Key German Christmas Vocabulary
Discover German Traditions, Christmas Greetings and Carols
Dec 12, 2008
For many, Christmas is the favorite time of the year because of the festive atmosphere it creates. In Germany, it is an equally favored time but there are certain differences in Christmas culture that are fun to learn more about.
Some German Christmas Traditions and Beliefs
Christmas in Germany is either celebrated on the evening of the 24th or in the morning of the 25th (The latter is often preferred when celebrating with small children.). According to German legend, it is not Santa Claus who visits the houses and delivers the presents, but the Christkind (the Christ Child).
A Santa-Claus like figure is der Nikolaus (St. Niklas, a saint) who visits on 6th December and gives good children a small present and bad ones a birch to symbolize misbehavior during the year gone by. However, even the birches today are decorated with candy, so this old legend, once used to scare children, is not taken too seriously.
Wishing Merry Christmas in German
Below are some of the standard German Christmas greetings and phrases used to wish anyone from friends and family to neighbors and colleagues. Note that Frohe Weihnachten and Fröhliche Weihnachten can be used interchangeably, similar to Merry Christmas and Happy Christmas.
Frohe Weihnachten! – Merry Christmas!
Fröhliche Weihnachten! – Merry Christmas!
Frohes Neues Jahr! – Happy New Year!
Frohes Neues! – colloquial, in spoken German only
Einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr! – literally: to “slide happily” into the New Year
Einen guten Rutsch! – same, but colloquial; wished before 12 pm
This a standard written Christmas greeting in German, using the formal address Sie:
Ich wünsche Ihnen und Ihrer Familie frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr. – Wishing you and your family a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
The same, using the informal address Du:
Ich wünsche Dir und Deiner Familie frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr.
A Popular German Christmas Song
The earliest German Christmas songs date back to the 11th century but the popular ones today were recorded in the 18th and 19th century. O Tannenbaum is a favorite among young and old alike and easy to learn. Please note that the sing-along translation provided below is customized to convey the meaning of the lyrics as closely as possible. Popular translations often make the text more general, missing the praise addressed to the tree directly.
- O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, – Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
- Wie treu sind deine Blätter. –How are your leaves so faithful.
- Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, – Not only green in summertime,
- Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. – Even the winter is your prime.
- O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, –Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
- Wie grün sind deine Blätter! –How are your leaves so green!
- O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, – Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
- Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! –Much pleasure do you bring to me!
- Wie oft hat schon zur Winterszeit – How often did at winter time,
- Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut! –A tree of yours make my heart chime.
- O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, – Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
- Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! –Much pleasure do you bring to me!
- O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, – Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
- Dein Kleid will mich was lehren: –Your frock can teach me something:
- Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit – Your hope and durability
- Gibt Mut und Kraft zu jeder Zeit! –Give courage and strength forever me!
- O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, – Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
- Dein Kleid will mich was lehren. – Your frock can teach me something.
Now, geared with this knowledge about German Christmas customs and the lyrics to O Tannenbaum, surprise German friends, family, classmates or neighbors. For pronunciation, check German standard vowel and consonant pronunciation. Or learn about other traditions: the German Christmas market or Christkindlsmarkt and baking Christmas cookies (vocabulary plus recipe).
