We stretch Christmas over 3 days. Usually 24th at our home. 25th at our parents home. 26th at home of the other parents. A 3 day binge of too much food, too much wine and too much arguments. 😆 The Christmas triathlon 😆
It's the same for us, too. 24th, either our family or with uncles of our dad's side. 25th, we spend time with my moms side of family and 26th with my dad's side of family.
December 24th and 31st are not public holidays in Germany, and shops are open until early afternoon. But many companies give half a day or a whole day off on their own initiative. In my case, my company gives me the 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st and January 1st off. So I don't have to take any vacation.
I can remember im Öffenlichen Dienst (in public service) end of the 1990s elder employees had 2 days off per year for whatever private needs. Heiligabend 24 Dec, und Silvester 31 Dec were half workingdays (till noon) . And then they took the two days back. One to support the ailing economy and the other one was split to cover the 2 half days and 24th and 31st were free days then.
December 24 and 31st are half public holidays. But my company gives us the whole day, so, no extra vacation day needs to be spared. With my earlier company, I'd either work half the day or invest a vacation day to cover for that. Getting off sick would not even have crossed my mind. In general, even if you're sick right before a holiday of any sort, we'd avoid taking the day off sick as it feels as if one would be cheating to get longer holidays for free. But then, our system is also different from the one in UK. I know, many in the UK use the spare sickness days as prolongation of their holidays almost by default. As we have almost endless sick days in Germany, that thought feels strange to me and... it could also be a very career-limiting move to do such a thing!
I worked for some years at the Zoolocial, Botanical Garden in Stuttgart, employs without children were asked to work over the Christmas times as many families are visiting the Zoo then. On December 24th, we closed down around 4 a clock in the afternoon and headed home. For those working the Holy Days, were payed an extra. So it was nice to have a talk with the visitors, give them information and earn more than usual. Good for those of us close to retirement. Elmar frome Germany
You said that one of the things you like is positivity. You can see that in every one of your videos. You always radiate so much positive joy in life that I subscribed to you. It's always fun to watch you - no matter what the topic. I'm always in a good mood afterwards. Thank you for that.
What's important and what they totally missing out is, christmas isn't just dec. 24th. It's the whole built up since dec. 1st. The christmas decorations and lightning starts then, having an advent calender, going to the christmas market, on the weekends being together with friends & family while eating christmas baked goods, lightning the advent wreath, baking together, incense candles ... Heiligabend is just the cherry on top🧑🎄
It is an advantage not to light the Advent wreath, but only the candles on the wreath. Otherwise there will be a visit from the fire department...👨🚒🧯🔥
In many cases, you take half a day off (the offices are closing at noon) on the 24th Dec. A number of companies simply close on Xmas Eve....or they expect that you take holidays. Yes, you need to earn your gifts...singing, playing an instrument, memorizing a poem. Christmas is the only time in the year, everybody of the family make time to meet each other..,it is a reassurance of family bonds, a tradition and excuse for over the top decoration...nowadays, for ruthless wasting of energy since Xmas needs lights. On 24th Dec. smoked salmon on toast (instead of potato salad & sausages) is quite popular too. Duck in orange sauce with dumplings and red cabbage is one of the major traditional dishes on the 25th Dec. 🎄🎁❄☃🎅❤ to all!
I think it‘s important to understand that we celebrate Christmas on 25th and 26th, just like you. On Christmas Eve we just receive our Christmas presents from Santa 😉 and have a cozy evening with the family. The day is a normal - but for parents often stressful - day. It’s only the evening that’s special. Think of New Year’s Eve (December 31st): The day is nothing special and not an official holiday. The celebration only starts in the evening or at night.
As a (still) young grandmother born in the 60s, our Christmas Eve was like this: In the morning, father put up the tree and we children were allowed to decorate it (with a little help from mom). The afternoon was endless with 3 television programs in black and white. After the dishes from dinner were washed, Dad checked to see if the Christ child had already arrived, he turned on the lights and put on a Christmas record. The bell rang and we were allowed to come into the living room. The Christmas tree lights were lit, a lot of candles were lit and the table was covered with plates full of sweets, apples, oranges and nuts. A plate was provided for each individual. There we wished each other a Merry Christmas and then the youngest child, who could read, was allowed to get a present from the big basket. A name tag was therefore mandatory on every gift! We waited until the person had unwrapped their present and only then did the next person receive a package. We have kept this tradition with my daughter and today with our grandchildren. This lasts 3 hours and I still love it! About being a Christian: When I became a sincere Christian, I had to leave the church. Christianity and institutional religion did no longer fit together for me. I think that says it all. Christmas Day (December 25th): Traditionally, the parents (grandparents) were visited in the morning. There was another presentation of presents (Bescherung) and then a festive lunch. I make roast with lots of sauce, potato dumplings and red cabbage. The children don't want anything else from Oma. :-) I confess having a little trouble with the Christmas-Man or the american Santa Claus. There is Santa Claus here and he comes on December 6th and that's it. According to my philosophy, we celebrate Christ's birthday at Christmas and commemorate his arrival in the world and in the heart of every single person at this time every year. And just as the kings brought gifts to the child in the manger, today I bring appreciation and, if possible, a small gift to the spark of Christ IN everyone around me. I like to bake and so I love giving away homemade cookies in many different variations. The newspaper delivery person, the postman, the parcel delivery person and of course the neighbors are very happy about it. I like your show and you got a subscription today. Write to me if you come to Germany and if you would be happy about an invitation - In any case, I would be happy about your visit! :-)
did you know that Prince Albert brought the Christmas tree and many such traditions to England in the first place? He and Queen Victoria popularised the tradition in England and it spread to all continents that way.
Actually, Queen Charlotte introduced the Christmas tree in the UK. But the Victoria/Albert cutesy couple factor definitely helped popularize the custom.
I am not able to celebrate Christmas any more because I have no more family, I am the only one still alive. But that doesn't matter, I remember the times when I was a child. Since I didn't like Kartoffelsalat and wasn't a friend of saucages too, we used to have baguette with smoked salmon and sliced, boiled eggs on top. Loved it. I had to visit my Grandparents in the afternoon because they were the ones who had a TV, (we didnt. It was in the 60ies when I was a child). While I watched all the childrens stuff of that time, my Mom would set up the tree and gifts. Then she rang a bell and I would hear it downstairs at my Grandparents appartement. That was the sign: The "Christkind" (Christ child, the one who brings the presents) had been there and brought the tree and the presents, yaaay! So I used to hurry up and Mom and me had our celebration. Then, on the 25th we would visit the other Grandparents who lived at the other end of town. And on the 26th my MOm used to invite all her friends who were divorced or widowed and because of that lonely. They came to our home and the Ladies had "Kaffee & Kuchen" together. (just like tea time). That was Christmas back in the days. Today I usually meet one of my friends who is also lonely at a virtual place and we have fun together. Which means I am celebrating in front of my computer :)
@Herzschreiber Sie müssen nicht ins private gehen. Ich weiß, dass die Zeit um Weihnachten für viele Menschen schwierig ist. Es würde mich einfach freuen, wenn auch andere ihre Türen für jemanden öffnen würden, aber das ist keine Aufforderung. Ich wollte nur bekannt machen, das es das gibt, falls jemand Interesse hat
Hello, I'm always a bit skeptical when someone says that this or that is typically German, because there are so many different traditions in Germany. But yes - this video definitely shows a typical German Christmas. Did you know that the Christmas tree was introduced to Britain by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria? I really liked that you addressed the real meaning of Christmas in your video. It's not about consumption - it's about love. And not just love for our relatives, but love for our neighbor. Thank you for your always interesting “German Days” videos. It's funny when, as a typical German, a mirror is held up to me. Keep up your great channel. I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas.
I always liked working on the 24th and the 31st of December - not many people in the office, sharing a second breakfast, a more relaxed atmosphere for routine work and any possible problems. Same in the other departments, everybody looking forward to the afternoon. Dinner on the 24th tends to be easy to prepare, like potato salad and sausages. The Christmas feast happens on the 25th, leftovers stir fry on the 26th.
I give self-made knitted socks to my family members and they love them. Every pair has a pattern on it that matches the person who receives the socks. They ask for the socks ages before Christmas. But the children receive a second gift, a toy or things like that
Anyone who is "knitworthy" will love getting handmade socks. And the rest - well, let them shove their feet in cheap storebought socks that leave their feet cold ;)
We also have potato salad and sausages. But our potato salad is made with vinegar and oil, not cream or mayonnaise. Traditionally, it was served close to midnight, when the family came back from church. And the sausages were not Wiener/Frankfurter sausages, but more hearty or greasy sausages, because in those days you had to actually walk home from church, and that sometimes meant walking half an hour to an hour through deep snow. Well, not for me, my family always lived in the city, but my wife's parents still experienced it in the rural areas.
Well, of course shops are open until about 2 pm on Christmas Eve, meaning the shop employees work. Also, everyone in hospitals, police stations, fire stations, hotels, or restaurants, will work (mostly shifts). What they are referring to is the fact that most offices/corporate jobs will be off work on Dec 24. Dec 25 AND 26 are public holidays, as is Jan 1. Dec 31 is treated oftentimes just like Dec 24, so off work for many in the office, but still a work day (or some hours of shift) for people in supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, etc.
Our Stollen has nothing to do with the fruit bread you descriped. It's sweet, the whole covering is powdered sugar, and combining it with cheese would be awful 🤢😅
So at morning on the 25th, that would be way too late for us in Ggermany. Here we get the gifts in the evening of the 24th. At least it was that way 40-50 years ago when i was young enough to still care about it. Also when i was a child, i had an uncle who was over 2 meters in height, and he always played Santa, he was quite impressive and scary 😂🤣
Hi Dwayne, I enjoyed that you shared a bit more of your personal story and emotions in this video! It is ok to be emotional ❤ Maybe wait until May or June to visit Germany. Berlin is so awesome in summer. Go to Boxi, Tempelhofer Feld or any other great park in Berlin. The atmosphere is so relaxed. Hope to see you when you are visiting!
We have a great dinner on 24th and 25th of december. Always! every year! 😅 our tradition is goose with cabbage, kale and dumplings and lots of sauce. And we are cooking sooo much, that we always can eat this meal about two days 😄😁. Presents were unwrapped after dinner, but we are changing this tradition and unwrap them before dinner since a few years 😊. I love christmas time, because most people become softer, nicer, warmer - like how it should be all over the year ☺️...
Thank you for sharing personally and hang in there, you'll be with your family soon! As a Bavarian, this doesn't look very typical to me haha - I don't know a single family where Santa Claus brings the gifts. "Nikolaus" (St. Nicholas) brings small gifts (fruit, nuts, chocolate) on Dec 6. On Christmas Eve, it's the Christkind - the Christ child. No actors involved, though 😄 The living room with the tree is closed until you hear a little bell and can enter and all the gifts are there. I'm a practicing Christian and love the original meaning of Christmas - God coming to us, into all our outer and inner poverty (including homesickness), to be with us and give us hope.
