A List of German Christmas Traditions

Here are some German Christmas traditions and legends from Germany. It’s fun to go back and find out the traditions of your ancestors or the countries they came from. Incorporate some of these German traditions into your holidays.

There are legends that on Christmas Eve the animals can speak. That is similar to a Lithuanian legend that at the stroke of midnight, when it turns from Christmas Eve to Christmas day, animals can speak with humans. You’re supposed to listen closely to see what the animals say. My cats have never said anything however. Not even a meow.

Other German legends are that on Christmas Eve the rivers turn into wine, trees bear fruit, mountains show the precious gemstones hidden within, and that church bells can be heard ringing from the ocean. The legends also state that only those pure at heart, or with no sins on their souls, can see this wonderful Christmas magic.

On the evening of December 5th German children place a shoe or boot by the fireplace. During the night of December 6th, St. Nick’s Day, St. Nicholas will go from house to house. (St. Nick is the patron saint of children). St. Nick carries a book of how the children behaved throughout the year. If they have been relatively good, no child is perfect, then St. Nick leaves yummy food for the child. If the child has bee naughty then they get twigs in the shoe.

We celebrated St. Nick’s Day when I grew up. We placed the shoe outside our bedroom door though. When we woke up the next day it was usually filled with healthy things like fruit. What a disappointment! If you’ve been good you should at least get some delicious candy that you never get! Make sure when you do these German Christmas traditions in your house, you leave the kids some yummy treats!