Royal Christmas in Germany, 1907 - German Holiday Traditions
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
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In Germany, Christmas really glitters! In fact many of the traditions we associate with the festive season in Britain, the US and around the world come to us via Germany. The Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, Advent Calendars, nutcrackers, toys, Christmas Markets and a cornucopia of Christmas confections had roots in Deutschland. Much of this cultural exchange comes from the tight familial bonds between the British and German royal families. So curl up by the Tannenbaum with a plate of Weihnachtsplätzchen (Christmas cookies), and a mug of Glühwein or Kinderpunsch (mulled wine with or without the alcohol). And together let’s explore the history of German Christmas traditions and visit the royal neues palais on December 24th, 1907 for a spectacularly festive meal with Kaiser Wilhelm and his family.
Queen Victoria's Christmas Feast: • Queen Victoria's Chris...
Christmas trees, Tannenbaum, Christmas ornaments
Santa Clause, Saint Nicholas, Christkind
Nutcrackers, wooden toys
Christmas Markets
Christmas food and drink (cookies)
Kaiser Wilhelm II's Christmas Eve Menu, 1907
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Im a german girl and live in germany. Learning that all the iconic christmas traditions come from germany made me really happy! i also really enjoyed your appreciation and efforts to name all the things in german. Thank you for this amazing video. Love from germany 💕
Same! Frohe Weihnachten :)
Frohe Weihnachten! Ich Liebe Deutschland!
Sorry if I spelled this wrong
Ja, I am myself Half German Half Finnisch and now is 6.12 so its Finnish National day xd
It’s interesting to think of the influence that Victoria and Albert had one the rest of the world. I’m an American and knowing that many of the traditions we have come from the couple and Germany in general makes me realize how connected we all truly are.
American here. Have to say, the tree, and a lot of our traditions are beautiful, glad they got here!
I'm German and my grandma told me about the wild hunt. Fun facts:
- She told me, it's forbidden to wash your white sheets/linen and hang them up and out to dry during the time of the wild hunt (it starts mid December and ends early January), as it resembles a funeral shroud. It is said that the wild hunting party can get tangled up in the sheets and in retaliation will take a soul from the household.
- She also told me that during the time of the wild hunt, you're not allowed to go to the stables during nighttime, as the animals start to speak and tell the hunting party if their master was good or bad. He who hears the animals speak will drop dead.
- During the time of the wild hunt, the worlds of the living and the dead come really close and what you dream will tell you about the coming year.
It all may sound silly, but I'm happy that she told me about the folklore, so I can one day tell my future children about them. Now you know, too 😜
What part of Germany do you live in? My parents, all ancestors, for several generations also. Mother from Werttem burg, Father from Prussia. I am searching my Fathers ancestors now. My maiden name is Conczella, then changed to Konschella. Have you ever heard of these names? Let me know yes or no! Thanks!!!
@@dolorespetersen2869 hey, I'm from the north west-ish part of lower saxony. Unfortunately I've never heard that name before, nor have I ever really visited Baden Württemberg (which I assume you are referring to). But just because I don't know anyone by that name doesn'ean anything. The name sounds eastern european, so I'd suggest, you look further east, maybe? Good luck!
@@TruthNeverFade I read your comment and I am from a little town near stuttgart
I definitely believe that the worlds of the living and the dead come very close to each other through mid December to early January. Even as a child I remember feeling a very real change in the atmosphere at night, and even when the sun rose and set. I have always felt that *something* was around all of us during that time period, very close, undefinable but nearly tangible, like you really COULD touch the unnamed something if you tried.
I believe its why Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is such an enduring and popular story, for over 200 years now. The story is littered with ghosts, and Dickens even describes the spirits Scrooge sees when Marley's ghost leaves him to pass out the window after they speak. He describes a scene of many spirits of the dead, many of them chained to iron manacles and metal boxes. The trouble with them all evidently, Scrooge observes, is that they seek "to interfere in human matters", to do good, and are now forbidden to do so forever.
I am surprised that the Kaiser could hunt as he had only one functional arm.
Fun fact: When I first moved to a different area in Germany to go to Uni we had intense discussions (over some Glühwein haha) who brought the the presents on Christmas, Christkind or Wheinachtsmann and who would ring the bell for the children to know it's time to open presents on Christmas eve. The Bischof Nikolaus visited all kids on December 6th.
I lived in Germany for about 8 years. The thing I miss the most are the Christmas markets. They were always so magical. I miss them so much.
I’m half German. After my mother and aunt passed away I have been trying so hard to figure out what two cookie names were. My mom and her sister would make these cookies but never told me how to make them. I forgot the names but knew what they looked like. I found them on your video. I have a warm feeling in my heart just remembering those two cooking away in the kitchen on those Christmas nights. Thank you.