Most employees work only half day at the 24th and on the 31st. They have to sacrifice one annual leave day for it (in most cases that applies to the whole company, so you might not even have the choice to work full time at those days). Of course that doesn't apply to essential workers. My family usually meets up at the cemetry at 2pm on the 24th. We honor our deceased relatives and place a candle on their graves. After that everybody meets up at my parents house and we have some cake and coffee (usually lunch has been skipped or we just had something very light like a bouillon). At around 7pm we have dinner, which is either chicken fricassee with rice or potatoe salad with sausages, mini-schnitzels or minced meat patties. We exchance presents right after dinner and either chat or play some games. On the 25th celebration starts with lunch (poultry, game meat, rabbit with red cabbage or brussels sprouts and dumplings or potatoes) and some cake and coffee in the later afternoon. The same again on the 26th. On those days it's either no dinner or just a light dinner, since usually nobody feels like eating in the evening any more :D
20:09 In my family it's the complete opposite. We live on two different ends of the country and everyone of us celebrates with the same people they see daily or at least weekly or biweekly. Their partner, family and/or close relatives who live in the same or a nearby town or village. Traveling cross country in the winter is stressful and sometimes dangerous. So we stay at home and just spend the holidays like an extra long weekend. The time we really come together is the summer break. Then my daughter can play with her cousin, I see my sister and granny again, my mum is visiting some old friends... ...and we show my daughter all the cool places where I grew up. It's way easier to hike througb forests and climb up a mountain to visit a remote castle ruin in summer. As a kid I also visited plenty in the winter and boy, if my tailbone could speak... 😅
The best Christmas Stollen (that's what we call the fruit bread/cake) that I ever ate was my mother's, which she baked herself. It's actually a completely normal sweet yeast dough, but with beef talc instead of butter and then all the goodies like currants, raisins (pickled in rum), ground sweet almonds, a few bitter almonds, candied orange and lemon peel and lots of chopped almonds are added . The loaf of dough is folded like you would wrap a baby in a blanket, because that's exactly what it's supposed to remind you of, of baby Jesus. After the dough has risen, it is baked until the loaves are golden brown. After three days, the whole thing is spread with melted butter and then once every week, and the butter slowly seeps into the loaf... the whole thing has to mature for at least 6 weeks. During this time the Stollen becomes very crumbly and literally melts in your mouth.....at the end there is a lot of powdered sugar on top of it . If you do it like that, it won't be as dry as you often buy it in the shops. Delicious ! Everyone in the family got a whole loaf...and I have a huge family...can you imagine the amount of dough my mother kneaded? I remember the huge tub and my mother up to her elbows in it😅.... Unfortunately my mother is now 80 years old and no longer has the strength to do it, not even for a small amount😪..... and damn, none of us can do it as well as she could.😭
Sorry you're feeling homesick, hang in there! ❤ I have to work three-quarters of a day (6 hours) on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, but I'll get 50% of the working hours credited as overtime. I'm no longer a church member, and Christmas doesn't hold much personal significance for me (among my friends, I'm the "Grinch"), and I'm happy to give the holiday to my colleagues with children. A few colleagues and I will have a Christmas breakfast at work, and after work, I'll drive to my parents, where we'll have potato salad and sausages. The next day, I'll go to my boyfriend's parents in the morning, and we'll have kale with various side dishes or roast duck. On the second day of Christmas, it'll be about digesting and relaxing after 350 km (220 mi) in the car - and I have to go back to work the following day. We now only give each other small gifts in the family, and my niece gets money (she's 16). The most important thing to me is being together with my family - material things aren't important at all, because you'll never know if the aging family members will be there next year ... and time hanging out with them will stick to your mind.🎄
We have mixed traditions in our family. On Christmas Eve (24 December), I decorate the Christmas tree while my wife and the children are at the zoo for a Christmas event. In the afternoon, I pick them up from the zoo and we drive to my parents' house. There we give and receive gifts from the grandparents. After that, we eat potato salad and frankfurters with the grandparents. We drive back home around eight. We parents put the presents under the Christmas tree at night. The next morning (25 December) we meet at the Christmas tree in our pyjamas, there are biscuits, muesli, gingerbread and stollen all day as a buffet. When we are all gathered, the youngest starts unpacking his first present, then everyone else unpacks their presents one after the other. This gives us and especially the children time to play, assemble and explore the gifts. In the afternoon, we adults start the first preparations for the Christmas dinner the next day. Occasionally, we watch a typical Christmas film in the evening. On Boxing Day (26 December), both grandparents come to visit and we have Christmas roast (turkey) with dumplings, croquettes and various vegetables. Afterwards, the gifts are handed over to and from my wife's parents. At around 3:30 p.m., we eat again - stollen, gingerbread, Baumkuchen and the like. But now we have to get out. We all go for a short walk and then the grandparents say goodbye. After tidying up, we play a board game together or watch a Christmas film.
Your Christmas traditions sound wonderful - Games, family time, good food. Freedom to move and choose - May I ask what is to celebrate at a zoo still in 2024? 😕
@@anonymus390 At the zoo Christmas, the animals are given special food gifts. But you are probably alluding to the captivity of the animals. Let me put it this way: it is difficult to give the animals a sense of freedom in the zoo, but people can try to create a species-appropriate little world of their own. The implementation varies from zoo to zoo. And it is only in recent years that public awareness of this has grown, including the financial consequences. And that's a good thing! However, the facilities themselves are also very important, especially for city children, to promote their awareness of and interest in nature. There are enough children who believe that sausages grow on trees. There is a fine line between education and animal welfare.
As a kid (long ago in my case) I had to recite a chrismas/winter poem, sing a christmas song or play a song on piano or flute before I was allowed to open my gifts. And I had to put a little present for Santa Clause aside for "his effort" on the 23rd in the evening (mostly self-baked cookies (with the help of my mom)). There was always one more present under the tree, that we are not allowed to open, but have to give it to somebody we thought, they will need a gift (because they lived alone or were old or for other reasons). On that gift was a christmas card which said: "For a person in need, who's neither friend nor family." to prevent that we give the gift to one of our friends. Our gifts we get where mostly self-made or practical like a new winter jacket or something like that. Not like today with gift cars or expensive electronics.
It is Advent In Sweden we eat stollen to. It is Jul must, lussekatt, stollen peppar kakor and ris gryns gröt. I love stollen no Christmas withaout stollen.
How Christmas was/is in my family: We meet in the afternoon of the 24. at my grandmas place and help her with the last to dos for the evening. Because of this we don't do cake and Coffee on this day. I guess the christmas dishes depends on which part in Germany you live. On 24. Of December my grandma always made fish (Karpfen) and potato salad from her original area Upper schlesia (that time Germany, after WW2 Poland). After the dinner we open the Gifts. Yes, as a child it was sooooo hard to wait after the dinner, but it is actually nice cause so there is no rush cause the dinner is ready. We don't play games, but Chat a lot, Listen to christmas CDs and read old funny stories my passed grandpa has written. Maybe it is because we celebrate just as 4 (me, my parents and my grandma) but I can't remember a single Christmas we argued... On the 25. And 26. Of Dezember we have a big christmas Lunch with the typical Christmas dish from this area (central Germany, Thuringia) with potato dumpling, meat (goose, duck etc.), Rotkraut, mushrooms and sauce. And in the afternoon the cake and Coffee :)
Eating christmas cookies, Stollen etc. in the afternoon together with a nice cup of coffee, tee or hot chocolate is what we're doing during the whole advent time, starting with the december 1st, mostly one the weekends. For me this is the better option to spend extra time with friends & family then having a Christmas Party.
breakfast in the morning, mostly rolls with jam or cheese / saussage - normally nothing warm in the morning. a hot main meal betwen 12-13 coffee / cake betwen 15-16 and a smal cold meal with bread and cheese / sausage ---- On 24. dec. it is different. Almost nothing at 12:00, maybe another bread, but warm in the evening (somewhen betwen 18:00-21:00, depending on if you have children waiting for santa - or not). But even this warm meal at the 24. is quite basic, saussages and cold potato sallad - or the modern version fondue or raclette) - because the BIG meals are coming at the 25. and 26., normally at 13:00, crispy duck with dark brown sauce, vegetablea and potatoes or german dumplings (Knödel / Klöße).
9:20 In my experience it depends on the region. I grew up in Southwestern Germany and people there usually beat around the bush instead of confronting others and then go gossiping to let their steam off. Polite on the outside, double-faced on the inside. We call that hinterfotzig - back-mouthed. One of my uncles from Northern Germany on the other hand is very direct but in a funny way. At my grandad's birthday they forgot the beer in the car and just put it in the fridge right before the guests arrived. So uncle Uwe grabbed himself a beer, took a sip and shouted "Ey, Karlheinz! Did you try to hatch 'em or what?"
Some of the traditions are very individual in each family, I think. Santa never came to our house and we didn't have to sing a Christmas carol or recite a poem of some sorts to receive gifts. 24th December, we always had lentil soup with blood sausage for lunch and very typical German sausages (Bratwurst, Weißwurst, Wiener) with Sauerkraut and bread for dinner. On 25th December, we always had a massive meal with turkey (Pute), braised red cabbage with sweet raisins and massive potato dumplings plus a delicious gravy. We visited one set of grandparents Christmas day and the other one on Boxing day. Received gifts on each of those days. A big Christmas tradition is baking Christmas cookies. My family always goes a bit overboard with that. Now in the UK, I have no clue what to do with wee man, but we'll decorated the house a bit, a gingerbread house is waiting to be assembled and I will improvise the rest. It's not going to be a very typical German thing, especially no Sauerkraut... Maybe some Kimchi instead😉
I'm technically christian but actually atheist and i still like and celebrate christmas. Most germans celebrate the 24th only with the closest family circle and some people even meet up with a few close friends later that night. On the 25th and 26th most germans travel to their relatives all over the country.
Yeah, every family has its own tradition from the timing of buying the tree to the decoration .... As a child, the routine was: children's service, then waiting in my room for the Christ child (sound of a tiny bell which where the sound flying wings ...or more simply my grandma.) Then I have to "earn it/prove worth" by recitate a christmas poem of play the flute. After that I could go to the tree and search for my present from child Jesus. (This worked out till I get to elementary school...) The was dinner: sometimes simple...sometimes goose. Depends on which day my family could reserved a table. We always loved food and went out for dinner. Now with 44, it naturally changed a bit😂. Afterbspending the chiszmas eve with my close family, I Met with friends at a midnight service (around 10 p.m. to 12 p.m.). We love to end the hectic Christmas season in a soothing atmosphere (the church immersed in candlelight, singing old timeless carols, the absolute silence outside (hardly anyone on the streets). After chatting with friends outside and speculate about the next year and the plans for next Dax or New years eve. Even perfect when snow Falls during service ...everything under a light blanket, which glitters untouched in the lamplight (unbeatable). I wish everyone a happy holiday and a blissful Merry Christmas!❤🎉 And especially to Dwayne: sending love and maybe a english christmas weather wonder for less homesickness😅! Thanks for your uplifting videos, always fun to watch!👏👏👏 (By the way, I would call myself a christian mystics...except on christmas no traditional church service.)
I want to add that even non religious grandparents might drag their grandchildren to church on the 24th so mum and dad can put the presents under the tree and pretend Santa was there if nobody volunteers as Weihnachtsmann (Santa). Myself, I married a Brit and took the opportunity to establish present opening in the morning of the 25th for our child. It makes so much more sense. When you open your presents at night you don't get to play much before being sent to bed.
As a German, I literally NEVER had potato salad and sausages for christmas. Traditionally my family makes fondue (the meat in oil version, not cheese or chocolate) or raclette.
Coming from a comparatively strict Catholic family with Austrian-Czech roots the 24th of December was a lent day - so no meat but carp for dinner. Whilst my mother prepared the meal our father took us to watch a Disney film at the cinema. And the presents were given after dinner under a (real) Christmas tree lit with real candles. 😊 Decades later and spending Chistmas in Malta we celebrate on the 25th Dec. It took me a while to accept that (young) people spend Christmas Eve drinking at pubs and bars but now it is not so important when we celebrate it. And it is always a family get-together and best when both our children can make it from Germany which unfortunately is not always the case. Have a very Merry Christmas as best as possible under the circumstances.💚❤🌲
The more often I watch your videos, the more I realize that Germans and Britainns are just cousins or 2 brothers from another mother. I'm actually from Saxony and I know that Angels and Saxons just moved from Saxon to England and settled there. I have no doubt about that. Thank you for your reactions!
In my company it's like this: on Christmas Eve you take half a day's holiday and your employer adds another half day. The same applies to December 31st, New Year's Eve. These two half days are guaranteed and do not come from your holiday account. They are granted tacitly. This is the custom in Germany.
