USA vs. Germany - Christmas Traditions | Feli from Germany
Рет қаралды 177,090
4 жыл бұрын++Reason for blurs/muted audio: This channel was renamed in Oct 2021. All references to the old name have been removed.++
The TRUTH about ALL German holidays ▸ • The truth about ALL Ge...
______________________
Check out my SHOP! Get your Bavarian beer mug or Servus t-shirt ▸felifromgermany.com/
Check out my PODCAST (with Josh)▸ / understandingtrainstation or linktr.ee/Understandingtrains...
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook▸ / felifromgermany (Feli from Germany)
Support me on Patreon▸ / felifromgermany Instagram▸@felifromgermany▸ / felifromgermany
Buy me a coffee▸www.buymeacoffee.com/felifrom...
▸Mailing address:
PO Box 19521
Cincinnati, OH 45219
USA
-------------------------
ABOUT ME: Hallo, Servus, and welcome to my channel! My name is Felicia (Feli), I'm 26, and I'm a German living in the USA! I was born and raised in Munich, Germany but have been living in Cincinnati, Ohio off and on since 2016. I first came here for an exchange semester during my undergrad at LMU Munich, then I returned for an internship, and then I got my master's degree in Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to win the Green Card lottery and have been a permanent resident since 2019! In my videos, I talk about cultural differences between America and Germany, things I like and dislike about living here, and other experiences that I have made during my time in the States. Let me know what YOU would like to hear about in the comments below. DANKE :)
MY FILMING EQUIPMENT
Camera: amzn.to/2LYJ0JV*
MAIN LENS (Sigma 18-35mm F1.8): amzn.to/31IjdgU*
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens: amzn.to/2AT9R3J*
Tripod: amzn.to/2LXpb5t*
Remote: amzn.to/2oe3Hsd*
Lighting: amzn.to/2oZWg82*
Back Light: amzn.to/3gJD8QL
H1 Zoom Recorder (audio): amzn.to/33gKWDf*
Lav Microphone: amzn.to/2VobCPP*
GoPro Vlogging Setup:
GoPro: amzn.to/2OycAav*
Case: amzn.to/2IzIzmY*
Tripod: amzn.to/2os3DoB*
Microphone: amzn.to/31ZR6Y5*
Mic Adapter: amzn.to/2AUq1K3*
Mount: amzn.to/33oDciL*
*These links are Affiliate links. If you buy the product through that link, I'll receive a small provision while the price for you stays the same! Thanks for your support! :)
--------------------------------
Pictures:
Krampus: Franz Edelmann/Oberndorfer Salzachteufel (CC BY-SA 3.0) de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus...
Knecht Ruprecht: Albärt (CC BY-SA 3.0) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sa...
Santa: Tomwsulcer (CC BY-SA 2.5) commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Nikolaus Boot: www.spangdahlem.af.mil/News/P...
Christmas Pickle: Richard Huber (CC BY-SA 3.0) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:We...
Christkind: www.wikiwand.com/de/Christkind bergweihnacht.files.wordpress...
@Bladingmom 4 жыл бұрын
When I had my first son, my husband and I decided to go to Germany for his first Christmas and first birthday. It was so wonderful and family oriented! I loved the Christmas markets and the traditions. When my husband was dying, I promised him to continue the German traditions, so my sons have always had an Advent calendar, an Advent wreath, St. Nicholas Tag, Stollen, Lebkuchen, and so on. I play German Christmas songs while we open our gifts, and have goose for our meal. On Christmas day we go to church. How I love the German traditions!
@katelynbaird4553 4 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a beautiful way to honor your husband’s memory and the traditions you made together! ❤️
@ericaleemedium9770 3 жыл бұрын
How lovely ❤️ I am sure your husband is so happy you continue the traditions with your son ❤️
@antonboludo8886 2 жыл бұрын
Yes, they are wonderful traditions.
@brianarndt1128 4 жыл бұрын
This really brought a tear to my eye, it reminded me of my youth in Austria. it really brought back those great memories. thank you.
@WienerVL 4 жыл бұрын
Frohe Weihnachten aus Österreich! Merry Christmas from Austria!
@brianarndt1128 4 жыл бұрын
@@WienerVL Merry Christmas from Connecticut USA.
@WienerVL 4 жыл бұрын
@idoj654123 Thats a big compliment but youre right!;-))) I know Switzerland is beautieful as Austria but verry expensive! I wish you a Merry(american?) Christmas!
@retrozzfuzionzz8677 4 жыл бұрын
WienerVL Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas from Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 even thought its not Christmas here
@RobJP94 4 жыл бұрын
I'm a Brit living in France, no idea why I watch these but I enjoy them so keep it up!
@lotharschepers2240 4 жыл бұрын
"No idea why I watch these" Maybe to catch a quick look over the fence? Our European fellow (that did still count even if "just Boris" look up the island and throw the key away anytime in the future).
@RobJP94 4 жыл бұрын
@@lotharschepers2240 haha I'm already over the fence and Felicia is in the US. I guess it's nice to hear about the culture shocks of others who have also moved abroad.
@lotharschepers2240 4 жыл бұрын
@@RobJP94 So you did have an idea why you watch such stuff.
