COLUMN: Carillon Flashback, November 20, 1985 – Germany’s Tannenbaum now popular world-wide

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/12/2022 (919 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A popular carol originating in Germany bid children to kneel before the manger with the shepherds and worship the King. Today, a custom known as Kindelwiege is still practiced; on Christmas Eve, children make a short pilgrimage to the altar of the church, where a nativity scene is set up, with the focal point being the wiege or cradle. No doubt, the little pilgrims are contemplating the words of another well-loved German carol: “Away in a manger, no crib for His bed…”

In Germany, many of the age-old traditions center around children. They are taught it is the Kriskind, a messenger of Jesus – now known as Kriss Kringle – who brings gifts. At one time, it was the custom of each village to select a man to impersonate St Nicholas, who would then bring gifts to good children Dec. 6 (and a touch of the switch to the disobedient!). Gradually, this became associated with Christmas and the theologian Martin Luther felt the St Nicholas idea was excluding the meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. He introduced the idea of the Kriskind, who is depicted as a little girl wearing a gold crown and carrying a small Christmas tree.

The children anticipate Christmas by lighting candles on an Advent wreath and following the Advent calendar. All during this time, one room in the house is kept locked as a room for the Christ Child to rest in. On Christmas Eve, when the family returns from church, the children wait for a bell to ring; then the locked room is opened to reveal the Christmas tree ablaze with candles and glittering decorations. One German carol tells us that “… with faces gleaming and happy laughter, the children gather ’round the tree …” The gleaming candles, the song informs us, are “symbols of hope, of love and joy … of God’s eternal Word of Light.”

Most Christian countries have adopted the Christmas tree and it has perhaps become the most universally treasured Christmas custom. According to the legend, it was Martin Luther, the 16th century theologian, who set up the first one. One Christmas Eve, the story goes, Luther was out walking and became so enthralled with the beauty of the stars shining through the snow laden boughs that he cut a small fir tree and took it home. He set it up in the nursery and decorated it with lighted candles in an attempt to describe the glory of the star-lit heavens to his children.

Whatever the true origin, its popularity has spread around the world and along with it the well-loved ode to the tree celebrating its eternal and unchanging qualities – “O Tannenbaum … O Christmas tree … how lovely are thy branches …”

One of the most outstanding events of the festive season in Germany is the Christkindlesmarket (Christ Child’s market) at Nürnberg, thought to be the oldest Christmas fair in that country.

A dazzling array of toys, crafted by skilled Nürnberg artists – tiny Christmas tree ornaments, wooden soldiers, straw stars, wax angels and beautifully handmade dolls and trains. Food vendors offer juicy bratwurst, burnt sugar almonds, colorful marzipan candy, fruit bread and freshly baked lebkuchen, a spicy honey cookie.

Gingerbread (lebkuchen) has been around for a long time, but nowhere is it more closely tied with culture than in Germany. So revered was the art of baking lebkuchen that contests were held among the bakers in different towns for the finest ones.

The town of Nurnberg frequently won, and their lebkuchen is still prized today. Through the years, gingerbread was copied by other countries, each adding whatever spices were available.

Ever since Grimm wrote Hansel and Gretel in the 19th century, the gingerbread house has been a German Christmas specialty, especially appealing to children. Making it, admiring it and eating it are all part of the fun.

with files from Carol Talbot