Which German Christmas traditions are American too?
Frohe Weihnachten or Merry Christmas! Today I wanted to go over some German Christmas traditions and whether or not we celebrate them in the United States as well. Germany is known for its beautiful Christmas time experience, and I think one of the main reasons for this is because there are just so many fun traditions. Some that I talked about include Lebkuchen, the Adventskranz, St. Niklaus Tag, Plätzchen backen and more. You’ll have to watch the video to find out which traditions are also part of an American Christmas and which ones are not!
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My name is Montana Showalter, and I was a participant in the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange program in 2019-2020. I started my KZread channel while living in Germany and continue to make videos on German vs American culture. I love finding aspects of German culture in the US as well as producing videos in German as practice! In the future, I hope to live abroad again :)
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Suprised you didn't talk about the christmas tree. It's the most well known christmas tradition around the world and I'm sure there are differences between the original christmas tree tradition (which started in Germany) and the christmas tree in the US.
And the "12 Days of Christmas" before Xmas isn't supposed to be a thing. The 1st Day of Christmas is Xmas Day and the 12th is the Epiphany, which celebrates the arrival of the 3 Kings. In some cultures (for example, Puerto Rico), that's the gift giving day of the season.
Weihnachts-bread is nuts! :D Pretty sure you forgot about Krampus tho...
@peterdoe2617
2 жыл бұрын
While the Krampus is a figure from Austria and the south of Germany. Up here in the far north I had actually never heard of it until the older daughter of my fiancè mentioned it in her wishes to me, this year. They are australian :-)
As noted by others, St Nicholas Day is on December 6th, not 5th. And "Santa Claus" is basically derived from "Saint Nicholas".
Christkindlmarkt was always my favorite christmas tradition when I lived in Germany. Still to this day I will keep a bottle of Gluhwein around to enjoy on cold nights.
The „almond Cookies“ are called „Vanillekipferl“ 🎄. Frohe Festtage und einen guten Start ins Jahr 2022!
@alexj9603
2 жыл бұрын
I don't think that "Mandelhörnchen" is the same as "Vanillekipferl". Similar shape, but completely different ingredients.
Hello from Denmark. We also have the four candles on advent sundays, as well as one big candle with 24 markings - the "calender candle". The yule-log cake is indeed french and called Bûche de Noël. We tried that a few years ago in my family. It's fun to make.
@alexj9603
2 жыл бұрын
The German Christstollen is quite different from the French bûche de Noël. The tradition of this recipe come from Dresden, where you can still find the best Stollen.
I have used and advent wreath for years and so does my church. I remember when my church introduced the idea when I was i Junior High. The advent wreath is a he centrpiece to my table.
Hello Montana, I'm a bit late, but have two remarks on the Adventskranz: 1) The main thing is that you light one candle on the first sunday, two candles on the second and so forth. In this way you can SEE Christmas coming nearer. 2) It was invented in 1839 by Johann Hinrich Wichern, a protestant pastor who ran an orphanage in Hamburg, to prepare the children under his protection for Christmas (and probably also to avoid the constant "How long is it until Christmas?"-questions by the little ones). His original version consisted of a wooden cart wheel and 24 candles, four of them bigger ones for the sundays. Pine twigs were added some 20 years later. While some protestant institutions may still use this original form under the Name of Wichernkranz, most Germans use the simpler four-candled one. Catholics took a bit longer to adopt this tradition, in some regions as late as WW2.
Nikolaus ist immer am 6. Dezember.
@clgr1402
2 жыл бұрын
In dem bayerischen Dorf, in dem ich aufgewachsen bin , ist der Nikolaus tatsächlich gekommen, wir haben keine Schuhe rausgestellt, sondern ein als Nikolaus verkleideter Mann (viele Vereine bieten das an) ist in die Häuser gekommen, zusammen mit Engeln und dem Krampus. Dann hat er aus seinem Goldenen Buch vorgelesen, ob man auch brav war, oft haben die Kinder dann noch was vorgesungen oder ein Gedicht aufgesagt und dann hat man vom Nikolaus "persönlich" das Geschenk bekommen. Und das war am Vorabend des Nikolaus-Tages, als am 5. Dezember. Also es ist durchaus in manchen Regionen üblich, dass der Nikolaus am 5. kommt.
@j.a.1721
2 жыл бұрын
Sie hat eh nur gesagt dass man am 5. die Schuhe rausstellt.