@ginsburgerheide 3 жыл бұрын
You lucky I love the 2 hour dinner in France fantastic food in the morning fresh from the baekery the long bread god bless greetings from Florida Helmut and jasmin
@kandymendoza644 3 жыл бұрын
Hi
@derrikgilmore5975 4 жыл бұрын
As a North German living in America for the last 37 years I've really enjoyed your videos. I'm so glad that you do point out regional differences - and by the way, I never heard about the Christmas pickle until this video... 🙂
@annieonymouse4467 2 жыл бұрын
I've heard of it but we don't celebrate it - I think it comes from Pennsylvania. There are US catalogues from there that sell the ornament. Also a peppermint pig you smash with a hammer. That's also supposed to come from Germany.
@derrikgilmore5975 2 жыл бұрын
@@annieonymouse4467 that's a pass for Northern Germany on the peppermint pig - is a tradition that started in Saratoga Springs, NY 😁
@shoopdj 3 жыл бұрын
Our church sings "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" every Christmas. There are a lot of German descendants in our town.
@legitlinus9052 3 жыл бұрын
in german?
@shoopdj 3 жыл бұрын
@@legitlinus9052 Ja!
@curtisehrgott4019 3 жыл бұрын
Our church does one verse in German. I also tell the story of the WWI Christmas truce (I am the pastor)
@hotwax9376 3 жыл бұрын
I also live in a heavily German-American community, and IIRC some of the older residents are native German speakers. One of the local LCMS churches does a living Nativity every Christmas, but while you wait to go out, they have you go inside the church and sing carols. One of the popular ones is Silent Night, with the first verse performed in both German and English. However, the German words they use are different from the most commonly heard ones. (e.g. Instead of "Schlaf in himmlische Ruh," it ends, "Bei den himmlischen Kind.") My family has only the smallest bit of German ancestry but I've been thoroughly immersed in the German culture surrounding me and took two years of German in high school. so I kind of like it.
@AndrewSmoot 4 жыл бұрын
I stumbled upon this channel yesterday; my family on my mother's side is of German ancestry, and I've learned more about the culture, and my heritage, in the last twenty-four hours than I have in thirty plus years. So, danke schön!
@AndrewSmoot 4 жыл бұрын
Three weeks later, my family has always had real trees since I can remember.
@jennieoulton1714 4 жыл бұрын
Hi Felicity - just a thank you for this video :) you saved the day for my family. We have a German exchange student in our home for this year. Today was the first Sunday of Advent and my German Daughter kept asking me about the Advent Candle and when we were going to light it etc..This is only something that we do in church so i was "in the dark" about how to make it special for her. Your video helped me and I collected four candles and asked her to help us make one! It came out beautiful with holly and pinecones and we lit it together tonight as a family :) Your channel has be so important for me (and now I will be ready for December 6th!) - lots of love and Merry Christmas!
@doroparker1702 4 жыл бұрын
Oh, this is so sweet of you. Being away from home is difficult during Christmas time. Especially when you love the traditions of your family. Did the girl get an Advents calender from her parents? You could do one yourself. Just 24 little boxes from matches or little sacks or socks or a mix of it. Fill every one with a sweet, or little cosmetic or cinema ticket. So every day there is a little treat. You can do one for the family and every day one of the family gets the treat. Depending on your budget.
@hebdomatical 4 жыл бұрын
This really is sweet.
@Myrtone 4 жыл бұрын
Felicity? Is that the anglicised form of Felicia? At least in German (Spanish too) her name is Felicia, which would be Felice in French.
@Sean-Murphy 4 жыл бұрын
@@Myrtone Possibly used a cell phone and it autocorrected her name and was missed. Done it so many times while watching videos. I actually watch KZfaq on my desktop 95% of the time because of this lol
@Myrtone 4 жыл бұрын
@@Sean-Murphy Using a mobile phone to comment is a really bad idea.
@ushklavdragonen6009 4 жыл бұрын
When you showed the lit tree with everyone singing....hit me in the feels. Would be priceless to have moments like these.
@zaza588 3 жыл бұрын
I had the incredible luck of having a German Christmas a few years ago, as I was staying with the family of my German friend in Nordrhein-Westfalen. It was, without a doubt, the most magical and wonderful Christmas I ever had. I still remember the candlelit tree ❤️ I really want to experience it again one day!
@yogib37 4 жыл бұрын
a lot of people do not know that Christmas song.."silent Night" was written in German originally.
@WienerVL 4 жыл бұрын
Right and this song is from Austria! Composed from a teacher and a priest!
@Marco-bf4uu 4 жыл бұрын
@@WienerVL That's German.
@Marco-bf4uu 4 жыл бұрын
How could you not know this?
@NurWahrheiten 4 жыл бұрын
@@Marco-bf4uu i guess he confused it with "in Germany" - because that's what happened to me in the first moment
@ulfbraun943 4 жыл бұрын
@@NurWahrheiten The lyrics were written in German but the composer and the poet came from Austria. In 2011, Silent Night, Holy Night was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in Austria.
@user-uv9fz5rw4z Жыл бұрын
I’m a fourth generation German American, and we’ve always observed Advent (we are Lutheran) and St. Nicholas Day on December 6. We got chocolates, oranges, and potatoes in stockings and usually a small toy or clothing. We also celebrate Christmas on December 24/25 like everyone else here.