I relate,my aunt worked with princess diana herself and my auntie was half german as well,she made sure to give diana some german goods,my aunt caroline was devastated when diana died,my antie died in 2005 from a car crash,like diana,they died on the same day,8 years apart!my mother died in august of this year who was not german,but passed of cancer!but she made amazing german goods
lebchuken? Springerle?, Rocks?
Maybe we can help find the names?
Vanillekipferl, Liebesaugen, Engelsaugen, Kokosmakronen, Pfeffernüsse, Zimtsterne?
@@tiffytattoo2450 Spitzbuben
@liane fehrle I lived in Germany for a few years & I just LOVED the "black bread", along with the "baloney ham". I don't remember how you say these in German. Also, the jagerschnitzel (?) with mushroom gravy, which remains my very ABOLUTE favorite German food. Thank Gott I have NEVER had a "sweet tooth", or I would be in DEEP trouble, LOL
Thank you. My family is of German decent in America. We have a lot of traditions that many people don’t. Now I see where they come from! Thank you
We left Germany when l was six. We had lived in a tiny village named Opferdingen and l remember our last Weinachten there. My mother put me outside in the afternoon of Christmas Eve. I played with another Christmas outcast. Finally Lore went home to her house and l was brought in, to a room that was magically transformed. Tree Lights flickered, and pink, shiny packages of candies glowed. There was kuchen on the table, and presents too.
My great aunt was from Germany and she would bring us back chocolate advent calendars, marzipan stollen, and these really good chocolates filled with liquor.
Annoying German here: Tannenbaum is more a general term for needle trees although it is used in the Christmas song Oh Tannenbaum. Weihnachtsbaum is the German word for Christmas tree and translates basically one to one.
And it is not just Catholic children with the boots. Every child does it here.
She tends to get details wrong often in her videos. Oh well.
Wat are you saying Ashkenazis does it too? 🤔 we already know they aren't really Hebrews. Funny most Ashkenazis have names with baum in it and people think it's theirs just like Tannenbaum theirs names Ashkenazis that have that name . 🤔 I had a math teacher by that name so I'm glad I wasn't wrong in saying that's not even a real Hebrew name. 😅
@Vicki Davis
Via Britannica
Ashkenazi, plural Ashkenazim, from Hebrew Ashkenaz (“Germany”), member of the Jews who lived in the Rhineland valley and in neighbouring France before their migration eastward to Slavic lands (e.g., Poland, Lithuania, Russia) after the Crusades (11th-13th century) and their descendants.
@@kaleahcollins4567 Ashkenazis have all kind of names, slavic, baltic, germanic. Jews migrnats change their name into more local one.
Im 20 and Dutch and learned TODAY that santa and Sinterklaas are the same. There’s a lot to unpack….
The Weihnachtsmann comes on Christmas Eve, Childrern actually get to see him and sing songs or say a poem for him to get their presents :)
Being of German parentage, we adored Weinachten. All the things mentioned here were part of my childhood. So memorable and so beautiful. Frohe Weinachten...Merry Christmas 🎄.
We had boxes and boxes of those EXACT Woolworth baubles (we called them baubles) that must have gone way back, and they were small and used to decorate the small white sparkly tree we always put up in the "front" room of our folk Victorian house. They were old when I was born in 61. They survived until the mid-80s when the house I was then living in flooded. I wish I'd take each one out and carefully cleaned them. When I die, the family pictures I saved will mean nothing to anyone, just a lot of old pictures of people no one can identify. (Some of them I can't identify.) The ornaments would have been genuine antiques. Sometimes it seems as though every single decision I've ever made in my whole life sucks.
As someone who’s born and raised in Minnesota, my mom would make a wide variety of cookies from Germany, Sweden, and Norway (lefse too of course) around Christmastime. We kids always loved helping too (and getting to “taste test” the goodies!).
We also had a small wreath with the four red candles on the top as a decoration. I don’t think we ever lit the candles, but it was a smaller, but sentimental decoration that had a special place near our nativity scene (we didn’t go Christmas Trees in my home). I didn’t know they were German and I’m glad to find that out!
Gotta try some of that hot, mulled wine this season too!!
I was born & raised in Northern Minnesota. I am not of German descent at all, I am Ojibwe/Dakota. But from where I am from all the families made all types of Christmas cookies, we celebrate a hodge-podge of mixed Finnish, German, Swede, Polish, Mexican, Eastern European, American & believe it or not pagan traditions for Christmas.
Christmas is the only time that racial ethnicity doesn't matter. Otherwise where I am from in Minnesota racism is quite previlent.
My parents were both born in Germany but met and married in Canada. We've always had our Christmas on the evening of the 24th, food first, then presents. Normally we have a turkey, but my mother still makes dumplings and red cabbage. She used to make stollen as well when we were younger. We celebrated Saint Nicklaus on the 6th (as I did with my kids when they were small), as well as Sunday advents with the candles. And of course, the many Christmas cookies which we make each year. As I will be retired by next Christmas, maybe I should make the stollen!
Same with my family!