Isn't it funny how everyone's christmas experience in the comment section varies a little. I doubt there is one stereotypical german christmas. In my family it also starts with tea and cake around late aftertoon. Dinner will be served from around 7 to 8. And is either Grünkohl - a kale stew with lung sausages, glazed ham and caramelized potatoes. - or a very lavish Julbord with smoked fish, artisan cheeses, filled eggs, patés, salads ...The kale is our most popular and very traditional christmas eve dish up north though. I grew up in Schleswig-Holstein with my maternal grandmother's family hailing from south-western sweden. Whichever dish it will be, we will end up pretty stuffed and some of us will take the dog for a walk around the village for some window peeping while the rest move the food to the kitchen. It won't get put away though as we all love to snack throughout the rest of the night. After dinner we'll then light up the wax candles on the christmas tree for the first time and start with the opening of the presents. I am 40 years old and I can't remember having to recite a poem or sing a song. There's no Santa Claus as he scared the shit out of me when I was little 😅 I have always enjoyed the evergrowing excitement from seeing the pile of beautifully wrapped presents underneath the tree. I would rather not open them at all. Once it has been revealed what's underneath the magic is gone. I guess that's my ADHD speaking 🙈 The opening of the presents will usually take us until around 1 am after which we'll have another tea or coffee. The last relative will leave the house around 3 am if they feel fit to drive. If not they'll sleep on the couch. When my grandparents were still alive we'd meet again on the 26th at their place for roasted duck, brussell sprouts and red cabbage. But nowadays I just relax on Christmas Day and the 26th, watch a lot of telly, trying to finish off all the leftovers and snacks and usually work on a puzzle that I gifted to myself. Our kale pot is gigantic and we'll eat from it over the next couple of days until it's finished or has turned sour. I do love socks and marzipan and consider myself spiritual . I love visiting churches but have never been to a christmas service. I was babtized at the age of 14, ten minutes before my confirmation, I studied the bible for a bit back then but ultimately found god in nature and in people.
In Germany, depending on the company you work for, Christmas holiday is from 24 December to 1 January. We call this Betriebsferien. This means the entire company shuts down for a week of holiday. If you work in a company that is a utility or run by the city, state or federal government, then the 24/12 must be taken as a private holiday. This year Christmas falls on a Wednesday and Thursday. Therefore, a government worker would apply at the top of the year for the days she/he wants off. Indeed, most people put in a holiday request form in the New Year with holidays being locked in by the end of February. Depending on where you live in Germany, 23rd, 27th, and 30th December are private holidays that come out of your 24/30 holidays in the year. 24th and 31st can be half or whole days in some departments, meaning if you want those two days off, it will cost you two more days of personal holiday. Because there are so many Muslims in Germany, what usually happens is that Christmas is covered by Muslims unless Ramadan falls during the same time as Christmas. This only happens every 17 years. During Ramadan, most Germans don't celebrate and are willing to cover for workers who take there entire holiday to celebrate. This means there will always be someone in the office to cover school and summer holidays if there are people of the Muslim belief. If not, then holiday is divided based on who has school age children, who has seniority and who has special need i.e. disability, only being able to travel at certain times because of a elderly relative, etc. I hope this explanation is clear enough.
I’m one of the 20% who has to go to work on 24 December but only until 2:30 PM and then I have the 25th and 26th off! A lot of companies close from the 22nd or 23rd of December to 6 of January! So they do not have to go to work ! But grocery stores or bakeries or butchers and so on have open in between the holidays! But most have closed on the 25th and 26th of December but Germany only allows to open on the 26th anyway, and only certain stores are allowed to open!
I generally work all 3 days (social worker with people with dementia) and have done so for 11 years in a row - but I still get festive time with my family. It's along day and a shift is not the longest.
In the previous months you collect plus time, if you are on flextime. You'd have to negotiate with your boss and your team, though. When I grew up Christmas would start in earnest on Christmas Eve after lunch. The Christmas would be put up and decorated. The parents would do rhat and grandma and the kids would be ushered to another room to watch Christmas movies. We'd have Stollen and Christmas cookies and tea or coffee. Then the family would shower and get dressed in nice clothes and have the simple potato salad and sausages dinner. Then the presents would be ubpacked. Dwayne, socks are nice if they have been knitted by the giver. I totally agree, Christmas is about being together as a family.
My grandma taught me that traditionally, gift giving is after dinner, but many people do it before. We did it the traditional way. My birthday is December 31st, and we call the24/31 „half holiday“ because shops usually close around 2pm. On holidays, shops are closed and therefore it‘s half a holiday. Most companies close the 24th for family gatherins
This simple meal on the 24th is meant to give the housewife (or whoever does the cooking) a bit of rest because there are actually 2 christmas days as legal holidays 25th +26th. In some families it is a tradition to prepare something like potato salad together (or raclette or something similar simple)
According to the video my family isn't average German😂. The day of Christmas Eve is like a regular day for us (if you aren't the one having to prepare everything). This year my grandmother is being the host at Christmas Eve and that's a little bit different. There everyone is preparing something for the feast because my granny isn't the youngest anymore. We don't have potato salad and sausages (even though we know it's the classic stereotype and some people are actually doing it). We are having a feast like 25th or 26th (depending if there is something planned). This year we haven't planned anything for the 25th for example. Only for the evening of Christmas Eve and the 26th. At Christmas Eve we regularly gather up at 6 PM. Dinner will be between 6 PM and 7 PM. Afterwards it's time to unwrap the gifts. Then we will play games, chat and snack on Christmas goodies like biscuits, ginger bread etc.. As a child we didnt have Santa bringing presents. We had the "Christkind"bringing them. We children had to leave the room and entertain ourselves in some other room untin someone would ring the bell. That was the sign that everything was prepared and the "Christkind" was gone. We went upstairs and it was time to unwrap the presents. Someone similar to Santa shown in the video was on the 6th of December when "Nikolaus" was coming. There you would have scenes like that in the video. If nothing is planned on the other Christmas days we will be most likely eating left overs and having a good time and chill. If something is planned we would gather up at early afternoon (like 1 pm) and having Lunch together. After the feast it would be similar to Christmas Eve (without unwrapping presents, except you would see other relatives who have something for each other). Between Christmas and New Years Eve. We would eat the left overs until nothing's left. Afterwards it's just normal life. There was a time we loved self-knitted socks from granny. Sadly she can't do it anymore because she has arthritis in her fingers.
I spent two Christmasses in the UK and both turned out to be rather alike despite being celebrated in two different families in different regions. Christmas Eve was coming together, arriving, preparing food for the next day, playing board games, going for a walk, that sort of stuff. Early next day, Christmas Day, presents were exchanged while the TV was running 🫣. Then turkey dinner around 3pm with crackers, paper crowns and daft jokes, then a walk and then board games. The whole time the TV was one for whatever reason. Next day: Rushing from shop to shop to catch the sales, mostly bigger items like a new washer or TV or computer. After these three days, I felt absolutely exhausted. - In Germany with my recent companies I don't have to work half a day on Christmas Eve, I get the day off by contract (same for New Year's Eve). I visit my parents, my brothers also come by, we have cake and biscuits in the afternoon, then exchanging of the presents, then a goose dinner. My mum some years goes to attend the midnight mass, some years she doesn't. The next two days we are just lazy, going for walks, playing card or board games, maybe visit a museum or exhibition on the Second Christmas Day (as we call it). Very relaxed. Shops are not open, public transport is not running as often as normally. Often in the afternoon I go back home when I have to work the next day, depends. When we were still little, we normally celebrated Christmas with mum and dad on Eve, with one set of grandparents the next day and the other the third day, including travelling for that.
Lovely video again! Dwayne, if you like fruit bread, you should find "Stollen" at an Aldi store or sometimes in other shops too, or you could bake one yourself. There are a lot of recipes online. :)
Finally every family has it's own tradition. My family for example eats for lunch on Christmas Eve Spaghetti. Around 4, 5 PM (depends on when it becomes dark) the gifts shower takes place. And afterwards it is dinner time. As in the video, we have then potatoe salat, sausages (Wiener, Frankfurter or such kind, nothing "heavy", some families eat Common carp - Weihnachtskarpfen -, what is in some families also a tradition für New Years eve). And in our family it is tradition to salute with red Sekt (Sparkling wine). In earlier days, on Christmas day, we were heading to my grand parents, where the most of the entire family came together (up to 20+ people). There the traditional "Weihnachtsgans" (Roast goose) were served, and, depends on how many people we were, a duck and probably a third bird. And of course with Klöße (dumplings) and red cabbage and kale. Nowadays, since my grnadparents are not longer able to host this, we do this on our own.
At my mother's job, she was only working half-days on either December 24 or 31. She usually got one day off -- and got to switch the next year. Parents of young children often got preferential treatment/choice on Christmas Eve. Oh, and we only say "Merry Christmas" on the actual holiday -- Christmas EVE (not in the morning!), December 25 and 26. Before that, it's "Happy Holidays". (This may be a regional or family quirk, though.) Stollen is a yeast dough mixed with chopped nuts and almonds, raisins and corinths (dried dark grapes -- currants?), candied lemon and orange peel (marzipan is optional). It's folded into a loaf shape, not baked in a pan. Once it's out of the oven, you brush it with melted butter and dust it with icing sugar. Traditionally, you bake stollen quite some time before the holidays, and repeat the butter/sugar treatment each day until Christmas proper. This will prevent it from drying out. Churches may put on a Nativity play on Christmas Eve afternoon, during the Family Service. Midnight Service and the one on Christmas Day morning is a regular, if slightly more festive service more for adults than kids. Oh, and fun fact? Today (Dec. 6) is St Nicholas -- the ecclesiastical version of Santa. Kids will leave their shoes outside the flat door on the night before, and if they've been good all year, Nicholas will leave sweets and treats in them. If they've been naughty, they may find a birch switch to be punished with ...)
One of the things this video gets wrong, IMO, is the part about gifts before dinner. I don't know a single family that does or has ever done that. Usually, it's dinner, then gifts because we like to really enjoy that part. Sit together around the tree, drink some hot chocolate or mulled wine, eat cookies or other sweets and open the presents. Also, as a child, we would close the door to the living room after we has decorated the Christmas tree in the morning of the 24th. After that, we were not allowed in because we were "waiting for Santa" and we could shy him away if we were to go in. My dad would either take us for a walk or read us Christmas stories in the children's room while my mom would place the presents. After dinner, my mom would "check if Santa had already been there" and I remember her calling us into the living room then. Also, the arguing part might be a thing but luckily not in our family. We're quite close all year so we argue whenever it's needed and Christmas is usually super chill.
As a child of two teachers who mostly got off around the 22nd, we ate Sunday roast (beef) it’s loads of brown gravy, fresh potato dumplings and peas…and of course red cabbage (Rotkohl)…. My mom does prepare it with 3 onions, 2 apples, 1 mango, and a lot of cloves….steep it for 3 hours and it will be delicious! Then around 10 p.m. we‘d drive to church to secure seats for the Catholic Church service conducted around midnight called ˋChristmettè, and then after the service we‘d unpack presents around 2 a.m. Any musical or poetic demonstrations by us children had been mostly finished after dinner before lighting the chrisms tree for the first time…because it used to be custom to put it up on the day before…so 23rd of December. We had natural beeswax candles and no electric lights, so a bucket of water was always strategically placed in the corner of the living room and my Dad was always on edge while the candles were burning.
Germany offers for most positions at least 24 days of regular holiday. One time I always take my holiday is from the 23rd of December until the 31st of December. I like the time between the years to reflect and to relax. I am very much into buying my Christmas stuff early, so that I can relax a bit through the festive season. The interesting thing is that they are not talking about advent or Nikolaus because I think that is what is really special about Germany, all the advent calendars, the advent wrath, the baking of special cookies, the advent or Christmas markets and all the celebrations Stollen is very German, I love it as well as Lebkuchen, ginger bread, the best is Nuerenberger Elisenlebkuchen. Christmas is, though, not the time to tell Aunt Maria that you do not like her hairstyle or your sis that you hate her cooking in Germany.You suck it up for a few hours for "family harmony". Most family do not have a Santa Claus. In fact, it is very common to do a kind of outward activity, for example, a walk, after "Kaffeezeit" between 3 and 4, to "gain appetite" and one person staying at home, arranging the gifts for the kids. Often, the kids are allowed in by a little bell. Kids are taught to be patient. They have to endure the breakfast, the service, the lunch and the Kaffeezeit and the walk and often, some Christmas singing or even commonly making music together before the presents are to be opened. It is a common thing in Germany, though, to keep the receipt and to include it incase the person wants to exchange the gift for something else in the store (Umtauschen, as we call it in German).- To keep the housewife a little less stressed, one traditional thing to do on Christmas eve is to have potato salad with Wiener sausages. Sometimes, people do Christmas tourism and go to the grandparents on the 25th and on the 26th.
the 24th isn´t an official holiday in Germany, but usually all businesses (such as offices or handycraft companies) are closed as anyone wants to get prepared for christmas eve. Shops are often until afternoon, so these employees have to work (until the shops close) as well as medical staff in hospitals, the police and firedepartments. The 25th and 26th (first and second christmas holiday) are official holidays where everyone has off (again except healthcare etc.)
