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10 German festive season traditions and where they come from

Felix Schlagwein ad
December 7, 2017

Who invented the Advent wreath? How did Christmas markets start? Why do some German children believe the "Christ Child" is the one who brings presents? Find out here.

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Weihnachtsbaum
Image: picture alliance/chromorange/E. Weingartner

The Christmas season is rich in traditions and customs dating back centuries. Many of the German Christmas traditions described in the gallery above have spread around the world: Nowadays, Christmas trees embellish living rooms in Cameroon, while Chinese customers visit Christmas markets in Shanghai.

However, in how many countries do people eat potato salad and sausage on Christmas Eve?