Cologne's Hohenzollern Bridge

The Hohenzollern Bridge, is a bridge crossing over the Rhine river in the city of Cologne, and is the most heavily used railway bridge in Germany. The Cologne Bridge is famous for having "love padlocks" that cover most of the bridge's railway fences. Love locks symbolize everlasting love; the idea is you buy a lock, affix the lock to the railway fence, then write you and your sweethearts names/initials on it, and afterwords through the key into the river. These Love Padlocks Bridges did not start in Germany; the origin is unknown along with the date. Bridges similar to the Love Padlocks Bridge in Cologne can be found all over the world and the tradition still continues today.

Haribo

Haribo is an acronym for Hans Riegel (founder's name) and Bonn(city in Germany where it was founded). It was founded in 1920. Haribo is known for making the first gummy candy in 1922, and also the first gummy bear. Haribo started out in a small backyard laundry-kitchen, but now is the worlds largest manufacturing business for gummy and jelly candies; with five factories in Germany and thirteen others throughout Europe. All kids in Germany grow up eating Haribo and is as well-know/popular to kids in Germany as Hershey is to kids in the USA.

New Year's

Germans Celebrate the New Year too, and same as Americans they either have a party, go to a party, or celebrate with close friends and family. Even though Germans don't watch the big ball drop in Times Square or watch other big TV countdowns, they still have other ways of having fun. A special New Year's dinner is cooked and a long dinner is eaten with lots of conversation, at midnight the exciting part happens, fireworks are lit off by every house. There are more fireworks lit off in Germany on New Years then in the USA on the Fourth of July. Fireworks are being lighten off for about 30 or more minutes; it is one of the most amazing experiences one can ever have staring up at the sky.

Marzipan pigs are given to people for luck, especially on New Year's!

Santa who???

Germany does not have a Santa Claus that delivers the presents, instead they have the Christkind (Christ child) which is the traditional German gift bringer. Some Germans interpret the Christkind as a angel while other think of the Christkind as baby Jesus. Children never get to see the Christkind unlike children in America who get to see Santa at the mall. On Christmas Eve the Christkind come during the day, and the room containing the tree is locked. Usually when the children return from church or later in the night, a bell is rung, signifying the Christkind has come, and the door is "magically" unlocked. Under the tree sits all the presents and just like in America everyone opens them.

Pictured above is a traditional German present that was brought to me by the Christkind, this wooden figure is hand carved and painted. It opens and you put incense in the bottom portion, light it, put the top back on, and then the smoke comes through the mouth. The Christkind ( my host parents) was very nice to bring me a Santa Claus one which was probably hard to find.

I have seen Santa figures and decorations in Germany though, not a lot but some; not to mention the American Christmas music playing sometimes mentions Santa Claus or reindeer. Almost all Germans do know about our Santa Claus and how we have to wait til Christmas day to open our presents.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Germans like Americans also celebrate Christmas Eve and Day, only just a little bit differently. In America for Christmas Eve most of the day is spent cooking a big meal and preparing for guests. While in Germany a big meal is not common on Christmas Eve, a simple meal is eaten instead, such as fondue or schnitzel. The Christkind(Christ-angel), Germans version of our Santa, comes on Chistmas Eve to deliver the presents, and they are opened on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day like in America. American Christmas music is played and there is talk around the dinner table, but mostly everyone is excited to open up their presents and happy to be with their family.

On Christmas Day like in America you just spend time with family, maybe watch movies or play games. Some people go on Vacation for Christmas and sometime relatives come to visit.

                                                    Presents I got from the Christkind!

                                                     Of course lots of chocolate was given!

Christmas Tree

Christmas trees in Germany are real, you will not normally find plastic Christmas trees like in the U.S. Families go out and pick their own tree at a tree farm, and they are not as expensive as the real trees in the U.S. My host family got their tree for around 20 euros while in America real trees cost around 100 dollars. Christmas trees are not usually decorated until the week before Christmas, using real glass ornaments and not as much lights as American trees have. Usually traditional colors are used, such as red and green, but sometimes blue, silver, and gold are added too. 

Christmas Markets

During the winter people from all over Europe come to Germany and shop at their famous Christmas Markets. These markets are located all over Germany, but each have a different style and size. These historic Christmas Markets offer homemade Christmas gifts, crafts, not to mention roasted chestnuts and other delicious foods. These markets usually start the last week in November and end Christmas Eve, and open from 10 am to 8 or 9 pm each day. 

                                                Christmas Market Bonn, Germany