A little late: Frohe Weihnachten (gehabt zu haben)! The funniest tradition, many US citizens believe we have is the gherkin in the christmas tree. A tradition, of which no german I know has ever heard. A legend! (I have one now, since my wife was american.) Best part of it: when we bought some in OK, we found out that they are actually produced in Germany. Obviously only for the american market :-) About the cookies: they are a big deal! While sending parcels has become ridiculously expensive, but pls ask your host family for scans from the Dr.Oetker book "Backen macht Freude". Many households have it. My copy is from maybe 1960? There is a whole variety in that book. And I've baked most of them. If they or one of their neighbours don't have it: one can buy it on ebay or medimops for "N` Appel und n` Ei". It's also very common to include kids into the making of them. They love it!
I've seen those candles in America, but I thought they were just put out because they looked "Christmassy." I didn't know they were part of an actual tradition.
Traditionally the Christkind brings the presents after church. In my Grandparent's time church service at Christmas (at least the catholic Christmette) was at midnight, so back then the children usually got the presents the next morning (i.e. Dec 25th, just like in the US). Later (mid-20th century) church service at Christmas Eve was moved to more family-friendly times, which also moved the "Bescherung" to Christmas eve. According to my Grandma, her Grandparent's told her, that in their childhood presents weren't even given before Jan 6th (the day the three wise men came to bring gifts to baby Jesus).
Next X mas Time in Passau go to Schärding!Christkindlmarkt auf dem Schiff am Inn!
Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas. I'm from China, and I'm an international student in the U.S. I currently take German language & culture classes and may consider studying in Deutschland in the future. It is, indeed, fun to compare, share, and learn the cultural differences.
@andyvandyne8499
2 жыл бұрын
Freedom Uriguren, Freedom Taiwan, Freedom Human rights. Freedeom Democracy, Help China for Freedom!
Hey, Santa Montana, nice outfit! So you're at least half Santa Clara, now. :-)
Hey, ho!! Einen guten Rutsch and all the best in '22 for U, too. (🍾)🐖🎊🍀🥳🎆🥠🐞 ☮ And Ciao
Vietnam was a French colony for many years, so it's not surprising they have some French traditions that were imported along with religion.
You forgot to mention Glühwein ;-)
Believe it or not, getting KFC fried chicken on Christmas is a thing in Japan 😄
Frohe Weihnachten! 🎄🎁
Merry Christmas! Something I would like to point out as an American is that the Advent wreath and St. Nicholas day are both celebrated in the US too actually 😅 since they are not just German traditions but are celebrated worldwide by Catholics.
@joegoss30
2 жыл бұрын
Most Catholics & Episcopalians (perhaps other mainstream Protestants) are familiar with the Advent wreath from church. One thing that irritates Catholics is that you don't sing any Christmas songs in Church until Christmas itself and then sing them until the 12th day of Xmas (Epiphany) at a time when everyone else has moved on from the Christmas season and from carols.
@CHarlotte-ro4yi
2 жыл бұрын
Both traditions are German originally and interestingly the advent wreath came from a Lutheran/Protestant priest but is now mostly popular among Catholics in the US but popular with religious and non-religious Germans. Also Germans(also the more secular ones) make a semantic difference between the time leading up to Christmas called advent and Christmastime which indeed lasts till the 6th of January (Epiphany). I feel like Celebrations around Christmas are still more connected to its religious-heathen roots in Germany than in the US generally speaking.
@joegoss30
2 жыл бұрын
@@CHarlotte-ro4yi Makes sense. In the US, Catholics in many areas have traditionally been "othered." So the Advent time is considered too "Catholic" so many Protestant traditions (though certainly not all) reject Advent (and Lent). The same with Epiphany. It's interesting that the Catholics took the Advent wreath tradition as their own, but Protestants here mostly rejected the concept.
@ralfklonowski3740
2 жыл бұрын
@@joegoss30 This is somewhat ironic. Catholic Germans were slow to adopt the Adventskranz as it was percieved as a protestant invention. Their special Christmas tradition was to have nativity scenes, first in church and later also at home, the latter ones often self built. Some Protestants, but not all, would reject this as an idolatory practice, although the physical nativity was never an object of worship.
@ralfklonowski3740
2 жыл бұрын
@@CHarlotte-ro4yi I agree but get the feeling that in Germany along with the dissolution of the religious context also the lines between Advent and Christmas get blurred. More and more people have their tree in the room or on the porch one or two weeks early and then dismantle it befor New Year.
I wish you a merry christmas!🧑🎄 A beautiful dress!
