Germans decorate a fir tree (the tree of Eden) at home every year on February 24th of 12, symbolizing the holy bread (the symbol of Christian atonement). In modern times, cookies are used instead of holy bread, and candles symbolizing Christ are often added. In addition, there is a Christmas tower in the room, which is a wooden triangular structure with many small frames for placing Christ statues. The tower body is decorated with evergreen branches, candles and a star. In the16th century, the Christmas Tower and the Garden of Eden merged into a Christmas tree.
2. German Unification Day
10 June 3rd is Germany's unification day, a national statutory holiday, and a national holiday to commemorate the formal declaration of reunification between the former Federal Republic of Germany (former West Germany) and the former German Democratic Republic (former East Germany) before June 3rd.
1990 After the first democratic election in the history of East Germany was held in March 18, reunification negotiations between East and West Germany began immediately. Finally, Germany and the four countries that occupied Germany after World War II (the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union) reached a treaty to finally solve the German problem, so that the unified Germany became a completely independent country, and all the privileges of the four occupying countries were abolished. After reunification, Germany remained in the European Union (later EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and further separated from the Warsaw Treaty Organization.
3. Pentecost
The annual Pentecost in Germany officially began on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. During this period, every household will buy or tie a wreath made of fir branches, with four thick candles inserted on it and decorated with snowman, angel, Santa Claus or colored balls. On the fourth Sunday before the festival,
That is, on the first Pentecost Sunday, all families will light one of the four candles, and on the second Sunday, when all four candles are lit, Christmas is just around the corner. During this period, many families will bake Christmas cookies, including chocolate, coconut milk, fruit stuffing and cream almonds.
4. Jesus ascensiontide
In some areas, young girls joined the celebration of Jesus ascensiontide earlier. They got up early, went out and danced barefoot on the still wet grass. It is said that this can keep them beautiful and healthy. Then they collect herbs, weave them into garlands and hang them in their rooms to drive away diseases and injuries. ?
Jesus ascensiontide is on Thursday, so farmers in some places think it is very important for people to pay special attention to the weather on this day, whether it is raining or sunny (in German, Thursday means Donnerstag, which means "thunder"). They all prayed for a good omen of a bumper harvest. Therefore, there is an agricultural proverb, which probably means: Autumn is Jesus ascensiontide.
5. Easter
The German government stipulates that Easter will be closed for two days. In festivals, families get together to taste various traditional foods, and relatives and friends should congratulate each other when they meet. Eggs, fire, water and rabbits symbolizing life have become Easter mascots. In the west, eggs and rabbits are symbols of new life and prosperity. The true color of eggs symbolizes the sun, and dyeing eggs red symbolizes happiness in life. On Easter, parents should prepare eggs and rabbit-shaped chocolate candy for their children.
Friends and relatives should exchange eggs. In the middle reaches of the Rhine and some towns in eastern Hesse, the ancient custom of "egg tree" is still preserved. People painted hundreds of eggshells with colorful pictures, strung them into egg chains, and hung them on pine trees on Easter day to make an egg tree. Adults and children sing, dance and celebrate Easter around the egg tree.
References:
_ Baidu Encyclopedia Germany (Federal Republic of Germany * * and the United States)