On the evening of December 24 in Germany, the meal improved a bit… but it had nothing to do with the pantagruélique tables that we see in France.
This is reserved for the 25th and 26th!
Christmas tree made at the last minute
In the German tradition, the Christmas tree is made on the afternoon of December 24 and it is the parents who decorate it, the children will not see it until the gifts have been “delivered” to the foot of the tree.
Parents leave work at noon, everything is closed in Germany during the day.
German TV channels switch to 100% cartoon mode to keep children occupied while parents prepare everything.
The meal of December 24: “this year, we keep it simple”
For a long time, Christmas Eve was a youthful day in Germany, it was the eve of the arrival of the Child Jesus … who did not come into the world in opulence.
In the German tradition, it was not Santa Claus who brought the gifts, it was the Child Jesus even if, nowadays, Santa Claus is replacing him more and more.
Guests arrive around mid-afternoon and enjoy the traditional Christmas cakes.
A Santa Claus often very early
Santa Claus often spends very early in Germany, we open the presents at the very beginning of the evening and then we move on to the simple meal (potato salad and sometimes even a soup) … but since everyone has eaten cakes all day long, there is not much room left in the stomachs!
We must hurry to eat because then the believers go to mass and the non-believers to bed, to be in good shape during the two big days that are coming.
December 25th and 26th: we’re having fun!
The 25th and 26th, this is where the Germans will really enjoy Christmas with the traditional “goose” (the equivalent of our capon) or Christmas trout.
On the other hand, you will not see a log for dessert, it is almost unknown in Germany and especially no foie gras (force-feeding has been banned in the country since 1993).