@oliverkersting2852 Жыл бұрын
You really do need to tell about German Christmas Movies, especially "Drei Nüsse für Aschenbrödel" and "Der kleine Lord".
@ShaunRF 4 жыл бұрын
I had so much Glühwein when I visited Germany during the holiday season. It was being served almost everywhere we went.
@freeduc 4 жыл бұрын
Most everything you described about German Christmas was pretty much the same here 50 years ago. Except for the outdoor Christmas markets. I grew up in small-town USA actually about 20 miles West of Cincinnati on the Indiana border. For someone as old as me (67) it's kind of amazing and disappointing how much the traditions have changed over the years. I like your channel and find the topics very interesting. My maternal grandparents were 1st generation Americans, my Great Grandparents came over from Germany. I have no idea what region they were from. I'm sure you're impressed. Haha. Well, I've rambled on long enough. Keep up the good work. Peace and Merry Christmas!
@lotharschepers2240 4 жыл бұрын
Hello Bob, as a native German and only a few years younger than you, I have to agree that although here in Germany the traditions did fade more and more. The majority of my fellow citizens will have a hard time to explain what Christmas or Eastern is all about and with the knowledge the traditions did although fade away.
@FiveOClockTea 4 жыл бұрын
@@lotharschepers2240 you mean the birth and revival of Christ? I'm 26 and pretty much everyone I know knows that :-)
@debbiefogarty51 Жыл бұрын
I’m Lutheran and Advent is celebrated, it’s the anticipation leading up to Christmas! We go to Advent services at Church on 4 Wednesdays leading up to Christmas Eve services, then on Christmas Day we go to Church and open our Christmas presents. Lots of Praising God in the Devine Services. We decorate our homes with advent wreath and sometime after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve we decorate our Christmas tree and homes. Lutherans love to sing Advent and Christmas hymns! God’s richest blessings to you and your family! Merry Christmas!
@Cam-cb4io Жыл бұрын
Now that I'm older and working in a large city.. Advent seems to go by in a flash. 😓 I miss Advent when I was younger and back then, Advent was the longest time of the year. Lighting all of the four candles took forever! 🙂
@Daphne-tm5lg 4 ай бұрын
I’m an 80 year old American, and I only heard of the Christmas pickle a few months ago!
@cmohnasky 3 жыл бұрын
We also have advent wreaths in the US.
@mmspost7921 4 жыл бұрын
I love how the family sings Christmas songs on Christmas Eve. I actually think I will organise that with my in-laws once we have a child. In my little family we play Christmas Scrabble, which is something I made myself, it is basically the size of four scrabble boards except I made it by sawing symbols on a large linen piece of cloth the colour of old paper. It looks like an Egyptian version of scrabble and it is very beautiful. We ordered lots of extra scrabble tiles off amazon and now we literally have four scrabble games into one. Christmas Scrabble.
@michelroerig7825 4 жыл бұрын
In Germany there is a soccer club ( Union Berlin ) that makes a singing of christmas songs in the stadium: www.spiegel.de/video/weihnachtssingen-bei-union-berlin-28-500-teilnehmer-video-1824349.html
@judithrapier92 3 жыл бұрын
Being Catholic we do the Advent wreath and calendar here in the States. Dad always flocked the real tree with snow made with Lux soap flakes, using water and whipping it like meringue. We used our hands to scoop up the "snow" starting inside the tree , out. One last glob on the end of each branch. The worst part was cleaning the lights from the tree after Christmas. Dad made gloog on the stove and Mother made a stollen. Ooooo, red cabbage. My favorite.
@jerrihadding2534 2 жыл бұрын
...left his presents and filled our Christmas stockings. The whole Christmas season was so much fun at our house!
@The_Dudester 4 жыл бұрын
When I was 13, my family bought a new house. Starting that Christmas we would buy a living Christmas tree. After the holiday, we would plant the tree in the yard. We did that until our property was basically a forest. Then we sold the house and the new owner tore out the trees. Sad 😢. Thank you Felicia for sharing. You are a fount of information.
@nelskrogh3238 4 жыл бұрын
We did the same thing at our first house. It is also now a forest but the next house has lots of trees so we had to stop the tradition.
@jrh80 3 жыл бұрын
Love this! It always amazes me how many Americans think we are “keeping the Christ in Christmas,” but how little we actually remember that Christ is Christmas and it’s about our families also. Thank you so much for sharing. I love the German traditions and have adopted many myself... it’s so magical. :)
@pennisauer2121 3 жыл бұрын
My sister, an ex-pat living in Southern Germany for the past 30 years, puts up her family's tree while her German husband takes the kids to church on Christmas eve. Here, I put our tree right after Thanksgiving. The youngest puts the angel on the top - this year my grandson. My inlaws were from Germany and introduced me to Krampus. That's who we have sitting on our shelf next to Santa.
@brianmiller1077 4 жыл бұрын
I grew up in a very German descendant area of the USA ( we would sing Oh Tannenbaum in German). One of the different things we did is after the Christmas eve service they would hand out apples on the way out.
