Advent

in Deutschland

Was ist Advent?

• Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before 25. Dezember.
• This year it began on _________________.
• It begins the countdown to Weihnachten.

​

How is it celebrated?

• Der Weihnachtsmarkt
• Booths and stalls are set up in the cities’ markets where you can buy everything you need for Weihnachten.
• They have many different products including: der Kranz, der Adventskalender, der Lebkuchenmann, der Tannenbaum, die Musik, die Pläzchen, Stollen, usw.

Der Kranz

• Der Adventkranz ist ein Kreis mit vier Kerzen.
• One is lit every Sunday until Christmas.
• Flower shops begin preparing weeks before.
• They are made out of and decorated by a number of products.

Der Adventskalender

• Every day beginning on the first day of December, you open up a door to find some sort of picture, phrase, and even sometimes candy behind the door.
• There are 24 doors on the Kalender.

Der Lebkuchenmann

• Just like the Lebkuchenherz, the Lebkuchenmann is a holiday tradition.
• They can be bought at the markets already decorated or you can make them at home to add your own special touch.

​

Lebkuchen

• You can also find a number of other items created out of Lebkuchen.
• das Lebkuchenhaus
• der Lebkuchenstern
• der Lebkuchenweihnachtsbaum

​

Der Tannenbaum

• A German Christian tradition, nearly everyone in Germany takes home a tree, live or artificial.
• The tradition is strongly linked to the Germans. With many theories reaching back to the 7^th Century.
• Today’s tradition is more linked to the Protestant movement in the 16^th century in Germany.

Der Weihnachtsbaum

• The trees were originally decorated with fruits, candies, candles, paper and wood ornaments.
• Today, candles are still used on trees in Germany; however electric strings of mini lights are used in the United States.
• Ornaments now include garland, tinsel, wax, plastic and glass items.

Die Musik

• Schmück das Haus
• Deck the Halls
• O Tannenbaum
• Oh Christmas Tree
• Stille Nacht
• Silent Night
• O kleines Städtchen Bethlehem
• Little Town of Bethlehem

• Glockenklang
• Jingle Bells
• Herbei, o ihr Gläubigen
• Oh Come All Ye Faithful
• Freude der Welt
• Joy to the World
• Weisse Weihnacht
• White Christmas

More Carols - German

Die Pläzchen

• Almond crescents (Vanillekipferl)
• Aachener Printen
• Butterplätzchen
• Springerle
• Spitzbuben – filled
• Lebkuchen
• Coconut macaroons

​

​

Stollen

Stollen is a sweet bread with dried fruits and nuts

NOT like our fruit cake.

Wer kommt?

Schmück das Haus�Deck the Halls

• Tune: Welsh – 16^th Century

• Lyrics: English – 19^th Century

O Tannenbaum�Oh Christmas Tree

• Text based on a 16^th Century Silesian folk song

• Tune & Lyrics German – 19^th Century

Stille Nacht�Silent Night

• German, 19^th Century
• Austria

O kleines Städtchen Bethlehem �Little Town of Bethlehem

• English 19^th Century
• Philadelphia

Glockenklang�Jingle Bells

• English 19^th Century
• New England area

Herbei, o ihr Gläubigen�Oh Come All Ye Faithful

• Latin – 18^th Century
• England?

Freude der Welt�Joy to the World

• English – 18^th Century

• England

Weisse Weihnacht�White Christmas

• English - 20^th Century