Curious German Traditions: Carnival, Christmas Markets, and more

 Germany provides visitors with an opportunity to discover some fascinating traditions, spanning both its vibrant culture and deep historical beliefs and values.

Experience the magic of German Christmas Markets on a small-group tour a Culture Trip! Be sure to sample Gluhwein, a festive mulled wine served in wooden booths.

Colorful Carnival: Germany's Festive Tradition

Annual carnival festivities take place all over the world, but none can compare to Germany's celebration known as Karneval or Fasching. Rose Monday (Fasching's first parade day) and Shrove Tuesday are unforgettable days, filled with themed floats, costume balls, and the celebrated tradition that empowers women by cutting men's ties off!

At this time of year, children send letters to Christkind (Kriskindl) asking her for presents. Her official duties include visiting hospitals, old people's homes and children's nurseries.

Families also enjoy a traditional custom to help pass the time until Christmas Eve: each time their child demonstrates merit - be it good marks at school or helping around the house - they receive a piece of straw which is placed into an empty manger as bedding for baby Jesus. In certain regions of the country, an ogre-like creature known as Krampus sometimes accompanies Santa Claus or der Nikolaus Tag on his visits - dressed as an antler-bearer and known to scare children with chains and whips!

Enchanting German Christmas Markets

One of Germany's most spectacular Christmas markets can be found beneath a railway duct in the Black Forest. Boasting over 40 decorated wooden chalets, this market runs from November 20th until December 22nd 2020.

For an authentic German Christmas Market experience, visit Stuttgart and its five major squares will become magical bazaars. Wander aimlessly among hundreds of wooden huts selling handmade ornaments and Lebkuchen as well as souvenirs and jewelry; munch on delicious roasted chestnuts while sipping warm cups of Gluehwein while looking for gifts to give.

if you want a luxury shopping spree, head for Dusseldorf's Konigsallee where you'll find hand-painted glass ornaments and mittens alongside luxury clothing and vinyl records. Nuremberg also hosts its popular Christkindlesmarkt where its colorful streets transform into living Christmas cards - make sure you visit and stock up on local Franconian specialities such as brandies, fruit jams and wool garments at this year's festive market!

Oktoberfest: Germany's Unforgettable Celebration

Oktoberfest is one of the world's largest folk festivals. Held annually for 16-18 days in Munich and drawing millions of attendees each year - in 2019 alone over 6 Million Liters were consumed at Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest began as a tradition in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria wanted to celebrate his marriage with Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen with his subjects. Nowadays, Oktoberfest has grown into a massive party where people consume vast quantities of German beer and indulge in lots of pretzels.

While Oktoberfest is perhaps best known for its beer offerings, wine, schnapps and soft drinks are also served at this fair in large quantities. There are even "nonalcoholic" beers made up of hops and malt without any alcohol present that are offered on tap!

Germans take their holidays seriously; unlike in America where many use vacation days to work remotely or check in with the office. So it comes as no surprise that Germans approach all celebrations with equal reverence; after all they're known to care deeply for each other as a nation.

Krampusnacht: Germany's Dark Festivity

Although German celebrations tend to be joyous and festive, some events also carry darker overtones. On December 5 or 6, Krampus, an alternate facet of Satan himself, comes to punish misbehaving children with bundles of ruten or twigs which he uses to strike them over.

The Krampus parade, also known as Klaubaufe or Perchtenlauf, dates back to pre-Germanic paganism and survived church efforts at its suppression until today as a local, beloved festival.

At certain Christmas markets like Nuremberg's, visitors have an opportunity to meet Krampus and his minions. Although Krampus appears menacing at first glance, he and his minions are actually extremely friendly and silly creatures who quickly won over young children who were initially nervous around these strange yet friendly beings; even older kids received high fives and fist bumps from these bizarre beings! Some spectators might receive minor bruises from being hit with one of Krampus' birch bundles, yet most visitors left the event smiling at least once they saw Krampus himself!

Maypole Dance: Symbolism in German Villages

Bavaria makes May Day celebrations memorable with giant village maypoles known as Maibaums decorated in Bavarian white and blue stripes as well as emblems representing local trades and guilds.

As a symbol of fertility, towns compete to have the tallest Maypole. Therefore, volunteer guards are in place to defend it from other villages until May Day festivities end - going so far as offering copious amounts of beer and food in ransom payments to get it back once it has been stolen from them!

Not all Maypoles are created equal, however. In Cologne's Rhineland region, unmarried men erect young birch trees they purchased beforehand in front of their partners' houses, then decorate them with crepe paper and red heart-shaped wood bearing their beloved's name as part of Tanz in den Mai - an all-night dancing and drinking celebration lasting from 30 April into 1 May.

Walpurgisnacht: Germany's Witches' Night

While Americans associate Halloween with all things scary and ghostly, Germany celebrates Walpurgisnacht half a year earlier - marking Saint Walpurga (aka Walpurga), an eighth-century abbess, as its namesake. Paganism believed this holiday marked when witches would gather on Brocken Mountain in Harz Mountains to perform dark rituals with Satan himself.

Locals would gather at nightfall and use bonfires, church bells and pots and pans banging as means of scaring away witches from their neighborhoods. Additionally, prayers to St. Walpurgis were often offered for protection.

Walpurgisnacht has evolved into an eventful festival filled with bonfires, music, dancing, and woodruff punch - a combination of white wine, semi-sparkling wine and the herb woodruff. Many Germans take this spooky opportunity to prank others. Many Germans take advantage of Walpurgisnacht by hiding personal items or spray painting public buildings with their names - creating an annual pranking festival that has earned it the name "Witches' Night." It has become especially popular in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, an idyllic Bavarian village that looks like something out of a storybook Christmas card.

St. Martin's Day: Lantern Parades in Germany

On November 11th, Germany celebrates St. Martin's Day - similar to Halloween and just before Christmas - by crafting lanterns and singing "lantern songs" as they walk from house to house after dark in a tradition that brings back fond memories of trick-or-treating in America.

Parades commemorate a saint who shared his red cloak during a snowstorm to help warm a freezing beggar, so the day represents generosity and charity. This tradition likely dates back to medieval times.

St. Martin's Day has become an occasion to practice this tradition and hang their hats and gloves from trees in an attempt to retrieve any that they may lose; particularly popular in southern Germany.

Berlin is the place to witness a lantern parade, where admission is free but chestnuts must be purchased. Due to its more elaborate nature, reservations must be made prior to attending this event.

German Easter Traditions: Eggs Bonfires Hare Dance

Germans take immense pride in their culture. This can be seen throughout the year at holidays and festivals that celebrate its history and heritage.

Christmas (Weihnacht) is one of the biggest and most anticipated holidays of the year when families gather together to share an extravagant feast and spend quality time with extended family members. Children often leave their shoes outside their front doors in the hope of receiving presents from St. Nicholas himself! Twelfth Night or Epiphany also marks a national holiday on January 6, which falls after Christmas Day (known in Germany as Heiligenweih).

In Germany, the Osterhase serves as the Easter bunny and annually hides colorful Ostereier for children to find. Both hares and eggs are ancient fertility symbols and this German Easter custom could have pagan origins.

Germany's Easter traditions include decorating public fountains and wells with colorful eggs, an activity found throughout many towns; one notable example is Saalfeld's Ostermarkt where thousands of hand-painted eggs are hand painted each year! Additionally, traditional firework displays known as Osterfeuer are lit to commemorate Easter - this practice having its origins in pre-Christian beliefs.