What First Advent Sunday Means in Germany
First Advent Sunday (der erste Advent) marks the beginning of Advent, the four-week season of preparation leading up to Christmas. In Germany it is one of the most widely observed dates of the winter calendar, functioning both as a religious season and as a broadly cultural occasion. The four Sundays before Christmas are counted as the four Advents, so the First Advent falls on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and can occur anywhere from late November to early December.
Although Advent is a Christian season, in Germany it is celebrated well beyond church congregations: households, shops, town squares, and schools all mark the day. For many people it is the informal start of the Christmas season.
Origins
Advent as a period of preparation before Christmas has roots in early Christian practice, and over the centuries it developed into the four-Sunday season observed today. The specifically German customs associated with the season — above all the Advent wreath and the Advent calendar — emerged in Germany and German-speaking Europe and later spread internationally.
The Advent wreath is generally traced to nineteenth-century Germany, where it began as a domestic and charitable custom before spreading into churches and public life. The Advent calendar likewise developed in German-speaking Europe, initially as a way of counting down the days of December, and became a mass-produced tradition in the twentieth century. Both customs remain central to how First Advent is observed in Germany today.
Customs and Traditions
- The Advent wreath (Adventskranz): A wreath, traditionally made of evergreen branches, holding four candles. On the First Advent, the first candle is lit; another is lit on each following Advent Sunday, so that all four burn by the last Sunday before Christmas.
- Lighting the first candle: The lighting of the first candle is the defining ritual of the day, done in churches, in homes, and often at public gatherings.
- The Advent calendar (Adventskalender): A calendar with 24 doors or pockets, one for each day from 1 December to Christmas Eve. It is typically opened starting on 1 December, which often falls close to the First Advent.
- Decorating the home: Families bring out Christmas decorations, set up the wreath, and often begin other seasonal preparations around this time.
- Christmas markets: Many German Christmas markets open in the weeks around the First Advent, and the First Advent weekend is a popular time to visit them.
Food and Drink
- Advent baking: The season is associated with traditional Christmas cookies and baked goods, which are often prepared in the weeks around the First Advent.
- Mulled wine (Glühwein): A warm spiced wine served at Christmas markets and winter gatherings, closely tied to the Advent season.
- Seasonal treats: Sweet breads and other festive baked goods are commonly shared during Advent, particularly at family gatherings on Advent Sundays.
Religious and Civic Observances
In churches, the First Advent is marked with special services that begin the Advent season. The liturgy often emphasizes anticipation and preparation, and the first candle of the Advent wreath is lit as part of the service. Church music of the season, including Advent hymns, is performed.
Civically, the First Advent is not a public holiday in Germany, but it is widely observed in public life. Towns and cities hold Advent concerts, markets, and community events, and the day is treated as a festive occasion even by people who are not regular churchgoers.
Regional Variations
Advent customs are shared across Germany, but local practice varies. Christmas markets differ from region to region in size, character, and specialties, and the foods and crafts sold reflect local traditions. Some regions place particular emphasis on specific baked goods or market customs. In general, the further one looks into local detail, the more the observance reflects the particular town or region rather than a single national pattern.
Summary
First Advent Sunday opens the four-week Advent season in Germany. It is defined by the lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath, the beginning of the Advent calendar countdown, and a broad mix of church services, family gatherings, seasonal baking, mulled wine, and Christmas markets. The customs most associated with the day — the wreath and the calendar — originated in German-speaking Europe and remain central to how the country celebrates.