Germany is my favourite country to visit already, a place that has always been good to me whenever I've visited. Now I have even more reason to love the place. Greetings from UK.
It was so nice to hear all the amazing things that occurred in Germany during the festive season, that l was not aware of. Thanks so much for showing us. We've never had a perfect world but it is heartwarming to know that we hold our traditions close no matter what.
Sorry, I have to add some more insights on Krampus night, round 9:00. Those creatures shown here are called Perchten. Their origin is different and they appear to people torwards the end of winter, like February to chase the cold season away. Perchten are much huger and much more scarry then Krampus too.
I am German and Christmas is an incredibly important tradition in our family. I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful video! Thank you!
My high school English teacher used to tell us this type of history so we understood where things originated, that also included where the Saying "it's raining cats and dogs" and "don't throw the baby with bathing water" etc. As per usual, I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I love your dedication and quality. Keep them coming.
@The Real Clantis Tutorials .....It was Queen Victoria that started the "White Wedding Gown" style. Before her own wedding to Prince Albert, wedding gowns were dresses of many different colors. But when Victoria married Albert, she decided to wear 'white' only, thus, the wedding gowns became the symbol of virginity & innocence. Victoria's son, Edward VII, also started fashions himself, fashions that continue to this day, for men, of course. One was the habit of leaving the last button on either their suit or tuxexo, left unbuttoned. Another 'fad', if you will, that continues to this day, are the cuffs on dress pants. Edward VII was extremely fashionable. There are many other styles he started, that have gone on, to this day.
@@bootsnsaddle8289 Even diamond added on to the wedding band was Queen Victoria's request. So she set two trends in one wedding lol.
Yes, I read a lot about King Edward VII's fashion trends, I think GQ was inspired by him (I stand corrected).
@@clantis You are right. GQ was inspired by Edward VII. But when he started the fad of the last button left undone, it had been done one night after he had, shall we say, 'over-indulged' ? Yep, those 15 course meals can do that to a person ! LOL But at the time, people just wanted to imitate the Royals, much as they do today, huh ? So, the last button left undone was born & continues to this day. Same as Prince Albert being the one that started the Christmas tree (& I hate to say 'fad') tradition, which again, THANK GOD, continues to this day.
@@bootsnsaddle8289 Yeah because he wanted to bring life into the palace, considering the fact that in winter, the majority of trees have no leaves or green.
The one button undone is a fashion statement done by the older uncles in South African townships. Most of them want to be "bra (means brother)" ... And they get really angry when you call them anything but "bra..." Hahahahaha
@@clantis What would happen if they were called "Sister"....just kidding !! I wish I had had a teacher like the one you described. I just read a lot & picked up stuff from books. I remember reading a book called "The Young Victorians" or something like that. The descriptions of when Queen Victoria would go out for her daily walks, was really very funny, in a way. When the servants were also out walking about & they heard Queen Victoria was also walking & would probably be passing by them, the servants would panic & try to hide from her. Some tried to hide in the doll houses, that were at Balmoral & Sandringham. LOL OR, if at Kensington, they would run room to room, & hide in the WCs. & a few brave souls, would try to hide under the huge dining room table, at each estate, hoping they would not run into she & John Brown or later, Edward VII. I just find this so amusing. Edward had this one joke where he would tell a servant or a friend, to look at his ears, because he (Edward VII) was going to blow smoke out of his ears. The poor servant or friend, would stare deeply & intently at the king's ears, really expecting this smoke, then Edward would burn the arm of the servant or whomever the unlucky person was. Naturally, the person would scream at the pain & Edward would nearly fall completely over with laughter. Sorry this is rather long. I always get carried away telling these stories, LOL
My mother is German and I live in the USA I love the German Christmas traditions we use many in our home
Edward 7th were Uncle to the Kaiser,not cousin, his son George later V was Wilhelms cousin .
The boar head is more of a boneless pate since it is filled with much goodies. And the Boar is known as the closest one can come to combat if all things goes as worse so a respected adversary which is not to be taken lightly and certainly not ignored.
My great-grandfather came over from Germany by himself when he was 5 so I love learning about german traditions!
I'm sorry, but he did not come to America by himself at 5yrs old. Someone had to of been with him to bring him here. Lol
@@BUHNANUHBREAD as far as i know thats whats been said from his daughter to his granddaughter to his great granddaughter. it was likely war time so who knows, he may have been sent on a boat without his parents
@@BUHNANUHBREAD i didnt say he was completely alone, just that family didnt come with him
@@abbyginge03 Gurl, you literally said he came here "by himself". What does "completely alone" mean to you? Cuz where the rest of the world comes from, "by himself" means "alone". And I'm sure his story got mixed up along the telephone line.
@@BUHNANUHBREAD i figured that people that can understand context would understand what i meant.
I’m an American with German, Polish, and Bohemian ancestry, so holiday foods and traditions fascinate me, even if we don’t follow the traditions. This year, I’m making a honey spiced cake using a recipe from one of my favorite video games, the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It’s currently chilling in the fridge until Christmas Eve. Christmas is very special to me as it’s also my late grandma’s birthday, and every year before she dies, she decorated her house to the nines with snowmen.