@gadget5129 4 жыл бұрын
My wife and I love, love, love this episode. She particularly loves the Munich Christmas markets. Though she only went there in the spring. I would bring things home from the markets when I was there during December. She has always wanted to go herself. But timing just never worked out that way. Thanks so much for putting the work into doing these. We have good friends in Munich. But we’ve never gotten together for Christmas. So it’s quite delightful to get all the background you provide. Our German friends being, well, German, don’t waste a lot of time talking about this stuff. Sending hugs and Christmas cheer!
@thomaspawlak6487 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for videos I really enjoy learning about other cultures . I live in Wisconsin Dells and we cut are own Christmas trees . Wisconsin has the best brats in the US 👍
@Sherrn21 3 жыл бұрын
My parents are from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Farchant. We also went into our bedroom Christmas Eve and the Christkind would bring our presents and my mom would ring a bell when we could come out. We always sat around with candles lit and listened to a record of German music “Weihnachten in den Bergen”.
@LvBMusik 3 жыл бұрын
I was born and grew up in Canada, but I’m of German heritage, and the way you celebrate Christmas on Heiligabend with the bell, the lights, the singing, putting the tree up on the morning of December 24, etc., is exactly how we celebrate ❤️ Thank for doing this video.
@paulwrighton5236 4 жыл бұрын
German Christmas sounds like fun
@sassytbc7923 4 жыл бұрын
Paul Wrighton they do seem to have quite a few. I believe they are indirectly responsible for the Christmas tree as well.
@sassytbc7923 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing your traditions.
@lotharschepers2240 4 жыл бұрын
@@sassytbc7923 If it comes to the Christmas tree, yes we Germans are guilty about that. And you could blame the Austrians for your "Holy night silent night" song.
@galaxygamer0405 3 жыл бұрын
Oh it is
@DidrickNamtvedt 4 жыл бұрын
I love fondue and raclette, my mom discovered those dishes when she lived in Switzerland in her teens and she brought them back home to Norway and our whole family loves them! And Christmas markets are starting to become a thing here in Norway too, we have one here in my hometown Bergen that started two years ago and has really caught on with the public. It's so nice and cozy :)
@lotharschepers2240 4 жыл бұрын
Hello, fellow European, I'm a bit surprised that Norway (and especially Bergen) did start the Christmas market only two years ago, as our nations did have such a close cultural relationship. Merry Christmas and a reflective Advent season.
@arroe8386 3 жыл бұрын
As a Swiss I can't imagine Christmas without raclette 😋
@markhall6306 2 жыл бұрын
Bergen is my favorite city have relatives there and my grandfather was born in Sogne Fjord
@invadertifxiii 6 ай бұрын
So i grew up catholic with my polish adopted mom and she did was i now know was advent boxes, she gave us small presents every day till Christmas. And we celebrated st. Nicholas day and Christmas day. We also had wooden shoes where we got our little trinkets and candies for st. Nicholas day. I didnt realize how many german and polish traditions are similar. We also spent Christmas at my grandmother house and they made dumplings (perogi)
@FlyingDutchman19801 2 жыл бұрын
When I was a kid, growing up in Holland, advent was not a thing at all - except for the calender with the doors with chocolate behind them. To get my mother to buy that calender, that was what advent was all about for me.
@LoraGradinarov 4 жыл бұрын
Hey you were so excited talking about this, it was very sweet. Greetings from Germany at christmas time!!
@Gr8man4sex 4 жыл бұрын
I loved this video and actually learned a lot from it. I was actually stationed in Berlin during my time in the U.S. Army from 1979 - 1981 and love German food. One of our favorite things to eat was Currywurst and Pommes Frits. I am also very fond of German pastries and I could eat sauerkraut and bratwurst every day and there is nothing better than fresh brotchen. I find all of your videos very informative and if you ever come to Louisville, Kentucky I would love to meet you.
@stevedisbrow8236 5 ай бұрын
What a wonderful video! So thankful for you explaining German traditions and Christmas celebrations. We're blessed to have you here in the USA to explain this to us. God Bless You, Merry Christmas!
@Bill_H 4 жыл бұрын
Happy Advent Felicity. I am a worship pastor at a church in Newark, Ohio. Seeing you share the traditions for Advent and Christmas from your home made my day. Thank you for sharing, and God bless you always!
@acer3573 4 жыл бұрын
My Mom is from Germany and bakes cookies including a walnut sandwich cookie with strawberry jam in the middle called Spitzbuben. Sometimes growing up we would have lebkuchen and weihnachtstollen sent by my Oma.
@xar1234 4 жыл бұрын
acer3573 Spitzbuben are my favorite Christmass cookies!
@acer3573 4 жыл бұрын
@@xar1234 My Mom already has a batch ready and waiting for me to get home :D
@rockyracoon3233 4 жыл бұрын
@@acer3573 . Sounds yummy! I'm a hard core Germanophile too!!!
@tdoggo7614 4 жыл бұрын
My parents lived in Munich (Munchen) before I was born. They loved Christmas in Germany and bought lots of German ornaments which I still have today. They were stunning mercury glass. We did the advent calendars growing up also and she always did mincemeat cookies.
