What I like best of Christmas is the Christmas mass at midnight. At the end of the mass when all lights are turned off we sing "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht". It always brings tears to my eyes.
German here, I need no special day to meet with my family. I support my family and others who need help every day if necessary (sometime in a way that is expensive relative for my income )and if I want to see my kids I make a call and jump on the bike.
I am British and don't think I could enjoy the very understated Christmas described in the video. I love it, the trees, lights, decorations, special food, the markets. I don't find it over the top and I don't spend more than I can afford. You can only be a victim of consumerism at its worst if you allow yourself to be.
I am German, we don't have a tree, but we decorate the living room and have little decorative pieces throughout the rest of the apartment. No fancy food, no gifts. Just some decorations to create the mood and make it cozy.
It's the same for me. I last times, I had a Christmas tree and fairy lights on every window, but that became too much for me over the time. Now I just have an arch of lights in the living room window, that's enough. To older I get, the less I need that. I enjoy the Christmas decorations in the cities and in other people's windows and/or gardens.
@@jerryl6634 That's right, but how did this happen? The decorated Christmas tree is actually a tradition, that originates from Germany. Initially, however, decorating trees had no connection with Christian-Christmas. Our Germanic ancestors celebrated a completely different festival around December 22nd: the winter solstice. At the time of the winter solstice, people brought so-called "winter maypoles" into their homes. These green branches were a sign of life, were meant to drive away winter spirits and promised protection and fertility.
20 years ago we decided that we adults wouldn't give each other presents. Only the children naturally found their presents under the tree. Christmas together with all of us is our present... much better than vouchers or things that you don't like. Since then, the Christmas season has been more relaxed and we have been able to concentrate on making it nice for the children.
The food at Christmas varies: Some people eat Christmas Eve sausages with potato-salad, others eat raclette or whatever, nothing big. Then on the first day after Christmas Eve there is the Christmas goose and on the second day after Christmas Eve the remains of the big Christmasgoose meal are eaten. That's how I remember it from earlier times...
People go in depth because of that. I’m German I get homesick every year since I’m in the US because I miss my family. It’s not about the gifts it’s about being with your family
(I'm from the UK) As a young child I liked Christmas because I'm from a large family and all being together at the same time was wonderful, but my mum died just before Christmas when I was eleven and Christmas has never interested me since, I've tried when I was with someone, but it just doesn't work for me, yes I'm long over my mums death, but I had looked at Christmas from the outside for so long that it wasn't special, I see friends etc but it's not about Christmas, it's about friendships and being happy to see them. I don't become maudling or glum in any way, I realised that life goes on, just in different ways sometimes, right now I have just got home from walking my dog, she is asleep and I will be soon also. Yet another excellent video, you open up unlike others, I listen to your words, you put thought into what you are saying and it shows. Thank you :)
I don’t celebrate Xmas anymore but I always liked how my family celebrated it during my childhood: With December there was some decoration. An Advent wreath with 4 candles was a staple.😅 Plus some other smaller things. Every Advent Sunday evening we came together as a family for an hour to hear Xmas music. We didn’t talk during this hour. It was a cozy atmosphere with the candles, the decoration and the music. Everybody had time for their own thoughts. Usually afterwards we talked about whatever was on our minds. The tree came up on the 24th. Got decorated. Dad’s part. Mom cooked up a storm during that time. Meal prepping for the holidays. We kids were the help for both. Everything was ready and prepared in the afternoon. Then we got to church (no, we weren’t religious. My grandma was the only catholic). After church was Xmas eve. Presents and potato salad and sausages. (Yep. That cliche 🤣) The two days afterwards were family time. Alone or with friends. And a lot of delicious food. Tree and decoration were gone around the 6th of January.
In my Bavarian Familiy of origin the tradition has been to play Christmas songs with our instruments… (…after the the bell rang and were allowed to go into the living room.)The days before the 24. the living room was closed for us children to not disturb the Christkind. After we entered the living room,playing songs , we were watching the Christmas tree with real candles while my father was reading the story of Jesus birth. …and after a while of enjoying the holy atmosphere and smelling the tree and looking at the beautiful tree, , my parents allowed us kids to slowly open our presents , which were somewhere under the Christmas tree. After that we ate a lots of Plätzchen and drank Kinderpunsch, the parents Glühwein. …and later in the evening we all drove to a church where my father played contrabass …and the highlight was to sing all together „ Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht“ . The churches are always full of people on Christmas 24.12. and I think a lot of the people come to church just for that song at the end of the Christmesse. // I never have been in the US, but I like all these Hallmark Christmas movies… snow, decoration and a little love story with a happy ending… 😁🥰
@@loreley3126 I live in Southern Europe and I have sister who works in Munich ,I visited her there like 10 years ago and I went to the middle of the city where this big church was there ,I can't remember it's name, on the top the church there were large figures of persons going around and playing the glockenspiel, it was very beautiful.
Swede here. In my family, the important thing is being together. Sure, we have a christmas tree, decorated at the 23d (24th this year due to location and travel time) a christmas ham, meatballs, herring and the rest, and in the evening , presents. But the main thing is getting together. The rest is tailored around that. As for presents, the best gift is one that shows thought and knowledge of the receiver, the worst is one that is only a fist of money.