Only recently found out that I have German roots on my maternal grandmother's side. That's when it made sense why Christmas Eve always seem more important than Christmas Day to Christmas Day to the family. 💖💖
I was raised Catholic and recently discovered practically my whole family on my mother me side is from Germany. Seeing how many traditions my family practice came directly from my ancestors makes me feel so connected and makes this holiday season even more special to me!!!
To the lady who is wondering about names of the cookies, can you describe what they looked like? That may help figure out the mystery!
I am German and want to thank you for pointing out the rivalry between Christkind - and Weihnachtsmann - families :) I got in some fights as a kid over who brings the presents :D
Lindsay you’re really making my Monday’s better! Thank You!💕💕
I’m from Poland but live in Sweden since many years and our Christmas table is a mixture of Polish and Swedish food and deserts.
Are you related to The Queen Consort of France, Marie Leszczynska?
@@evelyniofmewni8502 I haven’t been doing any genealogy so I don’t know much about the paternal side of family. What I know is that my maternal grandmother was born at an estate that now lies in Russia. She was born 1907 (I think) and Poland was bigger then, got divided after the war. Her mother (my great grandmother) was wealthy and noble, but that all disappeared because of 2 world wars.
It is an Italian tradition for the Christmas Eve fish dinner to include seven different types of fish.
In Sweden we have a lot of German traditions but we also have old tradition that is dated back to Viking era (750.1050). Main dish in Scandinavia is Pork steak served with different cabbage dishes, depending on which part you come from. Since 19the century we also have meatballs and little sausages. But in the past different sausages,, and other dishes from the pig was the main dish. We also still eat this dried fish that we exported during medieval time to other countries. I hate that dish. My family loves but i leave the table at that point. Desert is ricepudding with or without sauce. If you have left overs from this dish you add whipped cream and slices of oranges and make "Ris a la Malta".. Many of our maindishes is recorded to at least 16th century
The dried fish dish( lutefisk) was very popular in the State of Minnesota( here in the USA),due to the high percent of Scandinavians. I'm not so sure it remains popular as tastes change & closeness to Europe lessens.
I live in nothern Germany. And here on christmas eve mostly its commen to eat susages with potato salad. But depends on each family. Years ago we often have had a meat fondue. I know that some still have Karpen blau, but in my family most of them weren't fish fans. Once we had a big turkey. bust mostly it was saussage and potatosalad (wich i don't like). Sometmes we have a roastbeef... each year we decided new. And not that there is just mum and me left, lets see, i hope not potatosalad...
But nice video. And those plates with sweets on it is still a tradion. We have had special chrismtas plates putting on the table with candys cookies etc. on it for everyone sometimes at grannys we all get our own with our Christmas Candy. Its called "bunter Teller" = colourful plate . So there was one for each person wich we put in our bags to get it home, and always one big one for everyone where everybody pics up during the day or eve. Some just have one for everyone and put he other sweets in a present or so. But bunte Teller is a thing i saw all over germany.
It comes form a Nikolaus tradtion, before putting out the boots it was commen to put out a plate where the St. Nikolaus puts the candy and nuts and furits on. And i think thats less groose then dirty shoes... (often i missed a choclate in the boot and put it on... not nice). But the traditon with the boots is more commen now all over germany, not only in catholic regions.
And not only kids do it. Sometimes also bigger kids get some small gifts for ther parents, or adults for ther partners.
Also sometimes Neigbours put small things in front of your door in the morning of the 6th december. Mostly Choclate Weihnachtsmänner or so. Just small stuff, its not christmas, but a good day to say thank you to not so close people you won't give presets to at christams, like loose freinds or good neigbours.
Or at work sometimes people put a little candy or so on everyones place or so.Sometime the Boss does it.
Hey, German here!
Not only catholics put their shoes out on dec 6 many people here are protestants (me included) and we do it too!
Ahhhh. I'm American but I am very much ethnically German and these represent so many of my family's traditions for the holidays! We do the advent wreath and calendar (my parents are very religious and very observant of Advent) and decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas eve.
We in Croatia have the same traditions, because of Austria. I just can’t imagine advent and Christmas without those things, especially St.Nicholas and Krampus
I'm American of German,Irish and English descent. Our holidays were more centered around English traditions. My husband and I have been trying to find German traditions to celebrate. This was interesting.