My Christmas this year -- always one meal of a smoked fish platter (salmon, eel, trout), usually with homemade potato or Waldorf salad. Haven't decided yet when -- either Christmas Eve, or brunch on Christmas Day. The alternative this year may be roast goose (legs/thighs or breast, still thinking), red cabbage and potato dumplings. Maybe a white wine mousse (also homemade) for dessert. Christmas Eve dinner will be around 7, and as it's only 3 of us (hubby, son and I), we'll exchange gifts after dinner. Maybe church at midnight; no decision yet. No afternoon tea/coffee on the 24th, as I'll be too busy in the kitchen while my guys will trim the tree (and I'll criticize 😎). We'll do that on Christmas Day (found a nice Christmassy cheesecake recipe I may try).
The 24th and 31th of December are only half holidays after 12 O´clock its considered a holiday because the main celebrations on these days take place in the afternoon and night. In my companie, we have both days completly free, but you have to take 8 hours off from your account.
No, not sick... your problems are huge...1or ½ day hollyday. You have christmas day free or 31.12 (Sylvester). We hat 3 Christmas day's 24.12 you work// 25+26.12 are free!! you visit the rest of your family and friends 😀.. sometimes.if people have nobody..you invited he/ she to come and spend a nice evening with you... nobody must be alone on christmas 🎄.. This year we have an older lady as an gast to our Christmas meal 🥘.Her family will not or can't come..sooooo she is alone ..😢..As i was an child each 2.year we bring and older lady neighbor to us at 25.12 an celebrat her a nice meal + give her a tiny gift 🎁😊
In my family when I was younger we would first attend the early mess with the nativity play and when we got home my sister and I were sent to our rooms to play while our parents and the grandparents next door tried to be as sneakily as possible in putting all the presents under the tree and baby Jesus into the crib. Then they rang a bell and told us to come down, trying to convince us the Christkind has just flown off. After the presents we ate and then we kids were given a few more hours of playing with our new toys before it's up to bed. My grandparents prefered simple dishes for Christmas like sausages with potato salad but my mum insisted on a proper meal like grilled chicken or roast which she prepared before church and then put in the oven after Bescherung. But not all years were like this. The year after grandpa died granny broke her hip on Christmas Eve. We kids were old enough to prepare everything ourselves so when the parents returned from the hospital the food was ready and the presents under the tree. Now that we changed the roles it was mum and dad's turn to sing a Christmas song of recite a poem and they got to open their presents first. Too bad I don't have the recordings anymore. There's a reason they were excluded from the school's choir and I had it on tape. 😅
On Christmaseve my mother was my mother was making the potatosalad (with apples, pickeld cucumber, mayonaise and mustard) my father puts up the Christmastree with the lightchain and my mother and I put on the decoration like glasballs, selfmade stars from straw or crochet ones. And after that we decoraded our „Bunte Teller“ (coloured plattes) on which are christmas treats like Plätzchen and Lebkuchen/gingerbread. Than we have dinner with wiener sausage and potatosalad and we all share a bottle of beer. Than we go changing clothes and my Mother rings a little bell to tell us The the Christkind was there and we all go to the livingroom where the tree was. Than my father reads the christmasstory from the bible (Lukas 2) we prayed and sang some christmascarrols (Stille Nacht, Leise rieselt der Schnee,…) an after that we unpacked our presents. The next day we had potatosalad (it was better the next day) and Schäufele (smoked porkshoulder boiled)
I had a huge crisi last year realising, after my grandma died in November, i won't get hand knitted wool socks by her anymore. They are the best in cold winter. We even asked for new socks and chose the style and colour. Yes i am german and nothing better than handmade socks. Also 24th and 31st is usually a half working day. People take 1 day of their anual leave in total for both days.
While she did mention that the 24th is not a public holiday, she kinda forgot to say that both, 25th and 26th are. The reason why we have coffee and cake in the afternoon is because we always do when we meet family or friends around that time, christmas eve is just like any other day in this regards. When it comes to dinner on christmas day, I want to remind you that germans don't usually have a warm dinner but rather just supper with bread, sausage, cheese and spreads. We will have a warm lunch instead, which may included leftovers from the christmas dinner.
When it comes to presents, I as a child always got the presents from my grandparents at christmas eve, after the dinner at their house, and the presents from my parents at christmas day in the morning.
i'm an essential worker, so either i get christmass off or the 31 December/1st january. But we do get the sunday/holiday bonus for the 24th and 31st December if we work in the evenings. Ngh... No. Saint Nick comes on the 6th of December to fill our boots with lil treats like nuts and chocolates and small gifts. On the 24th it's the Christkind. usually depicted as a blond white dressed angel. In my family noone ever dressed up. the tree was in the living room and the gifts under the tree suddenly "appeared" while the kids were distracted.
For the 24th of Dezember - "holy evening" - it isn't the whole day a bank holiday with closed offices an else. For the office dewellers it is "half a working day" - if you want the whole day off, you need to take half a day of your holiday budget. For the shopping - the last shops close normally at 16:00. Even the restaurants or even the fast food outlets like McDonalds are closed. The only things open are the gas stations - and of course all emergency services and transportation. The time between - I would say 16/17:00 is the quietest part of the commercial year - until some pubs open (starting at 20:00 or later) for all those who want to get out. Leave their families alone - meet up with friends. On the 25th and 26th shops are closed - but quite a few restaurants (and even clubs) have reopened. Offices are closed. Working on 31th is the same than on 24th. If you want the hole day off - just take a half day of holiday. Shops usually close at 20:00. And restaurants are open - not like on 24th. You can start your new years celebration any time you like - but beware - in most restaurants you have to book a table and a menu. That usually has a starting date - when you are expected to already having taken your seats.
In my last company, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve were company holidays. In others, the company treats them as holidays but you need to spend one vacation day for both together. In others, the company stays open for half a day on those two days, and you can spend one vacation day to get those two halves off. Others encourage you to use them to reduce overtime, or to take vacation as this allows them to close. Not much gets done on those days anyway, and with most people taking vacations, even if there's no bonus deal, keeping the company premises open is a net negative for the company. Heating the whole building, keeping the lights on and paying security staff for those 3 or 4 people who actually show up to work doesn't make financial sense. In manufacturing it's even worse, as you need a minimum amount of workers to man a production line. In many areas, this also extends to the time "between the years", i.e. the days between Christmas and either New Year's Day or Epiphany (Jan 6th). Most people take vacation days for those anyway, so many companies close down, making those mandatory vacations. (German law allows up to half of your vacation days to be company-mandated by closing down.)
In eastern Germany (GDR), many people started to shop for christmas in january. If you find something that would be a nice present for christmas, you take the chance, even though you would have 11 months left. Just because you could not find special gifts in the last weeks for christmas so easily in the GDR.
Many people, especially people with small children, take a day or half a day off on December 24th. But many smaller businesses don’t open (or close earlier) on that day anyway. Most stores, including grocery stores, also close earlier.
German Christmas traditions vary a bit from region to region. There's a division line roughly from the northwest of Germany to the southeast, in the north the "Weihnachtsmann" brings the gifts. I'd say he's more akin to the British Father Christmas than the American Santa though. In the South it's the "Christkind", ("christ child", not to be confused with baby Jesus) which is a mythical angel-like figure of a girl with long golden hair in a flowing white dress. I'm from the southwest, and in our family it was always tradition to have the "Bescherung" after dinner. So we would have dinner at around 6pm, after that the kids would help mum with the dishes in the kitchen, when suddenly you could hear the sound of bells. We would drop everything and race into the living room, only to find dad there, telling us, sorry, you just missed the Christkind by seconds, it only just left… xD Then we unwrapped our presents and spent the evening playing with our new toys. Oh, and if we didn't behave earlier, e.g. during dinner, our parents would threaten us, telling the Christkind, all-knowing as it is, wouldn't come if we didn't behave. So no need to pull the presents out before dinner ;)
In the last companys I worked for in the last 30 years, I have to spend 1 vacation day to get 24.12. AND 31.12. off. Most of the companies close on both days and this is the way to make it nice for both.
So when I was still working (yes, I'm retired today), working hours on Christmas Eve lasted until 4 p.m. at most, I think work ended at 2 p.m. in the whole of Germany... you had to go to church early in the evening and join in Unpacking the presents under the Christmas tree...
I think it's a sign of getting older, but I would be very happy about warm, fluffy socks :D My biological mother lives at the other end of the country, we send each other packages and talk on the phone. She will give me a hand-crocheted blanket (she accidentally revealed it by accident, ha!), and I'm already exciting as heck.
In the company where I work, there are company holidays from 24 Dec to 1 Jan, i.e. everyone has to take 4 days off during this period (24, 27, 30, 31 Dec). 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan are public holidays.
![American reacts to How Stupid are Americans? [part 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-PA34wSTf44/mqdefault.jpg)
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We stretch Christmas over 3 days. Usually 24th at our home. 25th at our parents home. 26th at home of the other parents. A 3 day binge of too much food, too much wine and too much arguments. 😆 The Christmas triathlon 😆
exactly
and if you got multiple people with birthdays in December and January, it's even more of a marathon
Richtig! Fressen, saufen und sich in die Haare kriegen.
In some families they even have a decathlon.
It's the same for us, too. 24th, either our family or with uncles of our dad's side. 25th, we spend time with my moms side of family and 26th with my dad's side of family.
December 24th and 31st are not public holidays in Germany, and shops are open until early afternoon. But many companies give half a day or a whole day off on their own initiative. In my case, my company gives me the 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st and January 1st off. So I don't have to take any vacation.
Well, 25 December, 26 December and 1 January are public holidays in Germany.
I can remember im Öffenlichen Dienst (in public service) end of the 1990s elder employees had 2 days off per year for whatever private needs. Heiligabend 24 Dec, und Silvester 31 Dec were half workingdays (till noon) . And then they took the two days back. One to support the ailing economy and the other one was split to cover the 2 half days and 24th and 31st were free days then.
@@reginas.3491
December 24th and 31st are still half working days, the day of repentance and prayer (Buß- und Bettag) has been abolished.
December 24 and 31st are half public holidays. But my company gives us the whole day, so, no extra vacation day needs to be spared.
With my earlier company, I'd either work half the day or invest a vacation day to cover for that.
Getting off sick would not even have crossed my mind.
In general, even if you're sick right before a holiday of any sort, we'd avoid taking the day off sick as it feels as if one would be cheating to get longer holidays for free. But then, our system is also different from the one in UK. I know, many in the UK use the spare sickness days as prolongation of their holidays almost by default. As we have almost endless sick days in Germany, that thought feels strange to me and... it could also be a very career-limiting move to do such a thing!
@@SchmyddyAustria, too.
I worked for some years at the Zoolocial, Botanical Garden in Stuttgart, employs without children were asked to work over the Christmas times as many families are visiting the Zoo then. On December 24th, we closed down around 4 a clock in the afternoon and headed home. For those working the Holy Days, were payed an extra. So it was nice to have a talk with the visitors, give them information and earn more than usual. Good for those of us close to retirement.
Elmar frome Germany
You might like Loriot's "Weihnachten bei Hoppenstedts", a staple of German Christmas TV.
Loriot was second to none in German humor, but people from outside the German speaking world sometimes struggle to grasp it.
I think automatic translated captions might be a game changer...