Sweden we have a big dinner on Christmas eve and gifts but we buy what is needed during the year in clothes, books and some stuff which is more personal. It’s not more is better it’s more I love you.
Namibian German here. We love a summer Christmas but we do it shuttle. No big precents only something to eat and close family get stuff you can use during the year. Clothes, creams, shower gells and a big Christmas lunch. So no big extravagant Chistmas only family.
I'm no longer a Christian, but I still know the rules of Christmas well here in southern Germany. They start with Advent in December with the four Sundays that are celebrated with the candles on the Advent wreath and the calendar with 24 doors. The tree is only decorated on the 24th and then left in the home until January 6th. Everything else is modern and commercial, especially the outdoor decorations, which come from the USA. I can still remember my childhood, when you could only see the illuminated Christmas trees in the houses in the dark streets at Christmas, which was spiritually amazing
I grew up in Germany but celebrated Christmas once as a guest in an American family. In my personal experience the American Christmas was loud and happy, while the Christmas I knew from home was quiet and peaceful. They are different but both equally enjoyable.
How about not celebrating nothing at all and everyday is the same, and if you want to feel something special on a certain day, anyday, you just visit an animal shelter, or take a walk on the beach or forest!?❤
I didn't know Raclette was popular for Christmas in Germany. In the Netherlands we call it Gourmet, but I think it's basically the same. A grill with tiny pans on the dinner table and everyone cooks in their own pan. It's hugely popular in the Netherlands. I think at least half the country does this on Christmas. I thought it was typical Dutch (to have this as a Christmas dinner). Funny that the Germans do this as well.
@@BobWitlox Raclette for Christmas has recently replaced the Fondue that many people had on New Year’s Eve. For families with (young) children, neither is realistic on Christmas Eve, the most frequent Christmas Eve supper still is Potato Salad (according to both statistics and reason) because it can be prepared in advance. Food like Fondue or Raclette is, for very many people, suitable for New Year’s Eve because it helps to kill time while waiting for midnight and it keeps you and your guests joined at the table for a long time.
My husband and I stoped exchanging christmas gifts in our late 20's as well and we even could convince our relatives and friends to that - with the exception of our kids. They got their gifts of course from the Weihnachtsmann/ Christkind/ Santa Claus. Instead since then we have a much less stressful time during the four weeks of Advent and do enjoy a jolly family gathering and dinner on Heiligabend.
American traditions spreading in Sweden more and more and forgetting our own tradition. I know people eating American Thanksgiving dinner, with NO connection to Sweden or our history. Starting Christmas celebration in Advent (that is a preparation time before Christmas) and removing Christmas trees and related decorations before New year's eve (that is in the middle of the Christmas time.) The commercial side of it is even emphasised by shops starting their "mellandagsrea", sale after Christmas, on Christmas day!
Ultimately, this is a rite that is celebrated in all cultures when the food has been harvested for survival the winter. Here in southern Germany, it's a Catholic celebration, but with lots of local vegetables and not a turkey .
I grew up celebrating the American way of Christmas and those are my fondest memories. For my American mom it was a huge deal and she went all out along with her neighbors. You are right though, there is something to appreciate in both cultures.
When I was young we always had two or three fir tree branches decorated for the first Advent, an advent wreath (?) and an angel chimney (?) in our living room and there was a little bit decoration in the hallway and in every room. The christmas tree wasn't actually put up and decorated until December 24th. Now I do not have a tree, but I have branches decorated, an advent wreath, an angel chimney in my living room and I have a little bit decoration in the other room, in my little hallway and in my kitchen.
I'm German, Bavarian to be exact :-) I enjoy the way we have Advent and Christmas here: first, since 1st Sunday of Advent, a lent-like time, when everything and everyone gets humble and forgiving. It's like we all are poor as Maria and Josef had been: poor people. And the days ar getting darker than before, everything is in decline and nearly dies... And then, with days getting longer (will be...), Christ is born, and everything is revived because of him. NOW is the time for a everlasting green christmastree, to be cheerful, to be filled with joy. It's quite strange for me and my religious thinking, to be cheerful before Christ is born - what's x-Max then for? It has to be the start of new life, not just somewhere in the middle...
Never thought about it that way. Thank you. But, to be honest, most people don't think a lot about what Christmas is, what we really celebrate; it's just a loved tradition, that we cherish. The origin, the reason is almost forgotten and I include myself of course. Time to think about it in depths....thank you.
With your description I can completely sympathize. True, I am Dutch, living in our Bible Belt and Reformed (instead of Roman Catholic), but the experience of Advent and Christmas is exeactly the same here.
Aly mom in Germany recently told me that US children own about 40% of all toys. In our family it has been the case for 2 generations that only the children get presents, even in my circle of friends and relatives. So I have made a different observation in my 50+ years. What struck me is that there are also presents for children at Easter, which didn't used to be the case.
