Changes

During the four months before Christmas, Germans celebrate advent with the usual advent calendar, which has been around since 1851. Every day until Christmas, a little window of the advent calendar is opened revealing a candy or other little token. In many cities in Germany, the town hall acts as a large advent calendar. Every day a lit window is revealed showing a decorative painted picture. <ref>http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/culture_and_events/christmas_markets_offers.htm?op=getBrauchtum</ref> Also for advent, special wreathes are hung with four candles, one for each week before Christmas.

During the four months before Christmas, Germans celebrate advent with the usual advent calendar, which has been around since 1851. Every day until Christmas, a little window of the advent calendar is opened revealing a candy or other little token. In many cities in Germany, the town hall acts as a large advent calendar. Every day a lit window is revealed showing a decorative painted picture.<ref>http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/culture_and_events/christmas_markets_offers.htm?op=getBrauchtum</ref> Also for advent, special wreathes are hung with four candles, one for each week before Christmas.

December 6th is Nikolaustag, St. Nicholas Day. It is a Christian holiday based on a 16h century tradition. The night of the 5th, children set out their shoes in hopes that the next morning the shoes are filled with candy, toys and gifts by St. Nikolaus if they have been good children. If they have not been good, the shoes are filled with twigs. <ref>http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-germany.htm</ref>

December 6 is Nikolaustag, St. Nicholas Day. It is a Christian holiday based on a 16h century tradition. The night of the 5th, children set out their shoes in hopes that the next morning the shoes are filled with candy, toys and gifts by St. Nikolaus if they have been good children. If they have not been good, the shoes are filled with twigs.<ref>http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-germany.htm</ref>

Heilgabend (Christmas Eve) is the main Christmas celebration rather than Christmas Day. On the evening of the 24th the Christmas  tree, called the Tannenbaum, is set up. The children of the household are not allowed to see the tree until it is fully decorated and trimmed. They are brought into a separate room while the parent decorates the tree. It is a wonderful surprise when the bell is rung for the kids to enter the room and see the tree, decked out with real candles or lights, little treats and candies, trinkets and other fun things. Also in the evening Christian families go to church for a special mass. Then they eat a giant feast, which may consist of foods such as suckling pig, "reisbrei" (a sweet cinnamon), white sausage, macaroni salad, and many regional dishes.<ref>http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-germany.htm</ref> Also popular in Germany are Nativity scenes.

Heilgabend (Christmas Eve) is the main Christmas celebration rather than Christmas Day. On the evening of the 24th the Christmas  tree, called the Tannenbaum, is set up. The children of the household are not allowed to see the tree until it is fully decorated and trimmed. They are brought into a separate room while the parent decorates the tree. It is a wonderful surprise when the bell is rung for the kids to enter the room and see the tree, decked out with real candles or lights, little treats and candies, trinkets and other fun things. Also in the evening Christian families go to church for a special mass. Then they eat a giant feast, which may consist of foods such as suckling pig, "reisbrei" (a sweet cinnamon), white sausage, macaroni salad, and many regional dishes.<ref>http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-germany.htm</ref> Also popular in Germany are Nativity scenes.