@lovelyisabelle2028 3 жыл бұрын
did you know that mercury glass ornaments are called Bauernsilber (farmers silver(-ware)) ? ;) These ornaments are a pretty common thing here in Germany since they have been handed down the families for centuries. Grüße aus München ☺️
@susanhelwig1468 Жыл бұрын
My husband is German born in America and we mix the traditions. We decorate our fake tree (I'm allergic to pine sap) the first week of December and do some gifts Christmas Eve and some Christmas Day. We also celebrate St. Nicolas Day and Krampusnacht. Stollen is similar to fruitcake but fruitcake never has marzipan or sugar dust. And I make gingerbread every year!
@marybrand8269 Жыл бұрын
My family is of Polish decent so we have a lot of Polish foods but we spent 7 years of my youth in Germany while my dad was in the military. We lived in Baumholder and spent Christmas with a German family. It was very nice just as you described and everyone got one present, usually something they really wanted or needed. I grew up going to Christmas Eve mass and spending Christmas Day with family. We also had an Advent wreath.
@honas908 4 жыл бұрын
Merry Christmas! I'll be sure to pick up an advent calendar from my local Aldi.
@georgiancrossroads 4 жыл бұрын
Hey Feli I just want to say I've been in several countries around Christmas time. And while there are many Christmas customs that I love I have to say that if I was given a choice of where I'd like to celebrate Christmas Lower Germany and Austria would be at the top of the list. Danke!
@tsangarisjohn 4 жыл бұрын
It all sounds great. Merry Christmas 🎄
@donnamontague8256 3 жыл бұрын
My paternal grandmother was born in Germany in the late 1800's (she moved to USA at age 13) and we celebrated Christmas at their house on Christmas Eve with all of our aunts, uncles, and cousins. I loved the tree decorated with blown glass ornaments and real candles clipped onto the tips of branches! And, yes, there was a pickle for us to find with an extra sweet treat to whoever discovered it first! I remember her singing O' Tannenbaum and Silent Night in German every year. Wonderful memories and probably why I love decorating a Christmas tree, and I've always had a pickle for it!!
@Ul.B 2 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry to have to say that, but over 90 percent of Germans do not know the Christmas pickle. No wonder, after all, the story only came up with the import of glass ornaments from Germany in the 1890s.
@bigfy74 4 жыл бұрын
Very nice and informative. Thank you.
@sactiger2817 4 жыл бұрын
Wonderful vlog, Feli... vielen dank! I wish you a very Happy Christmas Season... and safe travels to Deutschland. Bis zum nächsten Mal!! :)
@CapitalJ25 4 жыл бұрын
I love your videos about your experiences in the USA. May this holiday season and new year be your best ones yet!!
@noelduncan583 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much! You are such a darling to share German Christmas with us.
@dennismitchell5414 4 жыл бұрын
That was a great video , Christmas in Germany looks awesome ! . I was visiting my Dad in Stavanger , Norway during the Christmas season in 1976 and the town looked so nice with all of the old worldly decorations. Love your channel Felicia , keep up the great work and be safe ! .
@dabneyscholler8495 3 жыл бұрын
My husband's family is from Aachen, I'm learning a lot this Christmas!
@ashton564 4 жыл бұрын
I love how happy lighting the advent candle made you. Happy second Sunday of Advent!
@hotwax9376 3 жыл бұрын
My family often opens Christmas presents on Christmas Eve as well (as we did this year). The reason for this is because when my mom and her four siblings were growing up, my grandma was a nurse and thus often had to work on Christmas. Her youngest daughter, my aunt, is also a nurse and sometimes has to work Christmas, like she did this year. It just works out better for everyone to do it the night before. But before we do that, we always read the opening of Luke 2.
@mithroch 4 жыл бұрын
My family has a lot of German and Swiss ancestry. Growing up, my Christmases were very similar to what you described. We always had a real tree, though we put ours up a week or so before Christmas. After dad trimmed the excess branches... mom would make a wreath from them and hang on the front door. We always went to Christmas Eve service in the evening at our church... and opened presents when we got home. Christmas Day would be at one of my grandparents with my extended family.
@Roger21989 4 жыл бұрын
Love hearing you speak German, reminds me of family in Augsburg!
@timstaudacher8921 4 жыл бұрын
We would go to the Christkindlmarkt here in Chicago, and being German Lutheran we also grew up lighting the Advent candles and using the Advent calendar. Always had a nativity scene (ours was a nice ceramic one), and we also visited the nativity plays held at various churches, with actors and live animals. Our trees, lights and gifts were typically American. No Christmas pickle!
@robertsmith1768 4 жыл бұрын
I have no idea why but KZfaq recommended your channel to me. Its fun hearing your observations and your positive attitude. Merry Christmas!
@jefferyparks2716 4 жыл бұрын
Hello, Felicia ( I apologize if I've misspelled your name), I just want to say that I think that, from what you have told us in this video, it sounds like Germany has some very beautiful Christmas traditions. I am an American and when I was a little boy my parents used to line living room wall, near the Christmas tree, with five gallon buckets and fill them with fruits, nuts, and candies that we never saw until Christmas morning. We would always get a real tree that we would decorate about 2 or 3 weeks before Christmas. On the tree we would put the usual ornaments, lights, and tinsel but we would also decorate it with candy canes and round pieces of chocolates wrapped in gold colored foil that resembled gold coins. These were always a real treat for my brothers and sisters and I. We would also string Christmas lights around the spruce trees in our yard as well as on the house. What I loved most about Christmas was joyous feelings we all felt about the season. There would always be carolers singing in front of houses in our neighborhood. What I loved most about this holiday was that it brought my family together so that we all enjoyed spending time together and just enjoyed the season. I feel that these days Christmas has become too commercialized. Its more about the gifts than the spirit of the holiday. I wish we could learn from Germany's example and bring the spirit of Christmas back into the holiday. I love your videos. Have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas! :-)
@Myrtone 4 жыл бұрын
The spelling of her name is right in the description.