😃👍 Merry Christmas
In the netherlands December, 5th is the Christmas Day. 😀
Thanks for sharing! I learned a lot ❤️ We moved to the US in July and I was so suprised to learn that some Xmas traditions that we are so used to do not exist in the US. My kids learn a lot about American traditions in school and they insisted to leave cookies🍪 and milk🥛 our for Santa this year 😊
In Germany we have many Plätzle/Plätzchen (in Schwaben "Loible") Rezepte, I don't know how much, but my grandmother is able to find every year a new one
Sad, that you didn´t like the "Stollen" at all. ^__^ It´s really good, I think. :"> Next Time you´re in Germany, please also try a *"Zelten"* ( from Old High German: "Zelti" = Fruit Bread ) here in Southern Germany. Strange, but my FRENCH Exchange Student hadn´t been keen on eating VANILLA SAUCE with his "Dampfnudeln", which is another German SWEET Dish (but not exclusively only for Christmas Time). :"> So there seem to be a LOT of different personal Tastes, when it comes to SWEET Dishes. =) Haha
Merry Christmas y'all 🥰 frohe Weihnachten 🦌
The Advent wreath is done every Advent in Catholic churches for the 4 weeks of Advent. It is international.
@PD62155
2 жыл бұрын
Not just Catholic Churches.
Yeah stockings are kinda replaced with the st. Nikolaus tradition in Germany, which maybe comes from the fact that "Santa Claus" is "Saint (ni)-claus", so the US celebrate him on Christmas day itself, while in Germany the night between the 5th and the 6th is "Santa day" (Kind of) and on Christmas it isn't Santa who comes, But mostly the "Christkind" which a Lot of children Imagine as an beautiful Angel with Long Hair and a White Dress, while it (or at least the Name) actually comes from Jesus, who was Born in Xmas day lolll
Weihnachten st auch in Deutschland am 25ten Dezember und wird als solches auch gefeiert. Da brauchst du nur die Gänse fragen.
Oh, the Lebkuchen were the ones Lucy Hun. liked very much. She even wanted to import some :-)
Können wir noch auf ein Vidoe "auf deutsch" hoffen dieses Jahr? btw: froh Weinchnachten und alles Gute auch für Deine Eltern!!!
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 and “Nikolaus” is on the 6th and not the 5th of December…
Congratulations! It looks like you're wearing an engagement ring!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Montana!
In the old times a new day started with the darkness setting in. So we Germans just kept that "tradition" of getting the gifts right after the 25th started or basically just celebrating into the birthday.
I like the abstract nativity scene. Hahaha!
Another thing you didn’t talk about is the candy cane. You mentioned it once while talking about the advent calendar, but I’ve actually never had one in my entire life I think. It’s a very American candy I reckon. I always wanted one tho. 😆 Actually in our nativity set two of the kings are missing, so little Jesus didn’t get as many gifts this year as he used to. 🤣 Anyways, I hope y’all had a great Christmas! 😄
@joegoss30
2 жыл бұрын
Most Americans don't really like candy canes. Those are always the last candy left in the after-Christmas clearance sales.
@DerRoemer2000
2 жыл бұрын
@@joegoss30 That’s strange. But I kinda see that. They look very hard so you could probably lose a tooth or two. 🥴 I still want one tho. 🤣
@kilsestoffel3690
2 жыл бұрын
@@DerRoemer2000 I've bought these canes at our chistmasmarket every year (except last year and this year). Yes, they are hard and it's a mess to eat them. You can break them with your teeth or lick them. If you lick them, you'll get also sugary, sticky fingers and it takes a lot of time, so you put them away before they are finished. Especially toddlers and candy canes are a messy combination. I buy them only- as decoration. (though there's always somebody who eats them)
Nice video! :) Frohe Weihnachten nachträglich! 🎄
Well, Vietnam was a french colony for a large part of its more modern history. I can imagine, that the traditions of the colonial overlords were probably aquired in that era...
The most traditions that are still existing in the US are from some early German immigrants, i guess if you would travel to Chicago or other cities in the US with a lot of old German traditions that survived after the two world wars. You will find in these families a little bit more about Christmas. The US is more a kind of commercial and material celebration. That's way the US has just one day of celebration. The society of consumers doesn't allow more quiet days to get some rest and joy with the family 😊 Next year try a cold beer and some sausages for Santa Claus 🎅🍻🌭
You have to eat Früchtebrot in the Wintertime, it's also very german
I have never heard or seem st Nikolaus day been celebrated in America.I lived there for 8 years and had children in the school there.
👍
Nikolaus ist am 6. December nicht am 5.
