Glossary of German Christmas terms

St. Martin's Day (November 11): For many Germans and Austrians, St. Martin´s Day (Martinstag) marks the start of the Christmas season. Advent (December 1 – December 24): Advent begins on the first Sunday after Nov. 26. Four Advent Sundays lead up to Christmas Eve. Advent is the Latin for "arrival, coming". Adventskranz: A wreath with four candles, which are lit on the four Advent Sundays. Adventskalender: The calendar has 24 windows and counts down the days up to Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) starting on Dec. 1. Nikolaustag (December 6): St. Nikolaus brings gifts for children. Dec. 6 is also the date when Christmas markets (Christkindlmaerkte) open in many German towns. Heiligabend (December 24): Germans open their Christmas gifts in the evening of Dec. 24th, not on the morning of Dec. 25th. Weihnachtsmann: On December 24, Santa Claus brings gifts and candy to small kids (a popular job with German students). Weihnachtsfeiertage (Dec. 25 and 26): The two days after Christmas Eve are public holidays. Silvester (December 31): The end of the year (New Year's Eve) is celebrated with parties and fireworks. Dreikoenigsfest, Epiphany (January 6): The day marks the arrival of the three Wise Men (die Heiligen Drei Koenige). It is the end of the Christmas season in Germany.