10 things you should know before celebrating Christmas in Germany

In Germany, Christmas begins with Advent, and it's not uncommon to receive a highly caloric Advent calendar as a gift. There's usually a little door for each of the 24 days counting down to Christmas, with a candy behind each one. Some people make their own calendars. Consuming chocolate every day helps stretch the waistline and prepare you for the feasts during the actual holiday.

Clean up your boots, because when you wake up on December 6, they might be full of chocolate. That's St. Nikolaus Day - nearly as important as Christmas itself - when the good fellow comes to secretly fill up awaiting footwear. While some countries focus on Santa, in Germany it's Saint Nick who's busy collecting frequent flier miles in December. However, he doesn't squeeze through any chimneys...

It's neither St. Nikolaus nor Santa who bring German children their presents on Christmas Eve. Rather, it's the Christkind, or Christ child. However, we're not talking about the baby in the manger. Instead, he's represented as a golden female angel. Apparently, she's also pretty good at getting around the whole country in one night.

Gifts are shared and opened on the evening of December 24 in Germany. This tradition is particularly pleasant for those little ones who don't have the gift of patience. Typically, families enjoy a modest meal on the 24th; less cooking means more time for presents. On the 25th, the whole day is available to prepare and enjoy a huge feast.

During the entire Advent season, people often gather after work at the local Christmas markets to drink Glühwein (literally, glowing wine). A steaming mixture of red wine, sugar and wintery spices, the drink is quite sweet and very deceiving: It's wise to take slow, small sips if you want to find your way back home. This is especially true if you order "Glühwein mit Schuss" - with a shot of rum.

While Christmas treats come early with the Advent calendar, Christmas trees traditionally aren't set up and decorated until Christmas Eve, December 24. Some families like to cut down their own. The advantage of getting a tree so late is that there are fewer brown needles to sweep up during the month of December. The so-called "Tannenbaum" or "Weihnachtsbaum" is usually kept until early January.

While Germans are known for taken precautions and playing it safe, this doesn't apply to their Christmas trees. The pines are frequently adorned not only with red glass balls and wooden trinkets, but also with flames - that is, slender red or white candles, or even sparklers. While it sounds risky, especially if small children are in the house, Germans also tend to be well insured.

Christmas in Germany doesn't last for one day but for three. December 24 is technically a holiday, though some grocery stores are open in the morning; everything is closed on December 25 and 26. Unless you plan to go hungry or rely on fat reserves from eating Advent chocolates and Christmas market sausages, make sure to stock up on the 23rd.

In some countries, the relaxing holiday is followed by a hectic early morning trip to the mall to redeem freshly acquired gift cards and return unwanted presents. In Germany, stores open again on December 27. But there are no big sales, and gift cards aren't a common Christmas present, so no huge crowds. So go back to bed!

Christmas begins with Advent in late November and the holiday itself lasts three whole days, so it's only fitting that Christmas gradually come to a close in Germany. Officially, it's not over until Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day, on January 6. Typically, children dress like the Three Wise Men who visited Jesus in the manger, according to the Bible, and go door to door singing traditional songs.