A Schwibbogen is an arc-shaped wooden candle holder that originated in the Erzgebirge area of Germany.
Modern versions have electrical candles on them and can often be seen in people’s windows.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
Weihnachtskrippe is the name given to a Nativity scene in Germany, often found in town centres during advent. It depicts the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Many families have their own model Weihnachtskrippe at home. Some of these are self-made, others have been collected over a period of time with a new figure being added each year. Typically, these are also passed down through the generations.
Surprisingly, they were banned in churches at the end of the 18th Century.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
Spekulatius is a type of spiced biscuit that is eaten at Christmas in Germany. As well as the normal form of the biscuit, there are variations made with almonds or with extra butter. The form of the biscuits tells the story of St. Nicholas.
Because of the price of the spices involved, these biscuits were expensive to make until the 1950s, so they are considered to be somewhat exotic. These days, however, they are readily available in most supermarkets.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
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