When I was a kid during Easter the boys got chocolate eggs or hand painted eggs and money and the girls got to cook, clean and get soaked in cologne or a bucket of water. As a girl I always found this unfair so I'm happy traditions are changing. Me and my sister were lucky because the money and chocolate my dad got was usually put on our nightstands by next morning.
It’s Christmas/ jul/ iuel, don’t over do it! You are supposed to be able to see the christmas tree as it is taken inside as a symbol of the comming spring, the candles on the tree are a symbol of days getting longer/ light returning. Decorations on the tree can reflect the light thus saving on the number of candles used. Other decorations like the braded hearts are supposed to contain small cookies for the kids to feast on. On the top of the tree there should be a star to symbolise the star over Betlehem. That way you have the mismatch of pagan and christian solstace, which in 2024 was on 21st. december.
Since I don't believe in any religious Christmas story, astronomy is more important to me, because the winter solstice on the 21st is a reason to celebrate, because then we will have circled the sun in our racer without any accidents. I'm taking the Christmas days to relax and unwind. I prefer things to be a little quieter. I take the commercialism and everything that goes with it in my stride and sometimes it even amuses me when trivialities suddenly become "serious problems".😁
Is there a Planet X then hidden from us but NASA and the space agencies know is there but won't tell us ? And is our moon an artificial satellite put there by someone else to observe us here on Earth? Just asking.
Nice to hear not only praise for the german way (cause that's what a lot of this type of content does). We should all find out what suits ourselves the best and works well within the earth's capacities too.
I opted out of Xmas gifts at least a decade ago, it was just such hassle and a waste of money. I'm not in close enough contact to most of my family members to know both what they could really use / enjoy and, more significantly, wether they alread have it, and vice versa. So: time, money and energy wasted. If I want to do something christmassy now, I bake Xmass cookies from scratch, send greeting cards and/or invite a friend for tea/coffee + cookies + candles. And then I spent a small part of what I saved on splurging for myself. Oh, and of course: Xmas crafts! Love it. I don't think I'll ever grow out of transparent paper stars for the windows. The whole commerical side of Xmass can go and hug itself, thx bye.
I don't understand why you mentioned this not romantic couple at the beginning. What was wrong with them that you have to think about Christmas. Greetings from Austria.❤
People go in depth because of that. I’m German I get homesick every year since I’m in the US because I miss my family. It’s not about the gifts it’s about being with your family. In the US it’s commercialized and I don’t like that
Norway - in my childhood, long before the last few decades (but I put it into the present tense): The peak is Christmas Eve (something like in Germany). There is a church service especially for children at 4 pm in very many churches, with favourite carols and hymns. (In our churches, we only get up when passages from the Bible are read, we stay seated for singing, so singing several well-known Christmas carols/hymns is not a strain even for children.) Children's choirs singing hymns and carols on tv/radio after 5 pm. Christmas dinner too is for Christmas EVE. There are different typical Christmas dinners in different parts of the country. Christmas Day is a quiet day with no particular celebration but many people have a good lunch with some special dishes, and visitors, a good skiing trip if there is snow (there used to be). The Christmas tree is decorated on "Little Christmas Eve", i.e 23 December, and in my youth it always had real live candles. So when they were to be lit, we also had one or two buckets full of water standing by in case the tree or something else caught fire. On Christmas Eve we join hands and walk around the tree and sing well-known hymns and carols. The Christmas story from Luke is read. (I still know that one by heart, but it is all the same emotional to hear it again.) The emphasis is on making it a celebration which will the children will remember with joy. Sometimes someone in the family has a Santa costume and dresses up, with a mask, and comes in from outside, rings the door-bell, is invited in, admires the tree, and magically happens to have some presents for just those children in his bag. I should say that in spite of Christmas Eve being the event everybody holds to be central, religiously speaking Christmas Day is the most solemn. Religious people attend the major service, at 11 a.m. In some countries St Nicolaus is active some days BEFORE Christmas, so that at Christmas, the celebration is rather of the birth of Christ, e.g visiting - outside or in church - models that have been made, often by amateurs, of the stable, the manger, some animals, the holy family, the shepherds, the kings/magi, and again well-known hymns may be sung. Now that I am much much older, I make a little decoration of pine branches/twigs which I hang on the wall outside the door. On a table in the sitting room I have an 'Advent candelabra' for 4 candles: in the first week of Advent, only one is lit, for a little while in the afternoon or evening, the second week 2 are lit, and so on. On Christmas Eve, some friends often join for dinner and music, if there is no immediate family. Many people still have trees, some buy artificial trees (practical, but I feel they are so dead), but there is wider variation in what people do.
Spending winters in a former British crown colony aka Malta my German Christmas traditions have changed, too. I don't mind celebrating on the 25th with my Maltese family but I have a REAL firtree as a Christmas tree ( which costs a bum here) and it is NOT decorated before the 24th unlike my friends' fake ones in the middle or even at the start of December. And I noticed that I got more and more expensive presents here from friends and family, too. But what I am looking forward to most are my children spending the holidays here along with all those homemade " Plätzchen" or Weihnachtsgebäck they get along with them.😊 So, you can appreciate both worlds without the feeling of "betraying" one or the other.