You said that one of the things you like is positivity. You can see that in every one of your videos. You always radiate so much positive joy in life that I subscribed to you. It's always fun to watch you - no matter what the topic. I'm always in a good mood afterwards. Thank you for that.
No, Christstollen is not a typical meal for Christmas Eve, but for afternoon coffee during Advent.
What's important and what they totally missing out is, christmas isn't just dec. 24th. It's the whole built up since dec. 1st. The christmas decorations and lightning starts then, having an advent calender, going to the christmas market, on the weekends being together with friends & family while eating christmas baked goods, lightning the advent wreath, baking together, incense candles ...
Heiligabend is just the cherry on top🧑🎄
It is an advantage not to light the Advent wreath, but only the candles on the wreath. Otherwise there will be a visit from the fire department...👨🚒🧯🔥
Christmas is from 24.th to the 6.th of January. The time before is called Advent.
@MajSelf 😜
In many cases, you take half a day off (the offices are closing at noon) on the 24th Dec.
A number of companies simply close on Xmas Eve....or they expect that you take holidays.
Yes, you need to earn your gifts...singing, playing an instrument, memorizing a poem.
Christmas is the only time in the year, everybody of the family make time to meet each other..,it is a reassurance of family bonds, a tradition and excuse for over the top decoration...nowadays, for ruthless wasting of energy since Xmas needs lights.
On 24th Dec. smoked salmon on toast (instead of potato salad & sausages) is quite popular too.
Duck in orange sauce with dumplings and red cabbage is one of the major traditional dishes on the 25th Dec.
🎄🎁❄☃🎅❤ to all!
and some closes on Xmas and dont expect tontine a Day off from your Holidays
I think it‘s important to understand that we celebrate Christmas on 25th and 26th, just like you. On Christmas Eve we just receive our Christmas presents from Santa 😉 and have a cozy evening with the family. The day is a normal - but for parents often stressful - day. It’s only the evening that’s special.
Think of New Year’s Eve (December 31st): The day is nothing special and not an official holiday. The celebration only starts in the evening or at night.
As a (still) young grandmother born in the 60s, our Christmas Eve was like this:
In the morning, father put up the tree and we children were allowed to decorate it (with a little help from mom).
The afternoon was endless with 3 television programs in black and white.
After the dishes from dinner were washed, Dad checked to see if the Christ child had already arrived, he turned on the lights and put on a Christmas record.
The bell rang and we were allowed to come into the living room.
The Christmas tree lights were lit, a lot of candles were lit and the table was covered with plates full of sweets, apples, oranges and nuts.
A plate was provided for each individual.
There we wished each other a Merry Christmas and then the youngest child, who could read, was allowed to get a present from the big basket. A name tag was therefore mandatory on every gift! We waited until the person had unwrapped their present and only then did the next person receive a package.
We have kept this tradition with my daughter and today with our grandchildren. This lasts 3 hours and I still love it!
About being a Christian:
When I became a sincere Christian, I had to leave the church. Christianity and institutional religion did no longer fit together for me. I think that says it all.
Christmas Day (December 25th):
Traditionally, the parents (grandparents) were visited in the morning. There was another presentation of presents (Bescherung) and then a festive lunch.
I make roast with lots of sauce, potato dumplings and red cabbage.
The children don't want anything else from Oma. :-)
I confess having a little trouble with the Christmas-Man or the american Santa Claus.
There is Santa Claus here and he comes on December 6th and that's it.
According to my philosophy, we celebrate Christ's birthday at Christmas and commemorate his arrival in the world and in the heart
of every single person at this time every year.
And just as the kings brought gifts to the child in the manger, today I bring appreciation and, if possible, a small gift to the spark of Christ IN everyone around me.
I like to bake and so I love giving away homemade cookies in many different variations.
The newspaper delivery person, the postman, the parcel delivery person and of course the neighbors are very happy about it.
I like your show and you got a subscription today.
Write to me if you come to Germany and if you would be happy about an invitation -
In any case, I would be happy about your visit! :-)
Wenn die Glocke klingt und man zum ersten Mal ins Zimmer kommt, den Baum voll erleuchtet, die Weihnachtsschallplatte lief - das war Weihnachten…!
"Germans are honest..." Oh yes. And for this reason, you should avoid asking "how do you like my new haircut"?
did you know that Prince Albert brought the Christmas tree and many such traditions to England in the first place? He and Queen Victoria popularised the tradition in England and it spread to all continents that way.
Didn´t he bring the 'Knob-Piercing' to the UK too? 😂
@ that‘s for someone else to research…
Actually, Queen Charlotte introduced the Christmas tree in the UK. But the Victoria/Albert cutesy couple factor definitely helped popularize the custom.
@@vyvienn yeah, well, their pedigree is largely made up by Germans, so, unavoidably, they would sooner or later introduce German traditions…
I am not able to celebrate Christmas any more because I have no more family, I am the only one still alive. But that doesn't matter, I remember the times when I was a child. Since I didn't like Kartoffelsalat and wasn't a friend of saucages too, we used to have baguette with smoked salmon and sliced, boiled eggs on top. Loved it. I had to visit my Grandparents in the afternoon because they were the ones who had a TV, (we didnt. It was in the 60ies when I was a child). While I watched all the childrens stuff of that time, my Mom would set up the tree and gifts. Then she rang a bell and I would hear it downstairs at my Grandparents appartement. That was the sign: The "Christkind" (Christ child, the one who brings the presents) had been there and brought the tree and the presents, yaaay! So I used to hurry up and Mom and me had our celebration. Then, on the 25th we would visit the other Grandparents who lived at the other end of town. And on the 26th my MOm used to invite all her friends who were divorced or widowed and because of that lonely. They came to our home and the Ladies had "Kaffee & Kuchen" together. (just like tea time).
That was Christmas back in the days. Today I usually meet one of my friends who is also lonely at a virtual place and we have fun together. Which means I am celebrating in front of my computer :)
Es gibt die Möglichkeit auch andere alleinstehende Menschen einzuladen. So mach ich es, obwohl ich Familie habe. Freunde und Fremde feiern einfach mit
@@binemunchen7697 Das ist wundervoll, aber geht bei mir leider nicht. (Und ja es gibt Gründe aber die sind für hier zu privat).
@Herzschreiber Sie müssen nicht ins private gehen.
Ich weiß, dass die Zeit um Weihnachten für viele Menschen schwierig ist. Es würde mich einfach freuen, wenn auch andere ihre Türen für jemanden öffnen würden, aber das ist keine Aufforderung. Ich wollte nur bekannt machen, das es das gibt, falls jemand Interesse hat
@@binemunchen7697 Ja, und das ist super!
Hello, I'm always a bit skeptical when someone says that this or that is typically German, because there are so many different traditions in Germany. But yes - this video definitely shows a typical German Christmas. Did you know that the Christmas tree was introduced to Britain by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria? I really liked that you addressed the real meaning of Christmas in your video. It's not about consumption - it's about love. And not just love for our relatives, but love for our neighbor. Thank you for your always interesting “German Days” videos. It's funny when, as a typical German, a mirror is held up to me. Keep up your great channel. I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas.
I always liked working on the 24th and the 31st of December - not many people in the office, sharing a second breakfast, a more relaxed atmosphere for routine work and any possible problems. Same in the other departments, everybody looking forward to the afternoon.
Dinner on the 24th tends to be easy to prepare, like potato salad and sausages.
The Christmas feast happens on the 25th, leftovers stir fry on the 26th.
I give self-made knitted socks to my family members and they love them. Every pair has a pattern on it that matches the person who receives the socks.
They ask for the socks ages before Christmas.
But the children receive a second gift, a toy or things like that
Same here. They actually would be disappointed, if they would not get them. They expect them.
Anyone who is "knitworthy" will love getting handmade socks. And the rest - well, let them shove their feet in cheap storebought socks that leave their feet cold ;)
We also have potato salad and sausages. But our potato salad is made with vinegar and oil, not cream or mayonnaise. Traditionally, it was served close to midnight, when the family came back from church. And the sausages were not Wiener/Frankfurter sausages, but more hearty or greasy sausages, because in those days you had to actually walk home from church, and that sometimes meant walking half an hour to an hour through deep snow. Well, not for me, my family always lived in the city, but my wife's parents still experienced it in the rural areas.
On Christmas Eve, stores and offices are only open in the morning. December 25th and 26th are holidays.
Well, of course shops are open until about 2 pm on Christmas Eve, meaning the shop employees work. Also, everyone in hospitals, police stations, fire stations, hotels, or restaurants, will work (mostly shifts). What they are referring to is the fact that most offices/corporate jobs will be off work on Dec 24. Dec 25 AND 26 are public holidays, as is Jan 1. Dec 31 is treated oftentimes just like Dec 24, so off work for many in the office, but still a work day (or some hours of shift) for people in supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, etc.
Our Stollen has nothing to do with the fruit bread you descriped. It's sweet, the whole covering is powdered sugar, and combining it with cheese would be awful 🤢😅
Yeah, agreed, that‘d be sacrilegious
So at morning on the 25th, that would be way too late for us in Ggermany. Here we get the gifts in the evening of the 24th. At least it was that way 40-50 years ago when i was young enough to still care about it. Also when i was a child, i had an uncle who was over 2 meters in height, and he always played Santa, he was quite impressive and scary 😂🤣
Hi Dwayne,
I enjoyed that you shared a bit more of your personal story and emotions in this video! It is ok to be emotional ❤
Maybe wait until May or June to visit Germany. Berlin is so awesome in summer. Go to Boxi, Tempelhofer Feld or any other great park in Berlin. The atmosphere is so relaxed. Hope to see you when you are visiting!
7:47: Christmas Dinner is on Christmas Day at lunchtime. Remember that the main meal in Germany is lunch, not supper.
We have a great dinner on 24th and 25th of december. Always! every year! 😅 our tradition is goose with cabbage, kale and dumplings and lots of sauce. And we are cooking sooo much, that we always can eat this meal about two days 😄😁. Presents were unwrapped after dinner, but we are changing this tradition and unwrap them before dinner since a few years 😊. I love christmas time, because most people become softer, nicer, warmer - like how it should be all over the year ☺️...
Thank you for sharing personally and hang in there, you'll be with your family soon!
As a Bavarian, this doesn't look very typical to me haha - I don't know a single family where Santa Claus brings the gifts. "Nikolaus" (St. Nicholas) brings small gifts (fruit, nuts, chocolate) on Dec 6. On Christmas Eve, it's the Christkind - the Christ child. No actors involved, though 😄 The living room with the tree is closed until you hear a little bell and can enter and all the gifts are there. I'm a practicing Christian and love the original meaning of Christmas - God coming to us, into all our outer and inner poverty (including homesickness), to be with us and give us hope.
Most employees work only half day at the 24th and on the 31st. They have to sacrifice one annual leave day for it (in most cases that applies to the whole company, so you might not even have the choice to work full time at those days). Of course that doesn't apply to essential workers.
My family usually meets up at the cemetry at 2pm on the 24th. We honor our deceased relatives and place a candle on their graves. After that everybody meets up at my parents house and we have some cake and coffee (usually lunch has been skipped or we just had something very light like a bouillon).
At around 7pm we have dinner, which is either chicken fricassee with rice or potatoe salad with sausages, mini-schnitzels or minced meat patties.
We exchance presents right after dinner and either chat or play some games.
On the 25th celebration starts with lunch (poultry, game meat, rabbit with red cabbage or brussels sprouts and dumplings or potatoes) and some cake and coffee in the later afternoon.
The same again on the 26th.
On those days it's either no dinner or just a light dinner, since usually nobody feels like eating in the evening any more :D
Liebe Grüße aus Düsseldorf Germany frohe Weihnachten 🎄
20:09 In my family it's the complete opposite. We live on two different ends of the country and everyone of us celebrates with the same people they see daily or at least weekly or biweekly. Their partner, family and/or close relatives who live in the same or a nearby town or village.
Traveling cross country in the winter is stressful and sometimes dangerous. So we stay at home and just spend the holidays like an extra long weekend.
The time we really come together is the summer break. Then my daughter can play with her cousin, I see my sister and granny again, my mum is visiting some old friends...
