| Many Christmas traditions practiced
around the world today started in Germany. It has been long thought
that Martin Luther began the tradition of bringing a fir tree into the
home. One legend says, late one evening Martin Luther was walking
home through the woods and noticed how beautifully the stars shined through
the trees. He wanted to share the beauty with his wife so, he cut
down a fir tree and took it home. Once inside he placed small lighted
candles on the branches and said that it would be a symbol of the beautiful
Christmas sky. Hence, the Christmas tree.
Another legend says that in
the early 16th Century, people in Germany combined two customs
that had been practiced in different countries around the globe.
The Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) represented the Tree
of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Christmas Light, a small
pyramid-like frame, usually decorated with glass balls and tinsel and with
a candle on top, was a symbol of the birth of Christ as the Light of the
World. Changing the tree's apples to tinsel balls and cookies; and
combining this new tree with the Light placed on top, the Germans created
the tree that many of us know now.
Through the centuries, Germany
has had at least 3 "Santa Clauses." The first was patterned
after the god Thor, who became Father Thor or Father Christmas in early
Germany. He was an old man with a long white beard, dressed in red
who roared through the skies in a golden chariot pulled by two white goats,
Cracker and Gnasher. He lived far north among snow and ice to fight
the gods of snow and ice to help the people conquer winter. He brought
gifts to the kids as part of his good deeds.
When Christianity arose in Germany,
St. Nicholas, a 4th Century bishop of Asia Minor, became popular.
He was known for his miracles and generosity and became a saint to children.
He became the 2nd Santa Claus figure and the feast of St. Nicholas
was celebrated on December 6. St. Nicholas rode a white horse and
of course carried gifts to all the good little children.
Next, Kriss Kringle entered
the folklore scene. She was a young girl wearing a golden crown,
carrying a small Christmas tree, "tree of light." She was thought
of as a messenger from the Christ Child and personified the idea of gift
giving. This addition happened around the same time that much of
Germany separated from the Roman Catholic Church
In rural parts of southern Germany,
the three Thursday evenings before Christmas are as Knocking Nights.
Children dress in masks and travel from house to house chanting rhymes
beginning with the word knock. Along the way, the children
crack whips, ring cowbells, and clatter dish covers to drive away evil
spirits.
Today, the Germans still celebrate
St. Nicholas Day and make it a point to attend church on Christmas Eve
where the church is lit by candles held by the worshipers. The Tannenbaum
(Christmas tree) is traditionally decorated in secret with lights, tinsel,
and ornaments by the mother and is lit and revealed on Christmas Eve with
cookies, nuts, and gifts under its branches. But the specialty is
the Lebkuchen, a spicy, tasty cake made in shapes and hung on the
tree. |