Gifts don't necessarily have to be consumerist though, it's not about more expensive = better. Thoughtfulness is the point of gift-giving. If you take the effort to knit someone a pair of socks, that can be a more heartfelt gift than buying them an expensive silk shirt, or if you remember they were annoyed about a broken potato peeler, giving them a new one can be more meaningful than some fancy electronic gadget you don't even know if they will like!
I live in Bavaria, right on the border with Austria. Austria and Bavaria have strong cultural ties. I love our traditions, but for me, Santa and his reindeer are the most beautiful image of Christmas. For me, the mixture of our culture and that of the USA makes the perfect mix :-)
When I spent 2 years in the U.S.A, I have first heard the phrase "Americans replaced traditions with decorations." What seems like a mean thing to say, was ringing true for me, too. I, too, don't have any of the old traditions: I don't go to church, we don't sing Christmas carols, I don't bake cookies, we don't have Würstchen und Kartoffelsalat on Christmas eve and we don't have big meals on the 25th. When I returned to Germany, I started to put up a Christmas tree in the beginning of December and decorated my apartment with all those American Christmas cards I have received. (Nowadays, I have quit the Christmas tree as well, because I don't think they are environmentally a good thing to have.) That is the beauty of multiculturalism: You can pick and choose.
I live in Southern Europe and I am an Orthodox Christian we don't celebrate Christmas that much here we celebrate Easter more it's much more significant to us than Christmas. We feel Christmas has been ruined by Western ,mainly US , commercialism and it's not a religious celebration any more.
Offensichtlich ist es so, dass du erst das Weihnachten in Deutschland gut fandest und nach einiger Zeit doch wieder das amerikanische, pompöse Fest besser findest. Da erkenne ich eigentlich nur, dass dich die Kindheitserinnerungen eingeholt haben. Genau so geht es jedem Menschen, der an Weihnachten in einem fremden Land sein muss. In meiner Gegend gibt es kein Raclette, sondern Kartoffelpüree mit Frikadellen, weil die Kinder keinen Kartoffelsalat essen. Die Deutschen mögen eben nicht so viel kommerzielles Zeug, hier geht es um die Geburt Christi, deswegen hat der traditionelle Weihnachtsstollen (Kuchen) die Form eines Wickelkindes.
Christmas in Australia...different for all of us! Sometimes hot, hot, hot, Sometimes we need the heaters on! Too commercial, if you let it be, otherwise a family day, at home or the beach or at a hotel, to save mum( usually) from all the hassle!
I remember that one from my visit to Australia in 2001/02. On Dec. 24, we arrived in Adelaide, to very warm weather. In the evening, after having had a good meal, and with the sun still up at 20.00 (in Germany, it would have been chilly & dark by 17.00), we sat in our room at the Hotel, and switched on the telly: They presented an old Movie from the early 50 to 60ies, that would have been likely shown on the evening programs of family friendly broadcasters all over Europe too - not a Christmas story, but a winter story - think Jack London's 'Klondike', but set in the Alps. Set in the snow laden, frigidly cold Alps at the turn of 1900, with people fighting for their lives in an unforgiving environment, switching between the white hell outside and the dim lit interior of huts in remote Austrian villages In stark contrast to the Australian reality outside. It still feels odd.
"Culture Shock" is for those who assume their culture is the norm, & it's most evident among those who don't travel. It's a bland colonial mentality of a sort, most evident amongst English speakers, though not exclusively. IMO, there are certain countries where they should kick their 19 years out of their country & not let them back in for 12 months.
Have you ever lived abroad for a year or more? Cultural shock doesn’t mean being shocked ad filled with disdain when you see people doing something differently to what you are used to. It means the deep and unsettling feeling, almost angst, when you realise (deep inside, not just superficially where it’s obvious) that you are a stranger. And it can hit you even harder when you had been looking forward to discovering a new and different culture.
Short answer: I don't celebrate Christmas at all 😎 And my Glühwein (not tied to Christmas, I like it when it's cold and ugly outside) is better than the sweet, adulterated stuff at the Christmas markets.
What I like best of Christmas is the Christmas mass at midnight. At the end of the mass when all lights are turned off we sing "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht". It always brings tears to my eyes.
I'm German and I love this too!
To me it's the best Song on christmas!
German here, I need no special day to meet with my family. I support my family and others who need help every day if necessary (sometime in a way that is expensive relative for my income )and if I want to see my kids I make a call and jump on the bike.
I am British and don't think I could enjoy the very understated Christmas described in the video. I love it, the trees, lights, decorations, special food, the markets. I don't find it over the top and I don't spend more than I can afford. You can only be a victim of consumerism at its worst if you allow yourself to be.
I am German, we don't have a tree, but we decorate the living room and have little decorative pieces throughout the rest of the apartment. No fancy food, no gifts. Just some decorations to create the mood and make it cozy.
@@wmf831 Christmas tree tradition origins from Germany
It's the same for me. I last times, I had a Christmas tree and fairy lights on every window, but that became too much for me over the time. Now I just have an arch of lights in the living room window, that's enough. To older I get, the less I need that. I enjoy the Christmas decorations in the cities and in other people's windows and/or gardens.
