Many of the Christmas traditions that are today celebrated in countries around the world began in German-speaking countries.
Advent Calendars (Adventskalendars)
Advent is the 24-day period that anticipates the celebration of the birth of Christ. In the 1800s, German Lutherans would count down the days until Christmas by marking each day with a chalk line on the door. Some lit a new candle for each day of Advent, and others hung little religious pictures on the wall.
The first known Advent Calendar was handmade in 1851, and the first commercially printed calendar was produced in 1908. The Advent Calendar was at first a simple card with a paper backing, with 24 windows on the face that revealed different Bible verses and Christmas scenes and symbols when opened. A window was opened each day over the 24-day period leading up to Christmas Eve (“Heiligabend”). Other Adventskalendars were fashioned from sheets of cloth with pockets that were filled with candy or small gifts.
Most Advent Calendars today are made for children and reveal pieces of chocolate behind their windows. As in the past, some windows include a poem, picture, prayer or part of a story. While most Advent Calendars are shaped like cards, some are three-dimensional models and are made to look like buildings or figures.
Nutcrackers (Nussknackers)
Nutcrackers as we know them today originated in the Erzgebirge area of Germany around the 16th century. Over the years, they became popular children’s toys and collectible items.
People also traditionally gave Nutcrackers as keepsakes to bring good luck to friends and family and protect their homes from evil spirits and danger.
The Nutcracker became a part of popular culture beginning with the novel “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” (“Nussknacker und Mausekönig”), which told the fairy tale of a prince Nutcracker who comes to life. The novel was the basis for the composer Peter Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” a ballet which is often performed around the Christmas. The popularity of the ballet is also attributed to the popularity of the toy soldier Nutcracker, probably the most recognizable Nutcracker figure around the world.
German Smoking Men (Räuchermänner)
During the early to mid-1600s, it was commonly believed that evil spirits came out on “Die Rauhnächte, or “Raunacht” (the longest night of the year), close to the Christmas holidays. Noise and light was said to drive away these evil spirits and protect the people inside the home. One tradition that developed as a part of this, and as an extension of Christian religious practices, was the burning of incense to bless German homes. At first, incense was simply burned on a tin plate, but as the tradition developed, people thought of more inventive ways to offer their blessing.
The “Smoking Man” became a decorative and common way to burn incense. Hollowed-out figurines were created that came apart at the middle and held a tin plate inside to hold incense. When the incense was lit and placed on the plate, smoke would curl out of a hole carved in the mouth to resemble a man smoking a pipe.
The first Smoking Men were carved to resemble people who could be found around any local village, such as bakers and other tradespeople. As the figures evolved, they were limited only to the creators’ imaginations, and today can be found in many styles and variations, especially Christmas themes such as Santa Claus and snowmen.
Christmas Trees
The Christmas Tree, or “Weinachtsbaum,” is a popular tradition that began in Europe but is now found in countries around the world.
In the 7th century, a monk traveled around Germany and nearby countries converting people to Christianity. According to legend, like St. Patrick did with the shamrock, he used the fir tree’s triangular shape to teach the people about the Holy Trinity. The fir tree (“Tannenbaum”) became a symbol of Christianity and was decorated and hung upside down from ceilings at Christmas in central European countries to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Christmas markets established in many German towns provided gingerbread cookies and wax ornaments for people to hang on their Christmas Trees. The angel or star that is often placed atop the tree represents the angels that appeared in the sky on Christmas or the Star of Bethlehem that guided Mary and Joseph to their destination. However you choose to decorate your tree, you can find lovely ornaments and more information on Smoking Men, Nutcrackers and many other traditional German Christmas decorations and accessories at
www.MyDirndl.com