...and we show my daughter all the cool places where I grew up. It's way easier to hike througb forests and climb up a mountain to visit a remote castle ruin in summer. As a kid I also visited plenty in the winter and boy, if my tailbone could speak... 😅
My Grandma used to say: say what you want - get what you want!
In my case, the company gives us half a day off at December 24th and 31st, the other half we have to take from our vacation.
When I was kid everybody from my family but my dad went to church and when we got back Santa had been there, but somehow my dad never saw him 😂
😂🤣😂😂
Not today, shut your mouth, your aunt is here for just three days. We love her all! You understand. So be polite.
about hating socks as a present ... this year I'll use socks to wrap my presents.
Hopefully you are considerate and don't take used ones.
Self-knitted ones with 100% wool?
@@lynnm6413 No, cheap ones
@@VK1602-vk that‘s more an offense, though….
The best Christmas Stollen (that's what we call the fruit bread/cake) that I ever ate was my mother's, which she baked herself.
It's actually a completely normal sweet yeast dough, but with beef talc instead of butter and then all the goodies like currants, raisins (pickled in rum), ground sweet almonds, a few bitter almonds, candied orange and lemon peel and lots of chopped almonds are added .
The loaf of dough is folded like you would wrap a baby in a blanket, because that's exactly what it's supposed to remind you of, of baby Jesus.
After the dough has risen, it is baked until the loaves are golden brown. After three days, the whole thing is spread with melted butter and then once every week, and the butter slowly seeps into the loaf... the whole thing has to mature for at least 6 weeks.
During this time the Stollen becomes very crumbly and literally melts in your mouth.....at the end there is a lot of powdered sugar on top of it .
If you do it like that, it won't be as dry as you often buy it in the shops. Delicious !
Everyone in the family got a whole loaf...and I have a huge family...can you imagine the amount of dough my mother kneaded? I remember the huge tub and my mother up to her elbows in it😅....
Unfortunately my mother is now 80 years old and no longer has the strength to do it, not even for a small amount😪.....
and damn, none of us can do it as well as she could.😭
Make her write down the recepie before she cannot remember any more.. Merry Christmas to you and your whole family!
Sorry you're feeling homesick, hang in there! ❤
I have to work three-quarters of a day (6 hours) on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, but I'll get 50% of the working hours credited as overtime. I'm no longer a church member, and Christmas doesn't hold much personal significance for me (among my friends, I'm the "Grinch"), and I'm happy to give the holiday to my colleagues with children. A few colleagues and I will have a Christmas breakfast at work, and after work, I'll drive to my parents, where we'll have potato salad and sausages. The next day, I'll go to my boyfriend's parents in the morning, and we'll have kale with various side dishes or roast duck. On the second day of Christmas, it'll be about digesting and relaxing after 350 km (220 mi) in the car - and I have to go back to work the following day. We now only give each other small gifts in the family, and my niece gets money (she's 16). The most important thing to me is being together with my family - material things aren't important at all, because you'll never know if the aging family members will be there next year ... and time hanging out with them will stick to your mind.🎄
I love Stollen but not without adding butter because they're too dry otherwise.
We have mixed traditions in our family. On Christmas Eve (24 December), I decorate the Christmas tree while my wife and the children are at the zoo for a Christmas event. In the afternoon, I pick them up from the zoo and we drive to my parents' house. There we give and receive gifts from the grandparents. After that, we eat potato salad and frankfurters with the grandparents. We drive back home around eight.
We parents put the presents under the Christmas tree at night. The next morning (25 December) we meet at the Christmas tree in our pyjamas, there are biscuits, muesli, gingerbread and stollen all day as a buffet. When we are all gathered, the youngest starts unpacking his first present, then everyone else unpacks their presents one after the other. This gives us and especially the children time to play, assemble and explore the gifts. In the afternoon, we adults start the first preparations for the Christmas dinner the next day. Occasionally, we watch a typical Christmas film in the evening.
On Boxing Day (26 December), both grandparents come to visit and we have Christmas roast (turkey) with dumplings, croquettes and various vegetables. Afterwards, the gifts are handed over to and from my wife's parents. At around 3:30 p.m., we eat again - stollen, gingerbread, Baumkuchen and the like. But now we have to get out. We all go for a short walk and then the grandparents say goodbye. After tidying up, we play a board game together or watch a Christmas film.
Your Christmas traditions sound wonderful - Games, family time, good food. Freedom to move and choose - May I ask what is to celebrate at a zoo still in 2024? 😕
@@anonymus390 At the zoo Christmas, the animals are given special food gifts.
But you are probably alluding to the captivity of the animals. Let me put it this way: it is difficult to give the animals a sense of freedom in the zoo, but people can try to create a species-appropriate little world of their own. The implementation varies from zoo to zoo. And it is only in recent years that public awareness of this has grown, including the financial consequences. And that's a good thing! However, the facilities themselves are also very important, especially for city children, to promote their awareness of and interest in nature. There are enough children who believe that sausages grow on trees. There is a fine line between education and animal welfare.
As a kid (long ago in my case) I had to recite a chrismas/winter poem, sing a christmas song or play a song on piano or flute before I was allowed to open my gifts. And I had to put a little present for Santa Clause aside for "his effort" on the 23rd in the evening (mostly self-baked cookies (with the help of my mom)). There was always one more present under the tree, that we are not allowed to open, but have to give it to somebody we thought, they will need a gift (because they lived alone or were old or for other reasons). On that gift was a christmas card which said: "For a person in need, who's neither friend nor family." to prevent that we give the gift to one of our friends.
Our gifts we get where mostly self-made or practical like a new winter jacket or something like that. Not like today with gift cars or expensive electronics.
It is Advent In Sweden we eat
stollen to.
It is Jul must, lussekatt, stollen peppar kakor and
ris gryns gröt.
I love stollen
no Christmas withaout stollen.
How Christmas was/is in my family:
We meet in the afternoon of the 24. at my grandmas place and help her with the last to dos for the evening. Because of this we don't do cake and Coffee on this day.
I guess the christmas dishes depends on which part in Germany you live. On 24. Of December my grandma always made fish (Karpfen) and potato salad from her original area Upper schlesia (that time Germany, after WW2 Poland).
After the dinner we open the Gifts. Yes, as a child it was sooooo hard to wait after the dinner, but it is actually nice cause so there is no rush cause the dinner is ready.
We don't play games, but Chat a lot, Listen to christmas CDs and read old funny stories my passed grandpa has written.
Maybe it is because we celebrate just as 4 (me, my parents and my grandma) but I can't remember a single Christmas we argued...
On the 25. And 26. Of Dezember we have a big christmas Lunch with the typical Christmas dish from this area (central Germany, Thuringia) with potato dumpling, meat (goose, duck etc.), Rotkraut, mushrooms and sauce. And in the afternoon the cake and Coffee :)
Eating christmas cookies, Stollen etc. in the afternoon together with a nice cup of coffee, tee or hot chocolate is what we're doing during the whole advent time, starting with the december 1st, mostly one the weekends. For me this is the better option to spend extra time with friends & family then having a Christmas Party.
breakfast in the morning, mostly rolls with jam or cheese / saussage - normally nothing warm in the morning.
a hot main meal betwen 12-13
coffee / cake betwen 15-16
and a smal cold meal with bread and cheese / sausage
----
On 24. dec. it is different. Almost nothing at 12:00, maybe another bread, but warm in the evening (somewhen betwen 18:00-21:00, depending on if you have children waiting for santa - or not). But even this warm meal at the 24. is quite basic, saussages and cold potato sallad - or the modern version fondue or raclette) - because the BIG meals are coming at the 25. and 26., normally at 13:00, crispy duck with dark brown sauce, vegetablea and potatoes or german dumplings (Knödel / Klöße).
9:20 In my experience it depends on the region. I grew up in Southwestern Germany and people there usually beat around the bush instead of confronting others and then go gossiping to let their steam off. Polite on the outside, double-faced on the inside. We call that hinterfotzig - back-mouthed.
One of my uncles from Northern Germany on the other hand is very direct but in a funny way.
At my grandad's birthday they forgot the beer in the car and just put it in the fridge right before the guests arrived. So uncle Uwe grabbed himself a beer, took a sip and shouted "Ey, Karlheinz! Did you try to hatch 'em or what?"
Some of the traditions are very individual in each family, I think. Santa never came to our house and we didn't have to sing a Christmas carol or recite a poem of some sorts to receive gifts. 24th December, we always had lentil soup with blood sausage for lunch and very typical German sausages (Bratwurst, Weißwurst, Wiener) with Sauerkraut and bread for dinner. On 25th December, we always had a massive meal with turkey (Pute), braised red cabbage with sweet raisins and massive potato dumplings plus a delicious gravy. We visited one set of grandparents Christmas day and the other one on Boxing day. Received gifts on each of those days. A big Christmas tradition is baking Christmas cookies. My family always goes a bit overboard with that. Now in the UK, I have no clue what to do with wee man, but we'll decorated the house a bit, a gingerbread house is waiting to be assembled and I will improvise the rest. It's not going to be a very typical German thing, especially no Sauerkraut... Maybe some Kimchi instead😉
I'm technically christian but actually atheist and i still like and celebrate christmas. Most germans celebrate the 24th only with the closest family circle and some people even meet up with a few close friends later that night. On the 25th and 26th most germans travel to their relatives all over the country.
16:00 we still eat biscuits and cake in the afternoon of the 25th and 26th, despite the more expanisve meals xD
Yeah, every family has its own tradition from the timing of buying the tree to the decoration ....
As a child, the routine was: children's service, then waiting in my room for the Christ child (sound of a tiny bell which where the sound flying wings ...or more simply my grandma.) Then I have to "earn it/prove worth" by recitate a christmas poem of play the flute.
After that I could go to the tree and search for my present from child Jesus. (This worked out till I get to elementary school...)
The was dinner: sometimes simple...sometimes goose. Depends on which day my family could reserved a table. We always loved food and went out for dinner.
Now with 44, it naturally changed a bit😂.
Afterbspending the chiszmas eve with my close family, I Met with friends at a midnight service (around 10 p.m. to 12 p.m.).
We love to end the hectic Christmas season in a soothing atmosphere (the church immersed in candlelight, singing old timeless carols, the absolute silence outside (hardly anyone on the streets). After chatting with friends outside and speculate about the next year and the plans for next Dax or New years eve.
Even perfect when snow Falls during service ...everything under a light blanket, which glitters untouched in the lamplight (unbeatable).
I wish everyone a happy holiday and a blissful Merry Christmas!❤🎉
And especially to Dwayne: sending love and maybe a english christmas weather wonder for less homesickness😅! Thanks for your uplifting videos, always fun to watch!👏👏👏
(By the way, I would call myself a christian mystics...except on christmas no traditional church service.)
I want to add that even non religious grandparents might drag their grandchildren to church on the 24th so mum and dad can put the presents under the tree and pretend Santa was there if nobody volunteers as Weihnachtsmann (Santa).
Myself, I married a Brit and took the opportunity to establish present opening in the morning of the 25th for our child. It makes so much more sense. When you open your presents at night you don't get to play much before being sent to bed.
Dont forget that Queen Charlotte of England/ Charlotte of Mecklenburg-strelitz was the one who brought the Christmas tree Tradition to the UK.
As a German, I literally NEVER had potato salad and sausages for christmas. Traditionally my family makes fondue (the meat in oil version, not cheese or chocolate) or raclette.
Coming from a comparatively strict Catholic family with Austrian-Czech roots the 24th of December was a lent day - so no meat but carp for dinner. Whilst my mother prepared the meal our father took us to watch a Disney film at the cinema. And the presents were given after dinner under a (real) Christmas tree lit with real candles. 😊
Decades later and spending Chistmas in Malta we celebrate on the 25th Dec. It took me a while to accept that (young) people spend Christmas Eve drinking at pubs and bars but now it is not so important when we celebrate it. And it is always a family get-together and best when both our children can make it from Germany which unfortunately is not always the case.
