of the busiest post offices in Germany for its size.  The town receives hundreds of thousands of letters addressed to Father Christmas and volunteers in Himmelpfort personally answer every letter that arrives early enough.

Address letters to:  Address letters to: An den Weihnachtsmann, Weihnachtspostfiliale, 16798, Himmelpfort, Germany. Remember a return address.