This is interesting that people eat carp for Christmas!Here in Iowa,I saw a young,Russian man catch a carp,and take it home 🏡 to eat.We we’re raised on;bass,northern,and 🌞 sunfish.So….I can relate to this 🥘 meal!Happy Holidays and have a Happy 😃 New Year![for;2024,of course!].Now,I’ll have to visit;the World Food Market before the Holidays!😊😊😊😊❤❤❤
Lovely! I'm German and I went to school in the town you see in 1:14 in the Ore Mountains, Eastern Germany. This is a region, where Christmas is very traditional and also quite different to the rest of Germany. It's also called the Christmas wonder land because every window of every house is lightened with the so called Schwibbogen, a half circle with motives and candles on top. It's always so beautiful to watch. I love that you made a video about German Christmas. So... Fröhliche Weihnachten und eine besinnliche Adventszeit
This was a great throwback to my childhood growing up in Austria, being half Austian. You've done your research!
I'm from Germany and never heard of some of the christmas cookies - it really depends on the region (and I think Basler Leckerli is from Switzerland, as Basel is located there). For me "typical" Christmas cookies are Zimtsterne (cinnamon stars), Spekulatius (spiced cookies) and Kokosmakronen (coconut macaroons). Not a cookie, but sweets are Dominosteine (little cubes filled with gingerbread, apricot jelly and marzipan and glazed with chocolate).
Yes, Basler Läckerli are from Switzerland. But the origins of Läckerli might be of both Germany and Switzerland. Research would be needed to clarify this.
I desire to try the Christmas cubes 👀
we enjoyed the Spekulatius as well, but I always thought they were Dutch.
@@emberhermin52 As far as I know it should be the Netherlands or Belgium where they originated from, but also some German regions claim that they "invented" them. They are really common christmas cookies in Germany, so I wanted to mention them.
There are a lot more we traditionally bake in our family: Baseler Leckerli, Elisen, Pfeffernüsse, Vanillekipferl, Haselnussbusserl, Schoko-Lebkuchen vom Blech, Ausstecherle, Spitzbuben, Betmännchen, Heidesand, Spritzgebäck, Honigkuchen, Springerle, Spekulatius, Mohnkipferl, Anisgebäck, Zuckerkringel, Nougatsterne, Ingwerlaibe, Wespennester, Zimtrollen - just to name a few. Guess it depends on the baking skills or love for baking of your family and maybe the area. We are from Southern Germany. My grandfather was a pastry chef. I always bake at least 8 to 10 different kind of cookies.
I am from German descent in America and none of the meals shown are what we have today. But the different kinds of cookies well that is still something that we continue. Some of the traditions we followed. We tried the decorating the tree on Christmas eve but it just takes too long when you have little children around. And we don't think any Christmas decorations/songs should go up until after Thanksgiving. I prefer decorating early so you can enjoy the tree longer.
As a Pennsylvanian German I was quite familiar with the Belsnickel. My grandparents use to talk about him to us if we were misbehaving this time of year.
I lived in Germany for three years and had my second child in Frankfurt Germany... my husband was in the Army, I absolutely loved it there. Was told that if you went to Germany you would come back to the USA with either a baby or a coo coo clock... I came back with a extra child and pregnant with my third child...had to find a coo coo clock in the USA.... 😂
I'm new to your channel but this is heaven. This video was such a delight I watched it twice. I love history, especially European history. Anything about the Tudor dynasty has me gluded to my tablet for hours. Im gobbling up every episode you post. I have found happiness.
Thanks and welcome
Being a german Silesian: Carp and Mohnpilen/Makówki are a staple. As for cookies, I'm surprised you didn't mention Mürbeteigplätzchen, those are the most common ones, Spekulatius is another favorite (those are the ones with the wooden forms). This year I will be doing Linzer Spritzgebäck (if you google this, you should get a Dr. Oetker recipe, those are always well tested), Mürbeteigplätzchen, Kokosmakronen (with the leftover eggwhite from the Spritzgebäck).
OMG, that sounds so delicious. I was born in Schlesien, can I come for Christmas, lol
A new video on Monday, this is what I needed ❤️
On account of living in the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand) and it being summer at this time of year, we tend to BBQ a lot of food 👩🍳
Oh no! That’s so sad 😞
@@Lucy0809 It's not so bad, we do a lot of swimming which is a lot of fun! 😁
Miss my childhood... An Aussie/Kiwi Christmas. BBQs, going to the beach 🏖️ . Been in the UK for over a decade now.
@@Lucy0809 Why are you so sad I like barbecue compared to most of the traditional stuff. As for the worm Christmas I’m used to it here in Florida
My family on my paternal grandma’s side are German and my mother in laws family are German/Polish. Growing up we got one present Christmas Eve. When I got together with my husband we adopted his mother’s traditions that he had growing up. Christmas Eve dinner is rouladen, cabbage rolls, purple cabbage, and boiled potatoes. Then we have tea and open presents them dessert. Christmas morning was my father laws side of things that included breakfast at great grandmas house with the extended family (7 kids with their spouses and kids and some of the great grandchildren!) then afterwards a nap at your own home before trucking off to one of the aunts houses for Christmas dinner with everyone that was at breakfast.
OMG! This is the earliest that I have been in any of your videos. 😱
Although it sounds weird. I would be happy to try those Christmas traditions and taste those foods.