@YodaPagoda 3 жыл бұрын
This was so nice to see, a lot of the Christmas traditions that we have are pretty similar. As I'm a big reader of WWII history, some of the most heartbreaking stories were those on the front lines, hearing the Germans on the other side singing "Silent Night," which of course sounds exactly the same no matter what language it's sung in.
@johndavidson1531 3 жыл бұрын
The way you all celebrate before you open presents is just beautiful! It hit me right in the feels! Thanks for the video and God Bless!
@amandameriwether8106 3 жыл бұрын
You look so happy when you describe your Christmas memories! That is so charming. Thank you for sharing this video.
@scottsmith8546 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing Felicia, it's cool to hear about how Christmas is celebrated in Germany and other countries in Europe, thank you for sharing. We have Advent at church too, where there are candles lit every Week leading up to the birth of Jesus. Communion is also a part of it every weekend leading up to Christmas.
@countenanceblog 4 жыл бұрын
This will be my second Christmas in Germany. And, honestly, it's been rather magical to experience Christmas in the place where almost all of the secular parts of the modern day Christmas observation canon came to be.
@randynovick7972 4 жыл бұрын
My ex-wife was Bavarian, from Augsburg. She told me that as a kid, on christmas eve, she would try and stay awake, looking out the window, waiting for baby Jesus to bring her presents... but she would always fall asleep before he came. She always did a very nice christmas around the house. I miss stollen the most, I think.
@pennisauer2121 3 жыл бұрын
And a very Merry Christmas to you!
@Thankyou_20 4 жыл бұрын
I'm learning Germany,and I love your video,because those are really understandable for me. Someday I want to go to German,and live there!!
@adrunkpotato4742 4 жыл бұрын
I live in maine, we actually got one of our christmas tree's fresh from the backyard.
@tommymejia8244 4 жыл бұрын
Hey Feli, that was AWESOME!!!! Sehr GUT!!!! Thanks so much for sharing... I even learned a couple of new German words...Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas...Tommy
@btqy 4 жыл бұрын
Happy holiday! Thank you for your Christmas present by sharing your traditions. Enjoyed it. Merry Christmas 🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅👼👼👼👼👼✌
@richkestrel7416 3 жыл бұрын
I am American of Bavarian (and Italian, and...) descent, and we practiced most of those traditions you have in your video. Advent wreath (purple candle, purple candle, pink candle, purple candle then white candle on Christmas eve), Advent calendars, Christmas tree going up on Christmas eve, decorations stay up until 06JAN (end of Christmas season, beginning of Epiphany). We didn't do anything for Nikolaustag (06DEC) or Krampusnacht (05DEC), but it's cool to see what I grew up with here in the States is very similar to what y'all do in Germany. I'm guessing the "pickle" thing was simply a marketing thing from ornament makers. We have one from Bonner in our tree... but don't to that whole "first child who finds in gets an extra present" thing. Frohe Weihnachten aus Texas!
@lorenzo52877 4 жыл бұрын
we have a year-round Christmas store up here in Michigan and its near Frankenmuth which is Michigans little Bavaria, Its a place I think you would enjoy.
@phtevenmolz5030 4 жыл бұрын
Bronner's! It's the largest Christmas store in the world. I loved Frankenmuth when I lived in MI.
@tiffanyguldi7564 3 жыл бұрын
Yes! I just wrote the same comment:) We love it and live not to far from it.
@arianrod83 3 жыл бұрын
We're Italian- American, we do the Seven Fishes dinner. Any seven fish we pick, it's supposed to grant prosperity in the next year. There's also pasta, with mudrega (breadcrumbs with butter, sugar). There are typically 25-35 people here at the time
@Charles-vk1lb 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing your Christmas traditions. I relish both the common connections we share, along with the differences that make our Christmas experiences unique. Have a very Merry Christmas and a bountiful New Year. Thank you.
@reychavez3245 4 жыл бұрын
There’s a Kindle market here in Chicago, it’s vary nice
@joey_556 4 жыл бұрын
Damn Germany is more family and holiday oriented then here in the US
@doroparker1702 4 жыл бұрын
US is so much oriented on money, incredible. Just shopping, shopping, shopping.
@robertmcgee7083 4 жыл бұрын
American DemocRats are becoming Anti family/religion
@jatelf7 4 жыл бұрын
@@robertmcgee7083 Capitalism at it's finest. It also sounds you have your own prejudices going on there.
@blindleader42 4 жыл бұрын
@@robertmcgee7083 Congratulations on your "Christmas spirit", fuckwit.
@Sailor-Dave 4 жыл бұрын
@@robertmcgee7083 We are confirmed Christian Democrats and proud of it. We thank God for His mercy, and endeavor to help everyone wherever we can. We are very pro-family and pro-Christian. Please don't condemn what you obviously don't know. This is a great place to learn about another culture. Please don't spoil it with your bile.
