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Many families begin the celebration on Heiligabend (literally, Holy Evening, or Christmas Eve) in the afternoon or evening. Although there are two legal holidays in Germany, [Austria], most cantons of Switzerland and Liechtenstein for Christmas, Christmas Eve is not one of them, and in Switzerland, many companies and stores are open for a half-day in the morning until 4 p.m, after which ...
The status of quiet days is also given to festivities joyous in nature: in Hesse, the highest Christian holidays are half-quiet days (until midday) and in Rhineland-Palatinate, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day are two-thirds-quiet days (until 4 pm). For details see the German article on the Tanzverbot ("dancing ban").
Observance of Christmas in various locations around the world. The observance of Christmas around the world varies by country. The day of Christmas, and in some cases the day before and the day after, are recognized by many national governments and cultures worldwide, including in areas where Christianity is a minority religion which are usually found in Africa and Asia.
Christmas is one of the most globally celebrated holidays in the world. But not everybody celebrates the same way—or even on the same day. While Christmas is, at its core, a Christian holiday ...
Germany is credited with starting the tradition of the Christmas tree, according to History.com, with 16th century records telling of Christians bringing trees into their homes for the holiday.
In Finland (and many other countries around the globe), St. Lucia Day on December 13 is one of the main events of the holiday season. On this date, the eldest girl in each family sometimes dons a ...
Christmas market in Merano, Italy. The first traces of Christmas markets in the German-speaking part of Europe and in many parts of the former Holy Roman Empire go back to late medieval sales fairs and—often one-day—markets, which gave citizens the opportunity to stock up on meat and winter necessities at the beginning of the cold season. [10]
Yet the German tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve remains, even up to the present day. Around 4 p.m. on Dec. 24, tea and snacks are typically served to guests — who arrived earlier ...