@@jerryl6634 That's right, but how did this happen? The decorated Christmas tree is actually a tradition, that originates from Germany. Initially, however, decorating trees had no connection with Christian-Christmas. Our Germanic ancestors celebrated a completely different festival around December 22nd: the winter solstice.
At the time of the winter solstice, people brought so-called "winter maypoles" into their homes. These green branches were a sign of life, were meant to drive away winter spirits and promised protection and fertility.
20 years ago we decided that we adults wouldn't give each other presents. Only the children naturally found their presents under the tree. Christmas together with all of us is our present... much better than vouchers or things that you don't like. Since then, the Christmas season has been more relaxed and we have been able to concentrate on making it nice for the children.
The food at Christmas varies: Some people eat Christmas Eve sausages with potato-salad, others eat raclette or whatever, nothing big. Then on the first day after Christmas Eve there is the Christmas goose and on the second day after Christmas Eve the remains of the big Christmasgoose meal are eaten. That's how I remember it from earlier times...
People go in depth because of that. I’m German I get homesick every year since I’m in the US because I miss my family. It’s not about the gifts it’s about being with your family
(I'm from the UK)
As a young child I liked Christmas because I'm from a large family and all being together at the same time was wonderful, but my mum died just before Christmas when I was eleven and Christmas has never interested me since, I've tried when I was with someone, but it just doesn't work for me, yes I'm long over my mums death, but I had looked at Christmas from the outside for so long that it wasn't special, I see friends etc but it's not about Christmas, it's about friendships and being happy to see them. I don't become maudling or glum in any way, I realised that life goes on, just in different ways sometimes, right now I have just got home from walking my dog, she is asleep and I will be soon also.
Yet another excellent video, you open up unlike others, I listen to your words, you put thought into what you are saying and it shows. Thank you :)
I don’t celebrate Xmas anymore but I always liked how my family celebrated it during my childhood:
With December there was some decoration. An Advent wreath with 4 candles was a staple.😅 Plus some other smaller things.
Every Advent Sunday evening we came together as a family for an hour to hear Xmas music. We didn’t talk during this hour. It was a cozy atmosphere with the candles, the decoration and the music. Everybody had time for their own thoughts. Usually afterwards we talked about whatever was on our minds.
The tree came up on the 24th. Got decorated. Dad’s part. Mom cooked up a storm during that time. Meal prepping for the holidays. We kids were the help for both.
Everything was ready and prepared in the afternoon. Then we got to church (no, we weren’t religious. My grandma was the only catholic). After church was Xmas eve. Presents and potato salad and sausages. (Yep. That cliche 🤣)
The two days afterwards were family time. Alone or with friends. And a lot of delicious food.
Tree and decoration were gone around the 6th of January.
In my Bavarian Familiy of origin the tradition has been to play Christmas songs with our instruments… (…after the the bell rang and were allowed to go into the living room.)The days before the 24. the living room was closed for us children to not disturb the Christkind. After we entered the living room,playing songs , we were watching the Christmas tree with real candles while my father was reading the story of Jesus birth. …and after a while of enjoying the holy atmosphere and smelling the tree and looking at the beautiful tree, , my parents allowed us kids to slowly open our presents , which were somewhere under the Christmas tree. After that we ate a lots of Plätzchen and drank Kinderpunsch, the parents Glühwein. …and later in the evening we all drove to a church where my father played contrabass …and the highlight was to sing all together „ Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht“ . The churches are always full of people on Christmas 24.12. and I think a lot of the people come to church just for that song at the end of the Christmesse. // I never have been in the US, but I like all these Hallmark Christmas movies… snow, decoration and a little love story with a happy ending… 😁🥰
@@loreley3126 Same in my family, in Germany!
@@loreley3126 I live in Southern Europe and I have sister who works in Munich ,I visited her there like 10 years ago and I went to the middle of the city where this big church was there ,I can't remember it's name, on the top the church there were large figures of persons going around and playing the glockenspiel, it was very beautiful.
🙂
😏…nice… I grew up 1.5h away from Munich ( in the south, very close to the alps) with a lot of snow ❄️ in the Winter.
Swede here. In my family, the important thing is being together. Sure, we have a christmas tree, decorated at the 23d (24th this year due to location and travel time) a christmas ham, meatballs, herring and the rest, and in the evening , presents. But the main thing is getting together. The rest is tailored around that.
As for presents, the best gift is one that shows thought and knowledge of the receiver, the worst is one that is only a fist of money.
Sweden we have a big dinner on Christmas eve and gifts but we buy what is needed during the year in clothes, books and some stuff which is more personal. It’s not more is better it’s more I love you.
Namibian German here. We love a summer Christmas but we do it shuttle. No big precents only something to eat and close family get stuff you can use during the year. Clothes, creams, shower gells and a big Christmas lunch. So no big extravagant Chistmas only family.
