12. Dezember • Die Bescherung (on Christmas Eve)

Advent Calendar > 12 December

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In German-speaking Europe, there is no Santa Claus coming down the chimney (and usually no chimney!) on Christmas Eve. As we mentioned before, Sankt Nikolaus brings his gifts on December 6th, as a prelude to Christmas. German children don't have to spend a sleepless night waiting to open Santa’s presents on Christmas morning. To celebrate Weihnachten, most Germans, Austrians, and Swiss gather around the Christmas tree on the night of December 24th, am Heiligen Abend, to exchange gifts. That custom is known as die Bescherung or the exchanging of gifts.

In Austrian and southern German Catholic tradition it is the Christkindl (the German word for “Christ Child” that also became “Kris Kringle” in the US) who brings gifts on Christmas Eve. In Protestant regions of Germany the Weihnachtsmann (“Father Christmas”) is the bearer of gifts, although in recent years der Weihnachtsmann is becoming even more widespread.

CAROL > “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann”

We’ll talk more about the details of die Bescherung and a typical German Christmas Eve in coming days.

Non-Christmas expressions with the word Bescherung and Weihnachtsmann:

• Das ist ja eine schöne Bescherung!
  This is really a fine mess!
• Da haben wir die Bescherung!
  What did I tell you! I told you this would happen!
• Ja, und ich bin der Weihnachtsmann!
  Right, like I believe that! ("Yes, and I'm Santa Claus.")

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