Thank you for this wonderful video. Although I'm from Germany it was very interessting to learn about some new things. Due to the fact that there is a great variety of different regional christmas traditions in the german speaking countries, I hardly know all of them and enjoy learning about them. In my home region it's common that not only katholic but also protestant children put ther shoes outside on the eve of ,,Nikolaustag". A popular christmas dinner in the northern parts of Germany at ,, Heiligabend" (Holy Night) is in fact potato salad. Every family has their own recipe and think that their's the best ;) On the 25th and 26th of December a more 'special' dinner like goose is served, the most important day is Heiligabend though. That is why a rather faster dinner is served (potato salad) to have more time for the important things like decorating the christmas tree and exchanging gifts.
This year will be my first christmas as a mother myself and I' m both thrilled and grateful for it.
I wish you all a wonderful ,,Adventszeit", a merry christmas and all the best in the new year!
Oh this is a delightful video. Just to correct, Christkind comes on the evening of the 24th, as the gift giving is celebrated not on the 25th.
Edit: Also the funny thing is, while Christkind is a Protestant invention, it is most common in the Catholic South- and Westgermany as well as Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia...
I wanted to write the same about the Christkind :D
yeah I never knew that it was started as a protestant tradition since the north-south divide is pretty clear. In Austria especially nobody even mentions the Weihnachtsmann on christmas...
Yes, you are right. And by the way, the St.Nicolas boot full of sweets isn't just a Catholic tradition.
my family is catholic german immigrants and we always open presents christmas eve night - sometimes after midnight mass
I'm Canadian but my ancestors are English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh. It's traditional for us to have mincemeat tarts, Christmas pudding, Christmas cakes, matrimonial bar, snowballs, Scottish shortbread, date square, sugar cookies, chocolate, mints, nuts, pickles, olives, cheese, and sausage meats over the Christmas season, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Traditionally we have turkey dinner on Christmas with dressing not stuffing. New Year's Day meal is usually a roast beef. The newest additions to our traditions that go back about 50 years are Canadian. We have butter tarts and Nanaimo bars. The ChristmasTree is put up mid December and taken down after January 6th. On the top of our tree is a Mercury glass spike not an angel or star. Our decorations are Mercury glass balls from the 1960s. Still use tinsel and icicles on the tree as well.
Here in Denmark we have some uniq traditions invented here in Denmark ,the oldest is æbleskiver that dates back to 1700 .
the next oldest it the danish braided Christmas hearts invented by hans Christian Andersen in around 1850 and was made of paper in white and red and have been made in diffrint versions since and is still loved and used widely to this day.
The next one is the calendercandle invented between 1920 and 1942 where it was also put into masse production and counts the 24 days of the danish Christmas where you burn one number of each day untill Christmas eve .
The last one is the danish kravlenisse or crawling elfs that was invented by Frederik bramming in 1947 and is small Christmas elfs made from paper or cardbord that people can cut out them selfs and hang up around their home .
I’m married to a Danish-descent US citizen (his grandma was FOB from Denmark, she moved here in the 30s, to anyone wondering why a Dane would move to the US, things were different then and she also had no choice cause she was 13 and her parents bought farmland here) and we still do some of these, especially the red and white braided hearts! But we make her klejner recipe instead of aelbleskiver, cause that’s what his grandma made every Christmas. 😋
Throughly enjoyed this as I enjoy all your videos. Thank you for taking the time to put this together and share.
I love how she pronouns correctly the word in menu 😍
Your videos are the best. Informative and not patronising like alot are
Thanks Lindsay
very cool episode! will share with family over christmas break! :)
This is so interesting! I Basler Läckerli are swiss :D
We call st.Nicolaus Samichlaus and Krampus for Schmutzli. If you’ve been bad he will put you in his bag and whip you in the forest.
However, I did not know about krampus Nacht! My birthday is on the 5th, so this is big news to me! Thank you for sharing ❤
This is a must for anyone learning about the past. Very interesting and entertaining. 🏆
I didn't knew our traditions are so popular! Also your german pronounciation is very good :D
Greetings from Hamburg
German here, grown up in Hessen and still living there, but our roots are from Niedersachsen. So there were a few things to navigate for my parents 😂
Today still the Nikolaus boot is usually placed outside the bedroom door in all households. No matter catholic or lutheran. And in a lot of families the kids fill their parents' boots with small gifts as well pretty early on already 🎉
St. Nikolaus is not a division 😅 it is who brings the presents on Christmas eve Christkind or Weihnachtsmann. Totally different discussion here 😊
The first Advent calendar was actually a wreath with white candles for every day and different colored bigger ones for the respective Sundays. All put on an old wheel wrapped with greenery. A lutheran idea that is still living in a few nursery/Kindergartens run by a church.
American of German descent. We always had the tree. Mom made stolen, plum pudding, ginger cookies & a handmade ginger bread house( all decorated with candy, frosting & trimmings).