I'm no longer a Christian, but I still know the rules of Christmas well here in southern Germany. They start with Advent in December with the four Sundays that are celebrated with the candles on the Advent wreath and the calendar with 24 doors. The tree is only decorated on the 24th and then left in the home until January 6th. Everything else is modern and commercial, especially the outdoor decorations, which come from the USA. I can still remember my childhood, when you could only see the illuminated Christmas trees in the houses in the dark streets at Christmas, which was spiritually amazing
I grew up in Germany but celebrated Christmas once as a guest in an American family. In my personal experience the American Christmas was loud and happy, while the Christmas I knew from home was quiet and peaceful. They are different but both equally enjoyable.
That's it! This is my experience as well.
How about not celebrating nothing at all and everyday is the same, and if you want to feel something special on a certain day, anyday, you just visit an animal shelter, or take a walk on the beach or forest!?❤
I didn't know Raclette was popular for Christmas in Germany. In the Netherlands we call it Gourmet, but I think it's basically the same. A grill with tiny pans on the dinner table and everyone cooks in their own pan. It's hugely popular in the Netherlands. I think at least half the country does this on Christmas. I thought it was typical Dutch (to have this as a Christmas dinner). Funny that the Germans do this as well.
Raclette is Swiss😊
@Gesa-k3u I know Swiss cheese raclette, but I looked up german Raclette for Weihnachten and I saw the grill and little pans that we use as well.
Our German friends who live in Los Angeles also do Raclette at Christmas. 😀
We never had raclette at Christmas. New Years Eve is the time we eat raclette.
@@BobWitlox Raclette for Christmas has recently replaced the Fondue that many people had on New Year’s Eve. For families with (young) children, neither is realistic on Christmas Eve, the most frequent Christmas Eve supper still is Potato Salad (according to both statistics and reason) because it can be prepared in advance. Food like Fondue or Raclette is, for very many people, suitable for New Year’s Eve because it helps to kill time while waiting for midnight and it keeps you and your guests joined at the table for a long time.
My husband and I stoped exchanging christmas gifts in our late 20's as well and we even could convince our relatives and friends to that - with the exception of our kids. They got their gifts of course from the Weihnachtsmann/ Christkind/ Santa Claus. Instead since then we have a much less stressful time during the four weeks of Advent and do enjoy a jolly family gathering and dinner on Heiligabend.
American traditions spreading in Sweden more and more and forgetting our own tradition. I know people eating American Thanksgiving dinner, with NO connection to Sweden or our history. Starting Christmas celebration in Advent (that is a preparation time before Christmas) and removing Christmas trees and related decorations before New year's eve (that is in the middle of the Christmas time.)
The commercial side of it is even emphasised by shops starting their "mellandagsrea", sale after Christmas, on Christmas day!
Ultimately, this is a rite that is celebrated in all cultures when the food has been harvested for survival the winter. Here in southern Germany, it's a Catholic celebration, but with lots of local vegetables and not a turkey .
I grew up celebrating the American way of Christmas and those are my fondest memories. For my American mom it was a huge deal and she went all out along with her neighbors. You are right though, there is something to appreciate in both cultures.
When I was young we always had two or three fir tree branches decorated for the first Advent, an advent wreath (?) and an angel chimney (?) in our living room and there was a little bit decoration in the hallway and in every room. The christmas tree wasn't actually put up and decorated until December 24th. Now I do not have a tree, but I have branches decorated, an advent wreath, an angel chimney in my living room and I have a little bit decoration in the other room, in my little hallway and in my kitchen.
I'm German, Bavarian to be exact :-) I enjoy the way we have Advent and Christmas here: first, since 1st Sunday of Advent, a lent-like time, when everything and everyone gets humble and forgiving. It's like we all are poor as Maria and Josef had been: poor people. And the days ar getting darker than before, everything is in decline and nearly dies... And then, with days getting longer (will be...), Christ is born, and everything is revived because of him. NOW is the time for a everlasting green christmastree, to be cheerful, to be filled with joy.
It's quite strange for me and my religious thinking, to be cheerful before Christ is born - what's x-Max then for? It has to be the start of new life, not just somewhere in the middle...
Never thought about it that way. Thank you. But, to be honest, most people don't think a lot about what Christmas is, what we really celebrate; it's just a loved tradition, that we cherish. The origin, the reason is almost forgotten and I include myself of course. Time to think about it in depths....thank you.
With your description I can completely sympathize. True, I am Dutch, living in our Bible Belt and Reformed (instead of Roman Catholic), but the experience of Advent and Christmas is exeactly the same here.
Always good! Thank you!❤😊
Aly mom in Germany recently told me that US children own about 40% of all toys. In our family it has been the case for 2 generations that only the children get presents, even in my circle of friends and relatives. So I have made a different observation in my 50+ years. What struck me is that there are also presents for children at Easter, which didn't used to be the case.
When I was a kid during Easter the boys got chocolate eggs or hand painted eggs and money and the girls got to cook, clean and get soaked in cologne or a bucket of water. As a girl I always found this unfair so I'm happy traditions are changing. Me and my sister were lucky because the money and chocolate my dad got was usually put on our nightstands by next morning.
@@az639 Noch nie gehört, ist ja schrecklich.
