Category: German
Yuletide: The Viking Origins of Santa Claus
The word “yuletide,” referring to the Christmas season, was passed to the British through the Vikings. The word originated with the Viking god Odin, whose persona associated with the month of December was Jul, and the month of December was called “Jultid.” The Vikings believed that Odin would come to earth during the [...] Read More »
St. Nicholas Day: Open Presents on December 6!
December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day, celebrated with various traditions in many European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. In Holland and the Flemish-speaking parts of Belgium, the morning of December 6 is the day that children receive presents, rather than Christmas Eve [...] Read More »
Advent: The Season of Preparing for Christmas
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. The name “Advent” comes from the Latin “Adventus,” which refers to the “coming” of the Savior. It is the beginning of the year in the Christian liturgical calendar.
It is a season rich with traditions in both [...] Read More »
All Souls’ Day (Defuncts’ Day)
All Souls’ Day is a Roman Catholic holiday celebrated on November 2nd. (If that day falls on a Sunday, then All Souls’ Day is moved to November 3rd, since it is not permitted to wear black clothing on Sundays.) Like All Saints’ Day (November 1st), it is celebrated in many countries, including Belgium, [...] Read More »
Make Holiday Lanterns from Cheese Containers
Here’s another easy way to make a lantern that you can light with a tea candle (careful!) or glow stick for festivals such as the Harvest Moon Festival or St. Martin’s Day. This will give you a cylindrical lantern that is easy to decorate in many different ways.
You’ll need: a cheese container -- the round, [...] Read More »
St. Martin’s Day
On November 11, German children celebrate St. Martin's Day, which marks the beginning of the German carnival season, known as "Fassnacht" or "Fasching." Children make lanterns, lit by candles and attached to long sticks with wire, and parade after dark, singing songs. Often, there is a bonfire after the parade. Then the [...] Read More »
Make Holiday Lanterns from Milk Cartons
Here's an easy way to make a lantern that you can light with a tea candle (careful!) or glow stick for festivals such as the Harvest Moon Festival or St. Martin's Day. This is good to make with older children but will need supervision since it does involve some cutting.
You'll need: an empty [...] Read More »
Make Chinese Paper Lanterns
There are many holidays, such as the Harvest Moon Festival (Chinese, Vietnamese), St. Martin's Day (German) and Chinese New Year, in which Lanterns play a role. We're going to publish some ideas on how to make your own lanterns to celebrate these Fall and Winter holidays.
Easy Paper Lanterns
You need: colored construction paper, scissors, [...] Read More »
Harvest Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival
The Harvest Moon Festival (also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival) is associated with the legend of Chang Er, who is said to have taken a pill, turned ino a fairy and flown to the moon to escape [...] Read More »