@berniej.rucker4252 2 жыл бұрын
Felicia, you MUST make your way to Frankenmuth, Michigan. While there, you must go to Bronner's and the Bavarian Inn. It will bring back so many memories of your German traditions. My family used to go there every Christmas season...usually it was on Dec. 21st, which was my mother's birthday...when I was younger. We would spend all day there so prepare yourself for a full day of nostalgia and merriment all set in a German/Austrian facade. If the town hasn't changed, it will look like an old Bavarian town. Get on Interstate 75 north from Cincinnati and follow the "Bronner's" signs to get there. YES... Bronner's is THAT huge!!!
@jamesclough2638 4 жыл бұрын
You have some really great ways to celebrate Christmas in Germany. Thank you for sharing
@dcn.phillip 4 жыл бұрын
Felicia, I appreciate your video. In the States, I think the Advent wreath and candles are mostly a Catholic tradition here. I find it interesting that you used white candles without tying a purple ribbon around the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Advent Sunday candles and pink ribbon around the 3rd Candle. The other common variation here is to have the candle wax colored to these Sundays. If you are interested, I know a Catholic Church in Cincinnati that has a Mass in German every Sunday: Old St. Mary's Catholic Church.
@garyblack8717 4 жыл бұрын
I miss the Christmas market in Mannheim (I was stationed there for 3 years in the '90s).
@wasweiich2190 3 жыл бұрын
Im from Mannheim. Where were you? Mannheim-Käfertal? Mannheim-Neckarstadt-Ost? Every morning (7am i think) i heard the trumpet wake up call. But im talking from ~ 2007. Yes our two markets are still awesome.
@garyblack8717 3 жыл бұрын
@@wasweiich2190 I was stationed at Collman Barracks (Actually in Ludwigsaffen but a short bus ride to Mannheim) I think that barracks was closed not long after I left in '93. Your country is beautiful! I remember my 3 years there fondly.
@aglom69 3 жыл бұрын
Spinelli barracks 86-88
@scott2464 3 жыл бұрын
Felicity thank you so much for taking the time to make and post this and all your other videos.. I would love to be a fly on the wall during Christmas Eve at your home. Beautiful how you have kept not only German traditions but also your family traditions alive and well. So beautiful to see.. God Bless you and your family..
@maryannmcrae6736 3 жыл бұрын
Beautiful Christmas Traditions 🎄 Thank You
@bjoern0975 4 жыл бұрын
You are portraying the German Christmas traditions very accurately. The only difference for my family (in North-Western Germany), when we were kids, was that our living room was locked all day through on Christmas Eve. We were told it had to be that way, so the Christkind would feel safe to come, set up the tree and gifts, and not be disturbed. So my brother and I would always try to peek in through the key hole or from outside. Then, in the afternoon, when my father was back home from work and after we had had coffee and cake, my parents would tell us they heard a sound and we should go hide in our children's room, because they thought the Christkind was there. After a few minutes we would hear a bell and were allowed to go into the living room lit up only by the (real) candles on the tree.
@lovelyisabelle2028 3 жыл бұрын
my parents did the same thing and locked up the living room and stuffed sth in the key holes so that no one could peak AFTER lunch so that my mum could decorate the tree and store the presents underneath AKA let the Christkind come in and bring the presents. The same time we went into the Kindermette (a mass held in the church at afternoon time especially made for children with a play of the Christmas story and typical songs). Then we came home, my mom rang the bell and we were allowed inside. But before we opened the presents we opened the windows and thanked the Christkind. ☺️☺️
@SuperBigdude77 4 жыл бұрын
You have a beautiful smile.
@claymaynard4207 4 жыл бұрын
Awesome video. I really enjoy learning about cultures and traditions from around the world. So thank you.
@hemayetthakur8267 3 жыл бұрын
Happy Merry Christmas 🎄
@glennyoder3438 4 жыл бұрын
Interesting my family came from Germany in the 1700's. When I was a child we always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve, having our Christmas dinner, and opening presents. So it sounds like they kept the tradition even though they had been in the U.S. for over a couple hundred years. Then Christmas day we would go over to relatives and visit with them.
@fkflintstone 4 жыл бұрын
The real lit candles on a real tree make me nervous. I really like the rest of the traditions , they seem like a great way to celebrate Christmas.
@lhkraut 4 жыл бұрын
Now I want to go back to Bremen for the Weihnachtsmarkt! Hope you have the best Christmas ever with your family!
@nancymontgomery8897 3 жыл бұрын
At midnight on New Year's Eve, my family would all go out on the front lawn and ring cow bells that had been passed down for generations. Mom had a rule that we had to eat pork or fish. Pigs root forward and fish swim forward, but chickens scratch backward and cows stand still. She wanted us to move forward in the new year! Sauerkraut was always part of the meal, but I don't remember why.