I love the simplicity of your background, eclat!❤
Thank you! 😊
It’s Christmas/ jul/ iuel, don’t over do it! You are supposed to be able to see the christmas tree as it is taken inside as a symbol of the comming spring, the candles on the tree are a symbol of days getting longer/ light returning. Decorations on the tree can reflect the light thus saving on the number of candles used. Other decorations like the braded hearts are supposed to contain small cookies for the kids to feast on. On the top of the tree there should be a star to symbolise the star over Betlehem. That way you have the mismatch of pagan and christian solstace, which in 2024 was on 21st. december.
Since I don't believe in any religious Christmas story, astronomy is more important to me, because the winter solstice on the 21st is a reason to celebrate, because then we will have circled the sun in our racer without any accidents. I'm taking the Christmas days to relax and unwind. I prefer things to be a little quieter.
I take the commercialism and everything that goes with it in my stride and sometimes it even amuses me when trivialities suddenly become "serious problems".😁
Is there a Planet X then hidden from us but NASA and the space agencies know is there but won't tell us ?
And is our moon an artificial satellite put there by someone else to observe us here on Earth?
Just asking.
Nice to hear not only praise for the german way (cause that's what a lot of this type of content does). We should all find out what suits ourselves the best and works well within the earth's capacities too.
In my family, since 1980, adults do not get presents, that’s for the kids. We get weird traditional food that the kids don’t like instead.
I opted out of Xmas gifts at least a decade ago, it was just such hassle and a waste of money. I'm not in close enough contact to most of my family members to know both what they could really use / enjoy and, more significantly, wether they alread have it, and vice versa. So: time, money and energy wasted.
If I want to do something christmassy now, I bake Xmass cookies from scratch, send greeting cards and/or invite a friend for tea/coffee + cookies + candles.
And then I spent a small part of what I saved on splurging for myself.
Oh, and of course: Xmas crafts! Love it. I don't think I'll ever grow out of transparent paper stars for the windows.
The whole commerical side of Xmass can go and hug itself, thx bye.
I don't understand why you mentioned this not romantic couple at the beginning. What was wrong with them that you have to think about Christmas. Greetings from Austria.❤
People go in depth because of that. I’m German I get homesick every year since I’m in the US because I miss my family. It’s not about the gifts it’s about being with your family. In the US it’s commercialized and I don’t like that
Interesant punct de vedere!
Norway - in my childhood, long before the last few decades (but I put it into the present tense): The peak is Christmas Eve (something like in Germany). There is a church service especially for children at 4 pm in very many churches, with favourite carols and hymns. (In our churches, we only get up when passages from the Bible are read, we stay seated for singing, so singing several well-known Christmas carols/hymns is not a strain even for children.) Children's choirs singing hymns and carols on tv/radio after 5 pm. Christmas dinner too is for Christmas EVE. There are different typical Christmas dinners in different parts of the country. Christmas Day is a quiet day with no particular celebration but many people have a good lunch with some special dishes, and visitors, a good skiing trip if there is snow (there used to be).
The Christmas tree is decorated on "Little Christmas Eve", i.e 23 December, and in my youth it always had real live candles. So when they were to be lit, we also had one or two buckets full of water standing by in case the tree or something else caught fire. On Christmas Eve we join hands and walk around the tree and sing well-known hymns and carols. The Christmas story from Luke is read. (I still know that one by heart, but it is all the same emotional to hear it again.) The emphasis is on making it a celebration which will the children will remember with joy. Sometimes someone in the family has a Santa costume and dresses up, with a mask, and comes in from outside, rings the door-bell, is invited in, admires the tree, and magically happens to have some presents for just those children in his bag.
I should say that in spite of Christmas Eve being the event everybody holds to be central, religiously speaking Christmas Day is the most solemn. Religious people attend the major service, at 11 a.m.
In some countries St Nicolaus is active some days BEFORE Christmas, so that at Christmas, the celebration is rather of the birth of Christ, e.g visiting - outside or in church - models that have been made, often by amateurs, of the stable, the manger, some animals, the holy family, the shepherds, the kings/magi, and again well-known hymns may be sung.
Now that I am much much older, I make a little decoration of pine branches/twigs which I hang on the wall outside the door. On a table in the sitting room I have an 'Advent candelabra' for 4 candles: in the first week of Advent, only one is lit, for a little while in the afternoon or evening, the second week 2 are lit, and so on. On Christmas Eve, some friends often join for dinner and music, if there is no immediate family. Many people still have trees, some buy artificial trees (practical, but I feel they are so dead), but there is wider variation in what people do.
Christmas in America is all about commercialism, corporations getting more money from average citizens , not very family involved .
Spending winters in a former British crown colony aka Malta my German Christmas traditions have changed, too.
I don't mind celebrating on the 25th with my Maltese family but I have a REAL firtree as a Christmas tree ( which costs a bum here) and it is NOT decorated before the 24th unlike my friends' fake ones in the middle or even at the start of December.
And I noticed that I got more and more expensive presents here from friends and family, too.
