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Germany

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Christmas is a time for peace and contemplation, for friends and family, and, of course, celebration. What sort of tree do people have? What do they eat for Christmas dinner? And just how is Germany's relationship to Santa?


DW-WORLD has put together a selection of holiday-related articles, with everything from chilli Christmas trees to Santa bashing.

Happy holidays to all our readers!

DW.DE

Bayern Munich Under the Christmas Tree

Shops selling souvenirs for soccer fans are doing good business in Germany ahead of Christmas and in the lead up to the 2006 World Cup matches. (Dec. 23, 2005) 

Germany and Gospel: Christmas Tradition, Year-Round Passion

In Germany, gospel music is gaining in popularity, and gospel shows are almost as much a part of the holiday season as Christmas markets, mulled wine and stollen. (Dec. 22, 2005) 

Santa Takes a Festive Bashing

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la -- but not if you're a curmudgeonly shopper in the German city of Wiesbaden. (Dec. 14, 2005) 

Book Biz Gets out its Gladrags

If you're stuck for what to get family and friends for Christmas, a book is always a quick-fix solution -- if a little dull. But these days, publishers are pulling out the stops in their efforts to make books beautiful. (Dec. 14, 2005) 

A Fine Old Pickle

Some tradition-loving Americans have got into a bit of a pickle over their Christmas facts. The word on the festive US grapevine is that come Dec. 24, Germans hide an ornamental glass gherkin on their trees. (Dec. 22, 2004) 

Targeting Santa

Groups in Germany and Austria have launched campaigns protesting the commercialization of Christmas. The target of their ire is Santa, an American import who they say doesn't represent what the holiday is all about. (Dec. 20, 2004) 

Plastic Payment Gaining Ground in Germany

An increasing number of German consumers are making their Christmas purchases with plastic instead of cash. But the growing popularity of debit cards also makes it more difficult to keep tabs on personal finances. (Dec. 14, 2005) 

Train Service Aims to Reduce Yuletide Blood Pressure

Stressed-out commuters and over-burdened shoppers will soon have to opportunity to avoid a Christmas coronary thanks to a new relaxation service from the German railway, Deutsche Bahn. (Dec. 2, 2005) 

Dear Christmas Child: Letters From Children

While many American children send their Christmas gift lists to Santa, British kids write to Father Christmas, many Germans address their letters to the Christmas Child. Those letters end up in the town of Engelskirchen. (Nov. 29, 2005) 

Pushing for Pre-Christmas Peace in Germany

Germany's largest Christian churches and the country's retailers have called on people to hold their Christmas spirit until the end of November to keep the season from losing its significance. (Nov. 10, 2005) 

German Christmas Culinary Traditions Endure

Crispy goose or suger-covered raisin cake: Good food belongs to German Christmas celebrations as much as the Christmas tree. And many a traditional dish dates back to medieval times or even earlier. (Dec. 25, 2005) 

More on this topic

Ansgar Klein

'A contribution to political culture' 13.02.2012

In the western German town of Duisburg, a citizens' initiative has forced the mayor to step down over his role in the Love Parade disaster in 2010. DW spoke to Ansgar Klein, an expert on citizen political involvement.
A picture from the 2010 Love Parade shows people rushing up a bank in search of space amid the deadly stampede

Duisburg Love Parade mayor voted out of office 12.02.2012

Mayor Adolf Sauerland has been voted out of office in the German city of Duisburg. Residents who blame Sauerland for 21 deaths at the Love Parade music festival in 2010 forced the vote.
Left to right, Beate Zschäpe, Uwe Böhnhardt and Uwe Mundlos

Evidence in neo-Nazi case said to be deleted 12.02.2012

Germany's federal criminal agency is said to have ordered the deletion of data related to the neo-Nazi terror investigation, according to a newspaper report.

Europe

Vor dem Schein einer Flamme ist eine zersägte Euro-Münze aus Griechenland auf diesem Illustrationsbild zur Euro-Schuldenkrise am Dienstag (10.01.2012) in Frankfurt am Main zu sehen. Die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) gibt am Donnerstag (12.01.2012) auf ihrer turnusmässigen Pressekonferenz in Frankfurt Auskunft über den aktuellen Stand der Entwicklung im Euro-Raum. Finanzmarktexperten rechnen nicht mit einer neuen Zinsentscheidung. Foto: Boris Roessler dpa/lhe (Redaktionshinweis: Die Münze auf diesem Foto wurde von einem gewerbsmässigen Künstler teilweise zersägt.)

Greece fails to finish homework

The Eurogroup's chief has canceled a meeting at which finance ministers had planned to give the greenlight to a second bailout for Greece. Athens failed to fulfill the conditions in time, so now they'll have to wait.

Corruption and division among Greece political elite

Culture

Flowers laid in remembrance of Whitney Houston

No public funeral for Houston

Family members of pop icon Whitney Houston have rejected plans for a two-day public memorial, opting instead to hold a private funeral on February 18. Houston, 48, was found dead in a hotel in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

People and Politics

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