@curtlewis2795 4 жыл бұрын
Hi Feli! Love your videos! So interesting and fun! Just a comment on Advent in the US. As you suggest, Advent is not as common here, at least in secular celebrations of the season. And really, not a thing in evangelical churches, either Note: As I'm sure you already know (because you are quite well informed) our American use of the term "evangelical" differs from the German usage. For you,the Evangelische Kirche is more-or-less a federation of denominations that include Lutherans and others Here, we Lutherans would not generally be included among "evangelicals" but are generally included in the term "mainline protestants" That said, Lutherans (like our sisters and brothers in traditions like Roman Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian -- just to name three) do indeed place heavy emphasis on Advent while evangelicals like Baptists, Assemblies of God and others do not So, Lutherans -- tracing our heritage back to your beloved homeland -- love our Advent wreaths, candles and calendars. All meant to prepare our hearts for Christ's arrival (advent) much as Mary prepared that manger to receive her Baby Jesus so long ago. Again, I just LOVE your videos! Curt Lewis Arlington, TX
@bethzeman7749 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for a great video. Although this is from last year, i'm going to comment away 😎👍 advent is TOTALLY a thing here in the USA, although it is more of a Christian observance than a secular one. our family and our church light the advent wreath and say prayers every day of advent as we await the birth of Jesus. our candles are purple for weeks 1, 2 and 4 and pink for week 3.
@modemacabre 3 жыл бұрын
At least in the church I grew up in we had five candles. Four purple (the colour of royalty) for the Sundays of Advent and a white one in the centrre, the Christ candle, for Christmas Day. We often made our own with pine boughs in Sunday school to take home and burn the candles there. So not to so different as here in Germany (I'm an American living in Germany) although here there does seem to be more of a secular crossover, I think.
@bethzeman7749 3 жыл бұрын
Kirk W. Was it a Catholic Church?
@modemacabre 3 жыл бұрын
@@bethzeman7749 United Methodist actually
@thescientificmusician3531 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video! I lived in Cincinnati for seven years and studied music and "Germanistik" at U.C in the late 1980s. I loved it there. Enjoy your time with your family in Germany! Frohe Weihnachten!
@noelduncan583 4 жыл бұрын
I think I heard that you may experience Christmas with fifteen family members in your home. I am the Grandson of German-Americans from Quakenbrück. I am living alone in Los Angeles. Your life is so wonderful. Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for sharing your cute life with us.
@Airtouch67 4 жыл бұрын
Your Christmas traditions are very similar to Iceland 🙂. Thanks for sharing...
@tommyo402 3 жыл бұрын
We buy a live tree in early December, keep it in the garage so it doesn't die, pine trees are dormant in the winter and can't be kept inside too long. I dig a hole in the yard before the ground freezes, and over the years we have grown some beautiful pine trees. Live trees are smaller at Christmas but in 10 years they are huge.
@neophytealpha 3 жыл бұрын
We had fake tree, mainly the same one for a long time. Decorated it every time. Also took the tree down right after, or by 3 kings day. I had an advent calendar with little chocolates in them. Went to the Christmas markets, had hot orange juice and potato pancakes with applesauce. Also opened gifts and stockings on Christmas day. Also had a special meal Christmas day.
@dannyboy5086 4 жыл бұрын
I spent a few childhood years in Germany (on US Air Base) where my parents picked up on some of the German traditions they liked. I guess I know now why they kept calling it "Glue Vine". Great video, keep em up!
@xar1234 4 жыл бұрын
Danny Boy „Glue wine“ ist great, if you spill it, it really gets sticky.
@comput3rman77 4 жыл бұрын
Stollen is not like Fruitcake. The only similarity is that they both use candied fruit, other than that they are nothing alike.
@holger_p 4 жыл бұрын
It's all the same ingredients, just in little different proportions. (And I baked both). Stollen is closer to a Cookie dough, so you can keep it 4-6 months. There is no moisture in it. No Eggs, No Water, No Milk, except very little as a starter for the yeast. By all the butter, it will rather turn rancid than perish.
@islandgirl7056 3 жыл бұрын
Your Christmas sounds exactly as my mom has described to me so many times! (she's from the Westerwald region) It makes me happy to know it's still pretty much the same, with the Advent wreath (she still makes her own every year) and candles on the tree, which isn't put up until a day or two before Christmas, and we open presents on Christmas Eve. I feel lucky to know and continue these traditions. I love your videos and am a new fan :)
@tabbylynn4130 3 жыл бұрын
Just recently found your channel but I am in love and with you and Germany!! I sooo want to move there. Ty for all the info and time you put into these videos.
@josephschmidt4157 4 жыл бұрын
I love German traditions. Hope you enjoy living here. I'm a German American. My grandfather was from Hamburg.
@holger_p 4 жыл бұрын
Concerning your self-description as German American, we have to establish, that such third generation people, call themselves Italian German or Turkish German in Germany too. They still have trouble with their identity. Cause they never intended to migrate. The all moved with the intention to go back one day.
@noscheisse2455 3 жыл бұрын
I’m a German American too. 🇩🇪🇺🇸
@josephschmidt4157 3 жыл бұрын
Nice to meet you!
@noscheisse2455 3 жыл бұрын
@@josephschmidt4157 Yep. 😌
@josephschmidt4157 3 жыл бұрын
How are you?
Feli from Germany
Рет қаралды 312 М.
AKIpress news
Рет қаралды 4,9 МЛН
Your Favorite English Teacher | Amy Joy
Рет қаралды 17 М.
Simply R Home
Рет қаралды 39 М.
Feli from Germany
Рет қаралды 588 М.