Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in German

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in German

The Holidays are more or less correct around the corner — close enough, in fact, to perk upward a chip if all of your preparations happen at the last minute like mine normally do (hey, no judgment!).

Only before going into a tizzy well-nigh your Holiday to-do list for this yr, permit'southward take a moment and look at the various German Christmas traditions besides as some linguistic aspects of wishing someone a Merry Christmas in German!

Christmas is a truly magical time of the yr in Germany, and if y'all ever get the gamble to travel there during this season, I highly recommend you lot do and so.

Plenty with the opening speech — permit's jump into this post about Christmas in Germany!

Wishing Someone a Merry Christmas in German

There are a few ways to wish someone a Merry Christmas in German — and simply similar in many other countries, there is a multifariousness of phrases that might come in handy, particularly when y'all aren't sure whether the other person is celebrating Christmas or non.

If you are sure the person is celebrating Christmas or you're simply more than of a traditionally minded person, you can say:

Frohe Weihnachten! — Merry Christmas! or
Fröhliche Weihnachten! — Joyous Christmas!

You could also say:

Frohes Fest! — A happy celebration! or
Frohes Weihnachtsfest! — A joyous Christmas celebration!

If you want to keep things a little bit more "neutral", either because you aren't certain whether the person is not celebrating a traditional Christmas vacation (or because y'all know they aren't), you could also simply opt for:

Schöne Feiertage! — Happy Holidays!

Traditionally, most people are off between December 24th and December 26th, so even if the person you lot are talking to might not exist celebrating Christmas, y'all can be pretty certain they volition take some time off.

If y'all are more intent on focusing on the religious and/or contemplative attribute of Christmas and the spirit of the vacation itself, you could say:

Ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest! — A blessed Christmas celebration! or
Ein frohes und gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest! — A blessed and joyous Christmas celebration! or

You lot could also keep it short and simply say:

Gesegnete Weihnachten! — Blessed Christmas!

When wishing a person a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays, for that affair) you will also notice that a lot of times this is done in connection with wishing someone a Happy New Twelvemonth, especially when you're not probable to encounter the person again between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

A lot of times, peculiarly on Christmas cards, you lot will detect the phrase:

Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein frohes neues Jahr! — Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Variations of this include:

Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr! — Merry Christmas and lots of luck for the new year's day!
Frohe Weihnachten und alles Gute für das neue Jahr! — Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year's day!

Especially the latter phrases are oftentimes used in cards or personal notes, such as the ones that businesses transport out to their customers.

Now that we know how to say "Merry Christmas" in German, let's take a expect at the various Christmas customs and traditions leading upwards to Christmas that you lot might meet when staying in Germany during Christmas flavor!

Pre-Christmas Traditions in Germany

As I previously mentioned, there are a plethora of Christmas traditions in Germany — however, there are also traditions leading up to Christmas.

Some of them are more pop with children, and some of them are observed past families with or without children alike.

Let'south take a wait!

Advent Calendars

Advent calendars are especially pop with kids, but I know even some adults who honey following them simply because they brand counting down the days leading up to Christmas Eve so much sweeter.

Advent calendars are commonly sheet calendars to hang on your wall with 24 small flaps, ofttimes with Christmas images or winter scenes. For each day from Dec 1st to the 24th, you open a flap and at that place is a pocket-size film or sometimes fifty-fifty a short poem underneath.

For kids, there are special advent calendars that contain small pieces of chocolate, which are revealed when opening the flap. This is an especially easy way to test your child'south self-control (since when in that location's a sweet treat involved, it gets significantly harder to stick with opening 1 flap a day).

Advent Wreaths

This is probably my favorite pre-Christmas tradition observed in Germany: Advent wreaths!

Advent wreaths, as you lot can probably tell by the name, are wreaths commonly fabricated out of evergreen or pine branches with iv (normally crimson) large candles and other Christmas or winter decorations on top, such every bit red bows, stars, or pine cones.

Starting on the first Sun of December, one candle is lit to symbolize Christmas Eve approaching. The following Lord's day, a 2d candle is lit, and so on. By Christmas, all iv candles on the wreath are lit.