Have a very Merry Christmas as best as possible under the circumstances.💚❤🌲
The more often I watch your videos, the more I realize that Germans and Britainns are just cousins or 2 brothers from another mother.
I'm actually from Saxony and I know that Angels and Saxons just moved from Saxon to England and settled there. I have no doubt about that.
Thank you for your reactions!
In my company it's like this: on Christmas Eve you take half a day's holiday and your employer adds another half day. The same applies to December 31st, New Year's Eve. These two half days are guaranteed and do not come from your holiday account. They are granted tacitly. This is the custom in Germany.
Isn't it funny how everyone's christmas experience in the comment section varies a little. I doubt there is one stereotypical german christmas.
In my family it also starts with tea and cake around late aftertoon. Dinner will be served from around 7 to 8. And is either Grünkohl - a kale stew with lung sausages, glazed ham and caramelized potatoes. - or a very lavish Julbord with smoked fish, artisan cheeses, filled eggs, patés, salads ...The kale is our most popular and very traditional christmas eve dish up north though. I grew up in Schleswig-Holstein with my maternal grandmother's family hailing from south-western sweden.
Whichever dish it will be, we will end up pretty stuffed and some of us will take the dog for a walk around the village for some window peeping while the rest move the food to the kitchen. It won't get put away though as we all love to snack throughout the rest of the night.
After dinner we'll then light up the wax candles on the christmas tree for the first time and start with the opening of the presents. I am 40 years old and I can't remember having to recite a poem or sing a song. There's no Santa Claus as he scared the shit out of me when I was little 😅
I have always enjoyed the evergrowing excitement from seeing the pile of beautifully wrapped presents underneath the tree. I would rather not open them at all. Once it has been revealed what's underneath the magic is gone. I guess that's my ADHD speaking 🙈
The opening of the presents will usually take us until around 1 am after which we'll have another tea or coffee. The last relative will leave the house around 3 am if they feel fit to drive. If not they'll sleep on the couch.
When my grandparents were still alive we'd meet again on the 26th at their place for roasted duck, brussell sprouts and red cabbage. But nowadays I just relax on Christmas Day and the 26th, watch a lot of telly, trying to finish off all the leftovers and snacks and usually work on a puzzle that I gifted to myself.
Our kale pot is gigantic and we'll eat from it over the next couple of days until it's finished or has turned sour.
I do love socks and marzipan and consider myself spiritual . I love visiting churches but have never been to a christmas service. I was babtized at the age of 14, ten minutes before my confirmation, I studied the bible for a bit back then but ultimately found god in nature and in people.
In Germany, depending on the company you work for, Christmas holiday is from 24 December to 1 January. We call this Betriebsferien. This means the entire company shuts down for a week of holiday. If you work in a company that is a utility or run by the city, state or federal government, then the 24/12 must be taken as a private holiday. This year Christmas falls on a Wednesday and Thursday. Therefore, a government worker would apply at the top of the year for the days she/he wants off. Indeed, most people put in a holiday request form in the New Year with holidays being locked in by the end of February.
Depending on where you live in Germany, 23rd, 27th, and 30th December are private holidays that come out of your 24/30 holidays in the year. 24th and 31st can be half or whole days in some departments, meaning if you want those two days off, it will cost you two more days of personal holiday. Because there are so many Muslims in Germany, what usually happens is that Christmas is covered by Muslims unless Ramadan falls during the same time as Christmas. This only happens every 17 years. During Ramadan, most Germans don't celebrate and are willing to cover for workers who take there entire holiday to celebrate.
This means there will always be someone in the office to cover school and summer holidays if there are people of the Muslim belief. If not, then holiday is divided based on who has school age children, who has seniority and who has special need i.e. disability, only being able to travel at certain times because of a elderly relative, etc. I hope this explanation is clear enough.
I’m one of the 20% who has to go to work on 24 December but only until 2:30 PM and then I have the 25th and 26th off!
A lot of companies close from the 22nd or 23rd of December to 6 of January! So they do not have to go to work ! But grocery stores or bakeries or butchers and so on have open in between the holidays! But most have closed on the 25th and 26th of December but Germany only allows to open on the 26th anyway, and only certain stores are allowed to open!
I generally work all 3 days (social worker with people with dementia) and have done so for 11 years in a row -
but I still get festive time with my family.
It's along day and a shift is not the longest.
In the previous months you collect plus time, if you are on flextime. You'd have to negotiate with your boss and your team, though.
When I grew up Christmas would start in earnest on Christmas Eve after lunch. The Christmas would be put up and decorated. The parents would do rhat and grandma and the kids would be ushered to another room to watch Christmas movies. We'd have Stollen and Christmas cookies and tea or coffee. Then the family would shower and get dressed in nice clothes and have the simple potato salad and sausages dinner. Then the presents would be ubpacked.
Dwayne, socks are nice if they have been knitted by the giver. I totally agree, Christmas is about being together as a family.
My grandma taught me that traditionally, gift giving is after dinner, but many people do it before. We did it the traditional way.
My birthday is December 31st, and we call the24/31 „half holiday“ because shops usually close around 2pm. On holidays, shops are closed and therefore it‘s half a holiday.
Most companies close the 24th for family gatherins
This simple meal on the 24th is meant to give the housewife (or whoever does the cooking) a bit of rest because there are actually 2 christmas days as legal holidays 25th +26th.
In some families it is a tradition to prepare something like potato salad together (or raclette or something similar simple)
According to the video my family isn't average German😂.
The day of Christmas Eve is like a regular day for us (if you aren't the one having to prepare everything). This year my grandmother is being the host at Christmas Eve and that's a little bit different. There everyone is preparing something for the feast because my granny isn't the youngest anymore.
We don't have potato salad and sausages (even though we know it's the classic stereotype and some people are actually doing it).
We are having a feast like 25th or 26th (depending if there is something planned). This year we haven't planned anything for the 25th for example. Only for the evening of Christmas Eve and the 26th.
At Christmas Eve we regularly gather up at 6 PM. Dinner will be between 6 PM and 7 PM.
Afterwards it's time to unwrap the gifts. Then we will play games, chat and snack on Christmas goodies like biscuits, ginger bread etc..
As a child we didnt have Santa bringing presents. We had the "Christkind"bringing them. We children had to leave the room and entertain ourselves in some other room untin someone would ring the bell. That was the sign that everything was prepared and the "Christkind" was gone. We went upstairs and it was time to unwrap the presents.
Someone similar to Santa shown in the video was on the 6th of December when "Nikolaus" was coming. There you would have scenes like that in the video.
If nothing is planned on the other Christmas days we will be most likely eating left overs and having a good time and chill.
If something is planned we would gather up at early afternoon (like 1 pm) and having Lunch together. After the feast it would be similar to Christmas Eve (without unwrapping presents, except you would see other relatives who have something for each other). Between Christmas and New Years Eve. We would eat the left overs until nothing's left. Afterwards it's just normal life.
There was a time we loved self-knitted socks from granny. Sadly she can't do it anymore because she has arthritis in her fingers.
I spent two Christmasses in the UK and both turned out to be rather alike despite being celebrated in two different families in different regions. Christmas Eve was coming together, arriving, preparing food for the next day, playing board games, going for a walk, that sort of stuff. Early next day, Christmas Day, presents were exchanged while the TV was running 🫣. Then turkey dinner around 3pm with crackers, paper crowns and daft jokes, then a walk and then board games. The whole time the TV was one for whatever reason. Next day: Rushing from shop to shop to catch the sales, mostly bigger items like a new washer or TV or computer. After these three days, I felt absolutely exhausted. - In Germany with my recent companies I don't have to work half a day on Christmas Eve, I get the day off by contract (same for New Year's Eve). I visit my parents, my brothers also come by, we have cake and biscuits in the afternoon, then exchanging of the presents, then a goose dinner. My mum some years goes to attend the midnight mass, some years she doesn't. The next two days we are just lazy, going for walks, playing card or board games, maybe visit a museum or exhibition on the Second Christmas Day (as we call it). Very relaxed. Shops are not open, public transport is not running as often as normally. Often in the afternoon I go back home when I have to work the next day, depends. When we were still little, we normally celebrated Christmas with mum and dad on Eve, with one set of grandparents the next day and the other the third day, including travelling for that.
Of course we pretend being happy about a shitty present - we're direct, not mean. Well, at least most people... 😉
Lovely video again! Dwayne, if you like fruit bread, you should find "Stollen" at an Aldi store or sometimes in other shops too, or you could bake one yourself. There are a lot of recipes online. :)
Hey, I just stumbled upon your channel. tatatataaaa a new subscriber. great videos mate. greetings from Munich Germany S 🤘 🖤 🤘
Finally every family has it's own tradition. My family for example eats for lunch on Christmas Eve Spaghetti. Around 4, 5 PM (depends on when it becomes dark) the gifts shower takes place. And afterwards it is dinner time. As in the video, we have then potatoe salat, sausages (Wiener, Frankfurter or such kind, nothing "heavy", some families eat Common carp - Weihnachtskarpfen -, what is in some families also a tradition für New Years eve). And in our family it is tradition to salute with red Sekt (Sparkling wine). In earlier days, on Christmas day, we were heading to my grand parents, where the most of the entire family came together (up to 20+ people). There the traditional "Weihnachtsgans" (Roast goose) were served, and, depends on how many people we were, a duck and probably a third bird. And of course with Klöße (dumplings) and red cabbage and kale. Nowadays, since my grnadparents are not longer able to host this, we do this on our own.
At my mother's job, she was only working half-days on either December 24 or 31. She usually got one day off -- and got to switch the next year. Parents of young children often got preferential treatment/choice on Christmas Eve. Oh, and we only say "Merry Christmas" on the actual holiday -- Christmas EVE (not in the morning!), December 25 and 26. Before that, it's "Happy Holidays". (This may be a regional or family quirk, though.) Stollen is a yeast dough mixed with chopped nuts and almonds, raisins and corinths (dried dark grapes -- currants?), candied lemon and orange peel (marzipan is optional). It's folded into a loaf shape, not baked in a pan. Once it's out of the oven, you brush it with melted butter and dust it with icing sugar. Traditionally, you bake stollen quite some time before the holidays, and repeat the butter/sugar treatment each day until Christmas proper. This will prevent it from drying out.
Churches may put on a Nativity play on Christmas Eve afternoon, during the Family Service. Midnight Service and the one on Christmas Day morning is a regular, if slightly more festive service more for adults than kids.
Oh, and fun fact? Today (Dec. 6) is St Nicholas -- the ecclesiastical version of Santa. Kids will leave their shoes outside the flat door on the night before, and if they've been good all year, Nicholas will leave sweets and treats in them. If they've been naughty, they may find a birch switch to be punished with ...)
One of the things this video gets wrong, IMO, is the part about gifts before dinner. I don't know a single family that does or has ever done that.
Usually, it's dinner, then gifts because we like to really enjoy that part. Sit together around the tree, drink some hot chocolate or mulled wine, eat cookies or other sweets and open the presents.
Also, as a child, we would close the door to the living room after we has decorated the Christmas tree in the morning of the 24th. After that, we were not allowed in because we were "waiting for Santa" and we could shy him away if we were to go in. My dad would either take us for a walk or read us Christmas stories in the children's room while my mom would place the presents. After dinner, my mom would "check if Santa had already been there" and I remember her calling us into the living room then.
Also, the arguing part might be a thing but luckily not in our family. We're quite close all year so we argue whenever it's needed and Christmas is usually super chill.
i work retail and we are open on the 24th until 2pm - usually if we work christmas we have 31.12 off
Merry christmas, Dwayne ❤
As a child of two teachers who mostly got off around the 22nd, we ate Sunday roast (beef) it’s loads of brown gravy, fresh potato dumplings and peas…and of course red cabbage (Rotkohl)….
My mom does prepare it with 3 onions, 2 apples, 1 mango, and a lot of cloves….steep it for 3 hours and it will be delicious!
Then around 10 p.m. we‘d drive to church to secure seats for the Catholic Church service conducted around midnight called ˋChristmettè, and then after the service we‘d unpack presents around 2 a.m.