Everybody gangsta till Krampus appears in the corner of your room 😒
I’m German and 75 years old. When I was a child we didn’t have the Weinachtsmann, we had the Kris kind, or baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.
I am 62 by now, coming from a German Catholic/Lutheran family and I know CHRISTKIND is rather was it rather typical for Protestant Families and the WEIHNACHTSMANN for the Catholic families. Now days " thanks to the advertisement " it is a wild mix what someone tells his children who brings the gifts on Christmas Eve.
Queen Mary Of Teck the current Queens Paternal grandmother would make a. Great Queens video 🙌🏾 !!!
Loved this upload, learned the origin of many Christmas traditions my mother's side contributed!
A full day early??? Merry Christmas to all of us!
My husband is from Lorraine and most of his traditions are German in origin, except for the French log cake. My mother grew up in a German community in Texas. Love all this history. Thank you.
Oh I did so very much enjoy your video and shared it with my family and friends. Thank you
The worldfamous Silent Holy Night 🎶song is from Austrian, not german, composer Gruber and from Austrian lyricist Mohr. The song was 'born' i.e. first performed December 24th 1818 in the (still existing) beautiful 'Holy Night Chapel' located in the state of Salzburg, Austria 🇦🇹
Although Austria🇦🇹Switzerland🇨🇭and Germany🇩🇪 and parts of Belgium🇧🇪 share German as a language, the landscape, mentality and food is different from Germany-
or as the two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz put it
'the difference between Austria and Germany is thelike between a sailing yacht and a war vessel'
I am from belgium flanders and we also have Many of these traditions in my country kids believe in Sint Nikolaas oftewel sinterklaas and Every Year there is a big event in antwerp because sinterklaas arrives with black pete in a big steam boat or stoomboot and then evryone Sings zie ginds komt de stoomboot uit spanje weer aan hij brengt ons Sint Nikolaas ik zie hem al staan enz very fun and beautiful tradition
I can say I've so enjoyed these Christmas Celebration vids! Next year, we're gonna have a bigger celebration!!!
Thank you for thiswonderful video about our German Christmas traditions! Enjoy your Weihnachtsplätzchen!
Well done! I learned a great deal. Always fascinated by the German/English connections. Thanks for your videos. (I doubt I'll have the carp, though!)
And to this day a Christmas tree is a cat magnet. 😼😁
In the UK most supermarkets sell already blended red wine for mulling. We also like to have German, Italian and British Christmas cakes and biscuits. Many the Poles who live in the UK, have swapped carp for salmon.
i am mostly german but my family talks a lot more about the irish parts of our family so i did nt really feel that proud to be german and felt like i acted more irish but after hearing that so many of the things that make cristmas my favorite holiday are german make me so happy
This was a most enjoyable watch! Merry Christmas!!
I AM SPEED! THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER VIDEO~
Video idea ( but only if your up for it) the bloodbath in Stockholm or Gustav Vasa’s life story. They blend in to each other. Or Maybe Katarina Stenbock who was forced to marry Gustav Vasa in his third marriage if he died very quickly and she could never remarry (her story is very sad to me since she lived for so long) Thanks and greetings from Sweden💕
Great video! Not only catholic children put their boots out for Nikolaus but children from protestant or atheist families as well. I think most German children actually receive gifts and candy by St. Nicholas on December 6th.
In parts of Germany, trees were used year round as a celebration. When a new house was being built, as soon as the roof cables were up, a tree was placed on the highest point. When the house was finished, the tree came down, decorated and a celebration ensued as a thank you to the village.
The idea of barn raising building and celebration was brought to the United States by the German settlers and used the tree as the centerpiece.
Loved this video. Thanks Lindsay!
This is a wonderful video. Great production, very well done. The subject matter is one near and dear to my heart. Christmas in Germany. As a German living in America it warms my heart to see so many of the German customs now embraced in North America.
You always do amazing work, but this was especially great!
Thank you so much! Have a great day!
In my family, ever since I was a child, we have celebrated with feasting foods for three days!
On Christmas Eve after a long day of ice skating, for late night dinner, we have a first course of fish pie, followed by roast pork and mushrooms, with a lemon Bavarian cream for dessert. White wines. Hot chocolate.
On Christmas morning there is always a warm bread pudding, with apples, raisins, and custard. Christmas Day dinner at dusk is always, first a clear soup with cheese straws, followed by roast turkey, with an oyster and walnut stuffing, accompanied by mandatory sides of corn pudding, potatoes in some form, at least two often three vegetable dishes, cranberry relish, and more. Then a sorbet and a long pause for opening presents, followed by coffee and dessert, which is a variety of pies, but always pumpkin (everyone's first choice!) and mince as two, and usually apple and blueberry as two more of the several choices. Red wines and finally whiskies.