Appearance wreaths are essentially a Christmas countdown for adults.

Christmas Traditions in Germany

There are enough of German Christmas traditions that aren't just popular among tourists, but too with the German locals.

From Christmas markets to mulled wine: in this part of the commodity, I'm gonna share a few of my favorites!

Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmärkte)

The Christmas market — or Weihnachtsmarkt — is 1 of the main reasons to travel to Germany during the holiday season (for me). They're an essential part of German civilisation, and definitely not just a tourist attraction that the locals would avoid. Christmas markets are a longstanding tradition in Germany, and they're the perfect place to enjoy a mulled wine (Glühwein) or two with your friends.

German Christmas markets offer a diversity of things to do and see: they usually have enough of snack booths where you can get savory and sweet treats as well as alcoholic and not-alcoholic drinks. Local vendors sell beeswax candles, ornaments, handmade soaps, and household goods as well as winterproof clothing items (from sweaters to hats and mittens). Wooden toys likewise as jewelry or Weihnachtsplätzchen (Christmas cookies) tin can besides be found here.

So if you lot are looking for a souvenir or some Christmas presents to ship to your loved ones dorsum home, this is definitely the place to go!

The best thing most Christmas markets though is the atmosphere: normally, they are richly busy and illuminated with Christmas lights and ornamentation, and fifty-fifty the booths are decorated besides.

Pro tip: caput over in the late afternoon or early evening to see everything light upwards and experience the magic unfolding!

Glühwein and Feuerzangenbowle

Speaking of Christmas markets: Every bit I already mentioned above, Christmas markets exercise not only offer nutrient, but also some of the trademark (alcoholic) drinks of the holiday season.

Glühwein (mulled vino) is probably the well-nigh popular of the two. Made out of warm red wine, sugar and a diversity of spices, it'due south the perfect drink to keep you warm when strolling around the Christmas market in frigid temperatures. While traditionally Glühwein is fabricated out of red wine, in that location'southward likewise a version made out of white wine. (Personally, I take never tried the latter.)

Another favorite at German Christmas markets is the so-called Feuerzangenbowle (fire tong punch). This natural language-twister of a drinkable is made out of mulled wine, rum (with a high booze content) and a sugar cone. The sugar cone is placed over the (commonly pretty big mug) of mulled vino, doused in the rum and and so gets lit on fire. Watching this is quite the spectacle and nigh fifty pct of why I love indulging in a steaming hot mug of Feuerzangenbowle — notwithstanding, if you are a lightweight similar me, you might desire to be careful and stick to just ane "burn down tong dial" since it'southward quite strong.

Christmas Trees

Just like in the United states, Christmas trees are a staple in German households during Christmas fourth dimension. Ever since moving from Germany to the The states, I accept noticed that the "American way" of decorating the tree is much more elaborate. Compared to this, the German approach is almost minimalistic.

Also: The Christmas trees used in Germany are real evergreen trees — not the simulated ones popular with a lot of households in the U.s.a.. And merely like the tree is real, the candles on the tree are oftentimes as well (to the horror of many of my American friends due to the possible fire hazard).

Christmas Ornaments

Christmas ornaments have a longstanding tradition in Deutschland, as well as other European countries. Most of the time, they are made out of real drinking glass and come up in all sizes and shapes — popular are not only traditional Christmas motives, but also things that technically don't have anything to do with Christmas. They are often decorated with lots of glitter, whether they are classic Christmas ornaments or of a more than "non-traditional" kind.

Some families also like to put chocolates, bootleg Christmas cookies or bootleg ornaments on their Christmas tree.

Weihnachtsengel (Christmas Angels)

Christmas angels (Weihnachtsengel) are a staple when it comes to the Christmas decoration in many High german households. These angels are little wooden figurines originating from the Erzgebirge — a mount range in Saxony, bordering the Czechia. Weihnachtsengel have a longstanding tradition and ofttimes families don't have simply one or two, but an entire "parade" that is put up every year during the holidays.

These angels are frequently depicted in various positions: holding tiny candles or banners or (and this is probably the almost pop variant) playing instruments.