Any musical or poetic demonstrations by us children had been mostly finished after dinner before lighting the chrisms tree for the first time…because it used to be custom to put it up on the day before…so 23rd of December.
We had natural beeswax candles and no electric lights, so a bucket of water was always strategically placed in the corner of the living room and my Dad was always on edge while the candles were burning.
Germany offers for most positions at least 24 days of regular holiday. One time I always take my holiday is from the 23rd of December until the 31st of December. I like the time between the years to reflect and to relax. I am very much into buying my Christmas stuff early, so that I can relax a bit through the festive season. The interesting thing is that they are not talking about advent or Nikolaus because I think that is what is really special about Germany, all the advent calendars, the advent wrath, the baking of special cookies, the advent or Christmas markets and all the celebrations Stollen is very German, I love it as well as Lebkuchen, ginger bread, the best is Nuerenberger Elisenlebkuchen. Christmas is, though, not the time to tell Aunt Maria that you do not like her hairstyle or your sis that you hate her cooking in Germany.You suck it up for a few hours for "family harmony". Most family do not have a Santa Claus. In fact, it is very common to do a kind of outward activity, for example, a walk, after "Kaffeezeit" between 3 and 4, to "gain appetite" and one person staying at home, arranging the gifts for the kids. Often, the kids are allowed in by a little bell. Kids are taught to be patient. They have to endure the breakfast, the service, the lunch and the Kaffeezeit and the walk and often, some Christmas singing or even commonly making music together before the presents are to be opened. It is a common thing in Germany, though, to keep the receipt and to include it incase the person wants to exchange the gift for something else in the store (Umtauschen, as we call it in German).- To keep the housewife a little less stressed, one traditional thing to do on Christmas eve is to have potato salad with Wiener sausages. Sometimes, people do Christmas tourism and go to the grandparents on the 25th and on the 26th.
the 24th isn´t an official holiday in Germany, but usually all businesses (such as offices or handycraft companies) are closed as anyone wants to get prepared for christmas eve. Shops are often until afternoon, so these employees have to work (until the shops close) as well as medical staff in hospitals, the police and firedepartments.
The 25th and 26th (first and second christmas holiday) are official holidays where everyone has off (again except healthcare etc.)
My company gives us the day off on December 24th and 31st and on Rose-Monday (Carnival). I don't have to take any vacation or do any overtime.
My Christmas this year -- always one meal of a smoked fish platter (salmon, eel, trout), usually with homemade potato or Waldorf salad. Haven't decided yet when -- either Christmas Eve, or brunch on Christmas Day. The alternative this year may be roast goose (legs/thighs or breast, still thinking), red cabbage and potato dumplings. Maybe a white wine mousse (also homemade) for dessert. Christmas Eve dinner will be around 7, and as it's only 3 of us (hubby, son and I), we'll exchange gifts after dinner. Maybe church at midnight; no decision yet. No afternoon tea/coffee on the 24th, as I'll be too busy in the kitchen while my guys will trim the tree (and I'll criticize 😎). We'll do that on Christmas Day (found a nice Christmassy cheesecake recipe I may try).
The 24th and 31th of December are only half holidays after 12 O´clock its considered a holiday because the main celebrations on these days take place in the afternoon and night. In my companie, we have both days completly free, but you have to take 8 hours off from your account.
No, not sick... your problems are huge...1or ½ day hollyday. You have christmas day free or 31.12 (Sylvester). We hat 3 Christmas day's 24.12 you work// 25+26.12 are free!! you visit the rest of your family and friends 😀.. sometimes.if people have nobody..you invited he/ she to come and spend a nice evening with you... nobody must be alone on christmas 🎄.. This year we have an older lady as an gast to our Christmas meal 🥘.Her family will not or can't come..sooooo she is alone ..😢..As i was an child each 2.year we bring and older lady neighbor to us at 25.12 an celebrat her a nice meal + give her a tiny gift 🎁😊
I am a geriatric nurse. I have to work on these days. And i am a christian, too.
In my company, December 24th and 31st are generally free and we only have to sacrifice half a day of vacation for each.
In my family when I was younger we would first attend the early mess with the nativity play and when we got home my sister and I were sent to our rooms to play while our parents and the grandparents next door tried to be as sneakily as possible in putting all the presents under the tree and baby Jesus into the crib. Then they rang a bell and told us to come down, trying to convince us the Christkind has just flown off.
After the presents we ate and then we kids were given a few more hours of playing with our new toys before it's up to bed.
My grandparents prefered simple dishes for Christmas like sausages with potato salad but my mum insisted on a proper meal like grilled chicken or roast which she prepared before church and then put in the oven after Bescherung.
But not all years were like this. The year after grandpa died granny broke her hip on Christmas Eve. We kids were old enough to prepare everything ourselves so when the parents returned from the hospital the food was ready and the presents under the tree. Now that we changed the roles it was mum and dad's turn to sing a Christmas song of recite a poem and they got to open their presents first. Too bad I don't have the recordings anymore. There's a reason they were excluded from the school's choir and I had it on tape. 😅
Geez I’m ready for this one xD
On Christmaseve my mother was my mother was making the potatosalad (with apples, pickeld cucumber, mayonaise and mustard) my father puts up the Christmastree with the lightchain and my mother and I put on the decoration like glasballs, selfmade stars from straw or crochet ones. And after that we decoraded our „Bunte Teller“ (coloured plattes) on which are christmas treats like Plätzchen and Lebkuchen/gingerbread. Than we have dinner with wiener sausage and potatosalad and we all share a bottle of beer. Than we go changing clothes and my Mother rings a little bell to tell us The the Christkind was there and we all go to the livingroom where the tree was. Than my father reads the christmasstory from the bible (Lukas 2) we prayed and sang some christmascarrols (Stille Nacht, Leise rieselt der Schnee,…) an after that we unpacked our presents.
The next day we had potatosalad (it was better the next day) and Schäufele (smoked porkshoulder boiled)
I had a huge crisi last year realising, after my grandma died in November, i won't get hand knitted wool socks by her anymore. They are the best in cold winter.
We even asked for new socks and chose the style and colour.
Yes i am german and nothing better than handmade socks.
Also 24th and 31st is usually a half working day. People take 1 day of their anual leave in total for both days.
While she did mention that the 24th is not a public holiday, she kinda forgot to say that both, 25th and 26th are.
The reason why we have coffee and cake in the afternoon is because we always do when we meet family or friends around that time, christmas eve is just like any other day in this regards.
When it comes to dinner on christmas day, I want to remind you that germans don't usually have a warm dinner but rather just supper with bread, sausage, cheese and spreads. We will have a warm lunch instead, which may included leftovers from the christmas dinner.
When it comes to presents, I as a child always got the presents from my grandparents at christmas eve, after the dinner at their house, and the presents from my parents at christmas day in the morning.
Our company gives us to use overtime hours to take off half a day on the 24. and the 31. The other half we just have off.
i'm an essential worker, so either i get christmass off or the 31 December/1st january. But we do get the sunday/holiday bonus for the 24th and 31st December if we work in the evenings.
Ngh... No. Saint Nick comes on the 6th of December to fill our boots with lil treats like nuts and chocolates and small gifts. On the 24th it's the Christkind. usually depicted as a blond white dressed angel. In my family noone ever dressed up. the tree was in the living room and the gifts under the tree suddenly "appeared" while the kids were distracted.
For the 24th of Dezember - "holy evening" - it isn't the whole day a bank holiday with closed offices an else.
For the office dewellers it is "half a working day" - if you want the whole day off, you need to take half a day of your holiday budget.
For the shopping - the last shops close normally at 16:00.
Even the restaurants or even the fast food outlets like McDonalds are closed.
The only things open are the gas stations - and of course all emergency services and transportation.
The time between - I would say 16/17:00 is the quietest part of the commercial year - until some pubs open (starting at 20:00 or later) for all those who want to get out.
Leave their families alone - meet up with friends.
On the 25th and 26th shops are closed - but quite a few restaurants (and even clubs) have reopened.
Offices are closed.
Working on 31th is the same than on 24th. If you want the hole day off - just take a half day of holiday.
Shops usually close at 20:00.
And restaurants are open - not like on 24th.
You can start your new years celebration any time you like - but beware - in most restaurants you have to book a table and a menu.
That usually has a starting date - when you are expected to already having taken your seats.
I had to work either over Christmas (24. - 26.12.) or over Silvester and Newyear. I work in a Hospital.
In my last company, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve were company holidays. In others, the company treats them as holidays but you need to spend one vacation day for both together. In others, the company stays open for half a day on those two days, and you can spend one vacation day to get those two halves off. Others encourage you to use them to reduce overtime, or to take vacation as this allows them to close.
Not much gets done on those days anyway, and with most people taking vacations, even if there's no bonus deal, keeping the company premises open is a net negative for the company. Heating the whole building, keeping the lights on and paying security staff for those 3 or 4 people who actually show up to work doesn't make financial sense. In manufacturing it's even worse, as you need a minimum amount of workers to man a production line.
In many areas, this also extends to the time "between the years", i.e. the days between Christmas and either New Year's Day or Epiphany (Jan 6th). Most people take vacation days for those anyway, so many companies close down, making those mandatory vacations. (German law allows up to half of your vacation days to be company-mandated by closing down.)
In eastern Germany (GDR), many people started to shop for christmas in january. If you find something that would be a nice present for christmas, you take the chance, even though you would have 11 months left. Just because you could not find special gifts in the last weeks for christmas so easily in the GDR.
Many people, especially people with small children, take a day or half a day off on December 24th. But many smaller businesses don’t open (or close earlier) on that day anyway.
Most stores, including grocery stores, also close earlier.
German Christmas traditions vary a bit from region to region. There's a division line roughly from the northwest of Germany to the southeast, in the north the "Weihnachtsmann" brings the gifts. I'd say he's more akin to the British Father Christmas than the American Santa though. In the South it's the "Christkind", ("christ child", not to be confused with baby Jesus) which is a mythical angel-like figure of a girl with long golden hair in a flowing white dress.
I'm from the southwest, and in our family it was always tradition to have the "Bescherung" after dinner. So we would have dinner at around 6pm, after that the kids would help mum with the dishes in the kitchen, when suddenly you could hear the sound of bells. We would drop everything and race into the living room, only to find dad there, telling us, sorry, you just missed the Christkind by seconds, it only just left… xD
Then we unwrapped our presents and spent the evening playing with our new toys.
Oh, and if we didn't behave earlier, e.g. during dinner, our parents would threaten us, telling the Christkind, all-knowing as it is, wouldn't come if we didn't behave. So no need to pull the presents out before dinner ;)
In the last companys I worked for in the last 30 years, I have to spend 1 vacation day to get 24.12. AND 31.12. off. Most of the companies close on both days and this is the way to make it nice for both.
So when I was still working (yes, I'm retired today), working hours on Christmas Eve lasted until 4 p.m. at most, I think work ended at 2 p.m. in the whole of Germany... you had to go to church early in the evening and join in Unpacking the presents under the Christmas tree...
I think it's a sign of getting older, but I would be very happy about warm, fluffy socks :D My biological mother lives at the other end of the country, we send each other packages and talk on the phone. She will give me a hand-crocheted blanket (she accidentally revealed it by accident, ha!), and I'm already exciting as heck.
"Stollen" is a yeast dough with a high fat content and not bread. It is a cake in the shape of a bread. Greetings from a trained baker from Germany.
Brits are to polite to be honest,
Germans are to honest to be polite ...
😂 If we found a middle way in almost everything we would be (almost) in Utopia or? 🤭
At Christmas Eve and Silvester Shops are Open till 1PM.
Not where I am 🙂
1 PM (Nachmittag), AM would be 1 in the morning. (Man kann sich das gut merken, wenn man aus AM gedanklich "am Morgen" macht)
'bis 13 Uhr geöffnet, lol!!! 😂👍
In the company where I work, there are company holidays from 24 Dec to 1 Jan, i.e. everyone has to take 4 days off during this period (24, 27, 30, 31 Dec). 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan are public holidays.
In our company, we also don't work at Christmas Eve. We simply have company holiday on Dec 24 and Dec 31.