And finally on the evening of the 26th, we start with a cold buffet featuring smoked salmon and other seafood and deviled eggs with caviar, followed by roast beef (often Beef Wellington,) finishing with a salad of bitter greens and radishes, and for dessert that day, an EXTRA special ice cream, fruit and nut dessert molded and frozen into festive shapes such as Christmas trees or stars. Champagne.
For us kids, this ice cream treat on the third day, hand-made by our grandfather, then my father, now by me, is THE most important, absolutely non-negotiable food for the holidays!
The eclectic mix of food traditions comes from being from a typically American culturally mixed family. My Franco-Swedish grandmother (fish) and German grandfather (pork) on my mother's side of the family (Christmas Eve). This was our "comfort food" holiday meal signalling the real official start of the Christmas and the midnight vigil of waiting for Santa.
My New England English grandmother on my father's side, who was big on colonial American traditions, was responsible for the holiday's centerpiece formal turkey dinner with all the trimmings (Christmas day).
My wealthy over- indulgent German-Russian grandfather on my father's side orchestrated our final feast of smoked salmon, roast beef, and ice cream (December 26.)
Oh, I forgot to mention our mandatory Christmas cakes! A French style flourless chocolate candied plum+orange cake for Christmas Eve. An cherry cake with white marzipan icing in fancy shapes with silver and gold decorations for Christmas Day. And Russian style powdered sugar walnut tea cakes for the 26th. How could I forget! I've just now finishing baking these for this year!😊
I come from German decent and have always felt a closeness to German traditions and history. Wish my ancestors and parents had kept up with their German traditions. We do advent calendar, and St.Nick. Never realized how Germanic Christmas is. I wish we had adopted Krampus growing up.
Last year we made some Ukrainian Christmas cookies called khrustyky on Ukrainian Christmas (January 7th) in honor of our Ukrainian family who were unable to travel to celebrate the holidays with us. The year before, one of them made cabbage rolls for us. January 6th is Día de los Reyes in Mexico and that was my favorite holiday when I lived there, so we made an easier, less traditional version of Rosca de Reyes. I wish I knew how to make, pozole, which is the delicious soup served on most holidays there. Growing up in Texas, my large extended family would eat homemade pizza on Christmas Eve and open presents, then we would do turkey and stuffing, etc on Christmas Day. I’d like to do that too.
My family(my mom)always did the Nutcracker ballet 🩰 before the Holidays started.I don’t see this ballet 🩰 anymore,because,it’s hard to get downtown.So,now,I watch Christmas 🎅 singing on channel eleven.It’s better to stay home,and out of the cold 🥶 on this Holiday Season!Because,ice and snow ⛄️ is always an issue,now!This is nice 👍 to hear about Germany,or I mean….German Christmas 🎅 traditions!This is a lovely 🥰 film,here!
Thank you, Lindsay for another informative and entertaining episode. As a little boy, I was captivated by my grandparents' (of German descent) holiday decorations. I'm very fortunate to have in my possession their vintage wooden advent wreath, adorned with little round wooden birds. It's terribly charming and well-crafted so it proudly hangs out all year long. Again, thanks for this rich episode. : { )
Happy holidays, Lindsay 💚❤
For generations in my family, plum pudding w/ hard sauce is THEE taste of Christmas. Prime rib is right up there too.
Scandinavian is really close to german. Iceland has their own tradisions that are intresting and just as scary to learn about the yule lads
Excellent video. I enjoy these ones that go into family life and annual events, especially for the Hohenzollerns. One point of contention though. Everytime you talk about Wilhelm's mother the image focused on his wife, Empress Augusta Victoria. Empress Victoria (his mother) passed away 6 years before the events of Christmas 1907.
Wonderful ! Thank you so much!
Fascinating!! Thank You Lindsay!! Merry Christmas Everyone! 😃❄❄✨
Love watching history Christmas other countries
Tradition especially 18 century ❤
Kept their faith
And culture
And values ❤
Beautiful video ❤
Great knowledge and made my Christmas
Mine was 1950 /60
UK
North Newcastle
Proper winter land
Proper England
Proper coal fire
Beautiful faith
Tradition Christmas has to be winter ❤
My memories ❤
Edward VII was Kaiser Wilhelm's uncle, not his cousin.
Thank you for making such great videos! I appreciate the time and detail you put into making them. I did pick up at the 25 min mark you refer to Edward VII as the cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm II when in fact he is his Uncle.
I love Christmas market 🥰❤🌹🥰🌹🇵🇭
Watching this on February first because I love Christmas history so much :O
I’m an American and I have never heard of anyone putting up their Christmas tree in October. Maybe before my time..... but in my time most trees were put up after Thanksgiving Day.
I'm an American and sadly most of my friends begin Christmas decorating the day after Halloween. If you wait until after Thanksgiving to buy any sort of tree trimmings, etc. it's too late. Picked over! The Pilgrims get skipped over more and more, every year.
Sadly, it’s become such a commercial holiday that all the stores want to sell Christmas from as early as they can. Christmas starts the night of December 24 and goes ‘till nightfall on January 6!