Räuchermännchen ("Little Smoking Human")

Just like the Christmas angels, Räuchermännchen too originate from the Erzgebirge, which is famous for its unique wooden crafts mostly traditionally involving Christmas motives. Räuchermännchen are incense smokers, often depicting Santa, a nutcracker or miners. The Räuchermännchen comes apart in 2 pieces, usually at its hip, where you insert a lit/called-for cone-shaped incense block, the so-called Räucherkerze. After the incense cone has been inserted, the Räuchermännchen is re-assembled. Soon subsequently, y'all tin watch incense fume coming from the Räuchermännchen'south mouth (hence the proper name "Petty Smoking Man").

Weihnachtspyramiden (Christmas pyramids)

Y'all might be a little surprised to hear this name — later on all, Christmas and pyramids accept next to nothing in common. Christmas pyramids, or Weihnachtspyramiden, are another traditional staple in German households when it comes to Christmas decoration. Simply like the ii ornaments mentioned before, Christmas pyramids likewise originate from the Erzgebirge in Eastern Federal republic of germany.

A Christmas pyramid consists of a pyramidal outer frame (usually containing spots for about four tea candles) and a pyramid-shaped, ordinarily decorated carousel with a rotor at the summit. Said rotor is driven by the warm air arising from the tea candles (hello, physics!) and thus starts spinning slowly when the candles are lit.

Weihnachtspyramiden are usually busy with birth scenes, nevertheless, there are besides some decorated with wintertime or woods scenes.

Christmas Cookies

Christmas cookies (or Weihnachtsplätzchen) are a must during the Christmas flavour! These sweet treats come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with different flavors and/or sprinkles or dipped in chocolate. Some families even have their own recipes which are handed down from generation to generation.

Baking Christmas cookies is a favorite holiday activity for some people, especially those with smaller children.

Since not everyone has time to bake these treats during the busy holiday time, many bakeries in Federal republic of germany sell all kinds of Christmas cookies: you can buy them either as a pre-packaged mix or simply pick your favorites.

Another favorite of the Holiday season is Lebkuchen, German gingerbread. Information technology's usually sold at Christmas markets or in supermarkets, and often centre- or star-shaped and filled with sugariness jam.

A Couple More Interesting Tidbits…

While you might recognize some of the German Christmas traditions since your part of the world has like traditions, in that location are some things Federal republic of germany does different from the balance of the earth when information technology comes to celebrating this time of the year.

Different the United states of america or UK that gloat Christmas on the morning of the 25th of December, in Germany Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24th. And while in the The states presents are bought past Santa, in Federal republic of germany it is the Christkind (the Christ child) that is responsible for delivering all the gifts.

While Santa doesn't play much of a role in the bodily Christmas celebration on the 24th of December, he—or more precisely, somewhat more of his equivalent—plays an of import role on December sixth, the then-called Nikolaustag (St. Nicholas Twenty-four hours).

St. Nikolaus, better known as "der Nikolaus", in pop delineation is a rather heavy set, friendly human in a red frock with a white bristles (sound familiar?) who visits all families on the nighttime of December 5th to Dec 6th when everyone is comatose. Traditionally kids (and sometimes adults, depending on the family) leave their shoes out overnight to find sugariness treats, standard mandarin oranges, walnuts and/or small gifts in them on the morn of the 6th.

(That is, if yous were a good kid that year. Traditionally, people who oasis't been adept are left with a couple of pieces of coal in their shoe equally "presents".)

Dec 25th in Federal republic of germany is also known as "Erster Weihnachtstag" (first Christmas Day). This mean solar day is usually reserved for visiting close family that lives further abroad such every bit grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Same goes for December 26th, the "Zweiter Weihnachtstag" (2d Christmas Day). More presents are usually exchanged and in that location's lots of rich foods and more Christmas cookies.

On these days, pretty much everyone is traveling (sometimes even cross-country), which means that traffic is usually iffy, specially when snowfall or — more than probable — heavy rain or sleet is involved.

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I promise I could give you a good insight into Christmas in Deutschland — both regarding some vocabulary likewise every bit German Christmas traditions — to get you into the vacation spirit!

Frohe Weihnachten, everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in German

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