@annima1484
2 жыл бұрын
Ich glaube sie meinte, dass man am 5. Dezember die Schuh rausstellt und dann am nächsten Morgen also am 6.12 die Geschenke öffnet
@clgr1402
2 жыл бұрын
In dem bayerischen Dorf, in dem ich aufgewachsen bin , ist der Nikolaus tatsächlich gekommen, wir haben keine Schuhe rausgestellt, sondern ein als Nikolaus verkleideter Mann (viele Vereine bieten das an) ist in die Häuser gekommen, zusammen mit Engeln und dem Krampus. Dann hat er aus seinem Goldenen Buch vorgelesen, ob man auch brav war, oft haben die Kinder dann noch was vorgesungen oder ein Gedicht aufgesagt und dann hat man vom Nikolaus "persönlich" das Geschenk bekommen. Und das war am Vorabend des Nikolaus-Tages, als am 5. Dezember. Also es ist durchaus in manchen Regionen üblich, dass der Nikolaus am 5. kommt.
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vanillekipferl ftw
Hey. Has anybody seen the netflix movie „anonymously yours“ and although think the actress looks like montana?
Germans don't use socks! LoL 😂 No, I think it's more an Anglo-Saxon thing to fill stockings for Christmas Day.
Christmas stockings are not a "thing" in Germany. I've never seen any, and I've been around for a while.
@jojoja1752
2 жыл бұрын
In some families they definitely are me and my siblings as well as some friends had them
Du bist echt ein Schnukelchen :-)
Your microphone does not pick up sounds from outside. I don't hear the children on the trampoline at all.
@imrehundertwasser7094
2 жыл бұрын
Then you should consider having your ears checked ;-)
"Christkind" is only in southern Germany I think, in the rest of the country it is always the "Weihnachtsmann" (= Santa Claus) who brings the Christmas gifts. Good example for the fact that there is not really anything like a "German tradition". It always depends on which part of Germany we are talking about. Germany as a country or nation dates back only to 1871 and does not really have a long tradition.
@00Mali00
2 жыл бұрын
I'm from Hamburg and the "Christkind" exists there also 😜
@thab9260
2 жыл бұрын
I think, it is more common in the regions, where the people have some connection to the churches, even if they go only on Christmas Eve to it. I have made the experience that Santa Claus comesmore often to children in the former GDR because the churches had a defensive role in the former socialistic state
@jannix861
2 жыл бұрын
The Christkind was kind of introduced by Martin Luther, because he was boycotting the "Heiligenverehrung" (pray to holy persons) of the church. Before the Christkind was introduced the gifts was brought by St. Nicholaus and so he introduced the "Holy Christ " which is now known as Christkind. Ironically the Christkind is mostly used in catholic areas in Germany while the protestant area uses the "Weihnachtsmann" (Santa Claus). These information are from an Instagram post of a german page (zdfinfo). I haven't researched if it's exactly true but this is the shorted and translated version of it.
@ravanpee1325
2 жыл бұрын
@@jannix861 Yes, that's pretty much the story.
@imrehundertwasser7094
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah well, the *modern* German state more or less goes back to 1871. But there's a much longer tradition behind it, basically the whole Holy Roman Empire that began in the 800s or 900s depending on your definition, plus some predecessors by Germanic tribes like the Franks.
✌️✌️
XXX Vorschlag - mach doch mal ein Video wie es so ist als Kind in den USA aufzuwachsen und wie viel Freiheiten man so hat ....
Nikolaus ist am 6. Dezember, nicht am 5. ;)
@tommay6590
2 жыл бұрын
Aber wenn es in Deutschland der 6.12. wird ist es in den USA noch der 5.12.😉😅😂
@clgr1402
2 жыл бұрын
In dem bayerischen Dorf, in dem ich aufgewachsen bin , ist der Nikolaus tatsächlich gekommen, wir haben keine Schuhe rausgestellt, sondern ein als Nikolaus verkleideter Mann (viele Vereine bieten das an) ist in die Häuser gekommen, zusammen mit Engeln und dem Krampus. Dann hat er aus seinem Goldenen Buch vorgelesen, ob man auch brav war, oft haben die Kinder dann noch was vorgesungen oder ein Gedicht aufgesagt und dann hat man vom Nikolaus "persönlich" das Geschenk bekommen. Und das war am Vorabend des Nikolaus-Tages, als am 5. Dezember. Also es ist durchaus in manchen Regionen üblich, dass der Nikolaus am 5. kommt.
Backen = bakken. Don't be afraid of the ck. That's one of the few constant mistakes you're making, you say it like ch. It's simply a hard k. So the exact opposite from ch 😉
@alexj9603
2 жыл бұрын
I noticed that,too. Montana's pronunciation as "bachen" is very close to what you can hear in Swiss dialects.
Montie, yo awesome! Candid respect from a hot Russian bro :)
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