But what I am looking forward to most are my children spending the holidays here along with all those homemade " Plätzchen" or Weihnachtsgebäck they get along with them.😊
So, you can appreciate both worlds without the feeling of "betraying" one or the other.
Gifts don't necessarily have to be consumerist though, it's not about more expensive = better. Thoughtfulness is the point of gift-giving. If you take the effort to knit someone a pair of socks, that can be a more heartfelt gift than buying them an expensive silk shirt, or if you remember they were annoyed about a broken potato peeler, giving them a new one can be more meaningful than some fancy electronic gadget you don't even know if they will like!
The big festive meals in Germany will normally be prepared and served on 1. and 2. christmas day
I live in Bavaria, right on the border with Austria. Austria and Bavaria have strong cultural ties. I love our traditions, but for me, Santa and his reindeer are the most beautiful image of Christmas. For me, the mixture of our culture and that of the USA makes the perfect mix :-)
For me as well 💯
@@JayStephanServus !
Guten rutsch !
I'm not German BTW but I know some German not much though.
When I spent 2 years in the U.S.A, I have first heard the phrase "Americans replaced traditions with decorations." What seems like a mean thing to say, was ringing true for me, too. I, too, don't have any of the old traditions: I don't go to church, we don't sing Christmas carols, I don't bake cookies, we don't have Würstchen und Kartoffelsalat on Christmas eve and we don't have big meals on the 25th. When I returned to Germany, I started to put up a Christmas tree in the beginning of December and decorated my apartment with all those American Christmas cards I have received. (Nowadays, I have quit the Christmas tree as well, because I don't think they are environmentally a good thing to have.)
That is the beauty of multiculturalism: You can pick and choose.
When xmas advertising starts at the end of August 😳
You should come to Scandinavia and get a real shock. We don’t even celebrate Christmas!
You or "the Scandinavians"?
@ , the Scandinavians , we celebrate Yule!
I live in Southern Europe and I am an Orthodox Christian we don't celebrate Christmas that much here
we celebrate Easter more it's much more significant to us than Christmas.
We feel Christmas has been ruined by Western ,mainly US , commercialism and it's not a religious celebration any more.
Where from Sweden, Norway ,Denmark ,Finland ?
Offensichtlich ist es so, dass du erst das Weihnachten in Deutschland gut fandest und nach einiger Zeit doch wieder das amerikanische, pompöse Fest besser findest. Da erkenne ich eigentlich nur, dass dich die Kindheitserinnerungen eingeholt haben. Genau so geht es jedem Menschen, der an Weihnachten in einem fremden Land sein muss. In meiner Gegend gibt es kein Raclette, sondern Kartoffelpüree mit Frikadellen, weil die Kinder keinen Kartoffelsalat essen. Die Deutschen mögen eben nicht so viel kommerzielles Zeug, hier geht es um die Geburt Christi, deswegen hat der traditionelle Weihnachtsstollen (Kuchen) die Form eines Wickelkindes.
Christmas in Australia...different for all of us! Sometimes hot, hot, hot, Sometimes we need the heaters on! Too commercial, if you let it be, otherwise a family day, at home or the beach or at a hotel, to save mum( usually) from all the hassle!
I remember that one from my visit to Australia in 2001/02. On Dec. 24, we arrived in Adelaide, to very warm weather. In the evening, after having had a good meal, and with the sun still up at 20.00 (in Germany, it would have been chilly & dark by 17.00), we sat in our room at the Hotel, and switched on the telly: They presented an old Movie from the early 50 to 60ies, that would have been likely shown on the evening programs of family friendly broadcasters all over Europe too - not a Christmas story, but a winter story - think Jack London's 'Klondike', but set in the Alps.
Set in the snow laden, frigidly cold Alps at the turn of 1900, with people fighting for their lives in an unforgiving environment, switching between the white hell outside and the dim lit interior of huts in remote Austrian villages In stark contrast to the Australian reality outside. It still feels odd.
I hate the mendacious, commercialized, ridiculous Christmas in Germany and the usa and everywhere.
the Christmas in Germany is not commercialized,She is quite ,the Time from Christmas
"Culture Shock" is for those who assume their culture is the norm, & it's most evident among those who don't travel. It's a bland colonial mentality of a sort, most evident amongst English speakers, though not exclusively. IMO, there are certain countries where they should kick their 19 years out of their country & not let them back in for 12 months.
Have you ever lived abroad for a year or more? Cultural shock doesn’t mean being shocked ad filled with disdain when you see people doing something differently to what you are used to. It means the deep and unsettling feeling, almost angst, when you realise (deep inside, not just superficially where it’s obvious) that you are a stranger. And it can hit you even harder when you had been looking forward to discovering a new and different culture.
Now, what about the couple , you saw, that made think this pathway???? What was it? Announced, but in the end not delivered
Short answer: I don't celebrate Christmas at all 😎 And my Glühwein (not tied to Christmas, I like it when it's cold and ugly outside) is better than the sweet, adulterated stuff at the Christmas markets.
Germany is wonderful, we have not so much TRASH, blinking LIghts and alot of not good Feeling ,Jesus was born so poor.....
I do not celebrate that commercial shit att all.