German Holiday Traditions

[MinnieCo]

Each summer my daughter and I try and pick a theme to have some fun with throughout the summer. This year we've decided to learn more about different areas of our heritage. Next week we're going to cook some German food and have our FHE lesson on Germany. I'm wondering if any of you might have some ideas on a craft or project we might make. And if you have any good recipes or favorites, that would be appreciated as well. Thanks!!!

 

[chilli]

I am able to tell you something about Austrian Holiday Traditions... There might be some similarities with those in Germany...

First of all, our celebration is in the evening of the 24th december. On this day the Christ Child comes and brings all gifts and the christmas tree will be decorated. But nevertheless Santa Clause is also well known here.

Traditionally you eat fish (carp) in the evening of the 24th of december (but this is not very common anymore) and on 26th a kind of "meat loaf" (called Stephaniebraten). At midnight on the 24th you also go to church (especially at the countryside)

But also in advent we have several celebrations....
on 5th december, "Krampus" visits the children which were not honest during the year (as a child, I was always very honest on this day :-D ). On 6th December St Nicholas visits the honest children and brings oranges, apples, chocolate, dates, figs and nuts. Krampus brings only "potatoes and coals". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus#Krampus

Perchten are very common at the countryside; so in Vienna we don't have this. And very often it is also done only for tourists...

We also have an advent wreath - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_wreath

And the most important thing are our cookies for christmas: gingerbread, vanillekipferl
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanillekipferl), christmas stollen (http://www.pastrywiz.com/cookies/stollen.htm), Linzer cookies (http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipe ... okies.html), Cinnamon Cards (http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/preto ... stria.html), etc, etc

There are also some special traditions in each region here, but I don't know them very well.

here is also a short summary: http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christm ... stria.html

Regarding crafts and decoration: as already said, we have an advent wreath. Furthermore I decorate with christmas motives and fir-boughs...

I hope I could help you...

Chilli

 

[Ahorsesoul]

Thanks for sharing Chilli.

 

[jackfrosty]

It's so much fun to read about traditions from other areas of the world! It gives some insight into where some of our traditions originated! Thanks chilli! :grouphug:

 

[MinnieCo]

Chilli, the information is awesome. I did some looking around today and found that most of what you said is pretty much similar to what I read. When I have a few extra minutes, I'll read all the links in depth. Thanks!

 

[Lana]

I also loved the information and getting to know other customs. Thanks Chilli.

MinnieCo, that is neat that you and DD do things like that.

 

[MinnieCo]

Last year we were new to Flylady, so we had a "Camp Gonna Wanna Fy" in our house and we named our house Sun Cottage for the summer. Even had a sign on the front door. We did camp type stuff throughout the summer and it was also a way for her to earn one of her badges. She had to complete a 3 month project on learning to organize and cleaning her room and around the house. We'd pick house blessings each day and she was rewarded for any good dead with a paper clip. She'd keep them and make a paper clip chain and earn rewards that way. It's fun for me to. Keeps my creative juices flowing during the "off holiday season".

 

[pixiestick]

I remember seeing these on an old Carol Duvall Craft show and always wanted to do some.

German (or Monrovian) paper stars. They look really difficult but aren't once you get the hang of it and get into a rythm like kniting/crocheting etc...

http://www.craftideas.info/html/german_ ... tions.html

 

[hollybow]

there´s no German christmas without a Christmas stollen...
we have it traditionally on 24th with coffee in the afternoon..while waiting for the Christkind ... she comes around twillight to bring the gifts..and the christmas tree.. as a child it was very overwhelming for me to come into the livingroom...everything was dark except the christmas tree lit up with bright candles ..

we also have fish on 24th evening...(no carp anymore.. we changed it to salmon..we all like it more than carp...) but it´s also very common to have potato salad with wieners..
on the 25th we have roasted goose with dumplings and red cabbage... a very traditonal meal..

here´s the stollen recipe...

1 1/8 lb Flour
7 oz Sugar
1 pn Salt
1 ts Vanilla
1 ts Lemon juice
4 tb Rum
1 pn Cardomom (generous)
1 pn Mace (generous)
2 Eggs
4 1/2 oz Butter
4 1/2 oz Currants well drained
9 oz Sultanas
9 oz Almonds, finely chopped
3 1/2 oz Candied lemon peel
1 3/4 oz Butter for brushing
2 tb Powdered sugar for dusting
1 3/4 oz Beef drippings
9 oz Cottage cheese, well drained

Mix and sieve together the flour and baking powder onto a pastry
board or cool slab. Make a well in the center and pour in the sugar,
vanilla, rum, lemon juice, and the eggs. Draw in some flour from the
sides of the well to mix with these and form a thick paste. Add the
cold butter, cut into small pieces, the finely chopped beef
drippings, cottage cheese, currants, sultanas, nuts and candied
peel.

Cover the fruits with more of the flour, and then starting from the
middle, work all of it together quickly with your hands into a firm,
smooth paste. If it should stick, add a little more flour. Form the
mix into a long, oval shape, and then fold it over lengthwise to
give it the traditional shape.

Line a baking dish with greased waxed paper and place stollen on
this.

Preheat the oven for 5 minutes at 500F. Then bake at a moderately
hot over (375F) for 50-60 minutes. As soon as the stollen comes
out of the oven, brush with melted butter and dust thickly with
powdered sugar.

 

[luludou]

Love to know the traditions around the world! thanks!

 

[jackfrosty]

Sounds Lovely! :flower:

 

[Snowbelle27]

Love to read about traditions aroung the world. How interesting.

:flower:

 

[Basket]

Here are some other sites 1), 2), about 3) Christmas in Germany

We ate potatoe salad and German `Wieners` on the 24th of December when the Kids were younger. On the 25th we often have Brunch because we have a birthday too. On the 26th we had roast goose, red cabbage and potatoes or dumplings.

In school the children celebrate `Julklapp`- every child has one present for one other. They draw the names per lot some weeks before. Could be that this is some sort of celebration from Danmark - I like it

 

[cmerth]

Basket, you are making me hungry for my Grandma's cooking!! My grandma is the best german cook: Kuchen, Blatschinda, Knefla.