By Doris Faden
Traditionally minded Germans have long complained how the Christmas spirit has been diluted by commercial interests. How are children supposed to gather and keep the Vorfreude (happy anticipation) that used to be a vital part of Christmas cheer? In recent years the Christmas spirit has slowly but surely crept into November. Department stores put up their decorations, and the city streets are lit, the Musak turns to caroling, and you are advised to buy your Christmas presents early—a lot might be sold out by December.
The Christmas season proper begins with the erster Adventssonntag (the first Sunday of Advent). Depending on how Christmas falls in the calendar this is either the last Sunday in November or the first in December. Most families—and to be quite honest, most businesses—put up an Adventskranz (Advent wreath). Although there are many versions, this was originally a wreath made from pine or fir twigs, decorated with ribbons, bows, all sorts of tinsel, and four candles which are lit successively on the four Advent Sundays so that all four are lit on the last one. In the family circle the lighting of the candles is usually done in the afternoon, around tea or coffee time, and is accompanied by the first Christmas cookies.
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