Lets start with advent. Advent is when the preparations for Christmas really begin – the
festive menu (Weihnachtsmenu) is planned, gifts are chosen and wrapped (eingepackt), Christmas carols (Weihnachtslieder) sung, Christmas cards (Weihnachtskarten) are written and posted and houses decorated. However in Britain people do not all light candles every Sunday during advent, like in Germany.
At Christmas time, it is traditional in England for primary schools (Grundschulen) to put on a nativity play. The Nativity Play (Krippenspiel) recreates the scene of Jesus‘ birth in the stable (Stall). The parts of Mary, Joseph, the
Shepherds (Hirten) and the Wise Men (Drei Weisen) are played by the children.
Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) is traditionally the day for decorating churches and homes. It marks the beginning of the period formally known as Christmas-tide. Night time on Christmas Eve is a very exciting time for young children. It is the time when Father Christmas (Weihnachtsmann) comes. The children leave mince pies (Früchte-Törtchen) and brandy for Father Christmas, and a carrot and a bowl of water for the reindeer. Children hang their christmas stockings (Socken, Strümpfe) or pillowcases (Kopfkissenbezüge) up ready for Father Christmas, who will hopefully fill them up with presents, if the children have been good. The children then go to sleep and wait for Christmas morning to see if he has been.
Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtstag) is the favourite day for all children. They wake up very early in the morning to find their stockings have been filled by Father Christmas and excitedly unwrap their presents. The Christmas dinner is usually eaten at lunchtime or early afternoon on Christmas day. A traditional Christmas dinner consists of roast turkey (Truthahn) followed by Christmas pudding.
Christmas Crackers* (Knallbonbons) are very popular and accompany Christmas dinner. The traditional way to pull a cracker is by crossing your arms and pulling a whole circle of crackers all around the table. Everyone holds their cracker in their right hand and pulls their neighbours (Nachbar) cracker with the free left hand. Inside the cracker there is a tissue paper hat (Papierkrone), a joke (Witz) and a little gift (Geschenk).
Suzanne Wood
Die English for Beginners Kolumne schreibt Suzanne Wood, eine gebürtige Engländerin, die in Köln lebt.
* Christmas Crackers erhalten Sie im English Shop in Köln.