A deeply rooted celebration
For many Germans, Christmas isn’t just a holiday — it’s a season filled with cherished rituals, rich flavors, and heartfelt moments that stretch across generations. From the first Sunday of Advent to the lighting of the Christmas tree, the festive season in Germany is a sensory journey of warmth, wonder, and tradition.
The Advent season: Four weeks of anticipation
The holiday spirit begins with Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. Many families light a candle on their Advent wreath each Sunday, symbolizing hope and reflection. Children (and adults alike) count down the days with Advent calendars — each door revealing a small chocolate, trinket, or message that brings daily joy throughout December.
Glühwein, Christmas markets & Magic
One of the most beloved German traditions is the Christmas market, or Weihnachtsmarkt, where streets fill with twinkling lights, festive music, and the inviting scent of roasted almonds and Glühwein — a warm spiced red wine served in charming holiday mugs.
These markets are where you’ll also find:
- Handcrafted ornaments
- Traditional wooden toys
- Fresh-baked Lebkuchen and cookies
- Heartwarming scenes of the Christkind (Christmas Angel) opening the festivities
Saint Nicholas and the Christkind
In early December, German children put their shoes out for Saint Nicholas (der Nikolaus), who leaves small gifts and sweets for the well-behaved. Unlike Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas is often accompanied by his darker counterpart, Knecht Ruprecht, who reminds children to stay kind and respectful.
On Christmas Eve, it’s not Santa who delivers gifts in most parts of Germany, but the Christkind — a symbolic angelic figure, often portrayed by a young girl wearing a white robe and golden crown. In some regions, though, der Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) plays the starring role.
The Christmas Tree: Tannenbaum Tradition
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we know it. Families typically decorate their Tannenbaum on December 24th, adorning it with candles (or lights), ornaments, glass baubles, and even edible decorations like cookies and chocolates.
Some trees are topped with a shining star, others with a figurine of the Christkind or an angel.
Baking season: Lebkuchen and Plätzchen
German kitchens come alive in December with the scents of spices, nuts, and citrus. Families bake together often using recipes handed down for generations to prepare:
- Lebkuchen (German gingerbread)
- Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent cookies)
- Zimtsterne (cinnamon star cookies)
- Butterplätzchen (buttery cut-out cookies)
- Spritzgebäck, Dominosteine, and more
These cookies are shared with guests, gifted in decorative tins, or simply enjoyed with coffee and candlelight.
Festive foods & holiday dinners
Beyond sweets, Christmas in Germany is full of seasonal specialties:
- Stollen – a dense fruit bread dusted with powdered sugar
- Roast goose or duck – served with red cabbage and dumplings
- Potato salad and sausages – a simpler Christmas Eve tradition in some regions
Each region has its own culinary customs, but what unites them is the sense of togetherness around the table.
A season of light and meaning
From the gentle flicker of Advent candles to the joyful noise of children baking cookies, Christmas in Germany is a celebration of light, family, and tradition. It’s a time to slow down, reflect, and savor both the moment and the flavors.
And whether you're strolling through a Christmas market in Nuremberg or unwrapping a chest of German gingerbread in the U.S., you're sharing in a timeless tradition.
Bring a taste of German Christmas to your home — with authentic Lebkuchen and festive gifts from Lebkuchen-Schmidt.
