European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                N Early amet Cir cartoon of Santa. Licholas Mart the traditional Illume. Below a Young soft finds led with treats. Al right in 1880 Tali by Msnuel Kobb. Event season begins the Christmas season in Germany begins in Earnest ibis weekend which brings thu first sunday of Talven Tipit or Advent Lime. Sunday is the Clay  German children will receive in  a Advent Calendar to help them count the Days until  or chrism is. Each Day .1 window on the Calendar is opened. Some  a i lenders have sweets or trinkets hidden behind the scullers most contain Only colourful picture of Holiday scenes. On the first sunday of Advent germans Lurhl the first of four candles on their traditional Christmas wreaths. Tho wreaths made of Pine branches often Are decorated with ribbons Pine Cones nuts Anil Small Glass ornaments. They usually, placed on a Able in the living room or dining room. Some Advent Wren los also feature a Large Central Candle and each Day until  is marked on its length. As thu wait grows Shorter so does the Candle. Adorn Zeit also Marks the Start of other German Holiday festivities. It s the season for the  Christmas Markell and  Christ child Market in cities and towns All Over the country and for special run carts. Although lln1 custom of decorating n if Tryx for the Holiday originated in Europe German families generally Are slower than americans to put up their Christmas Trees. Many wait until Christmas eve which is also when presents Are traditionally opened. Rarely will a German business be open on Christmas eve. Ii is the night for Church services which often feature a Christmas pageant and such songs As Stille Nocht the austrian ural that olso is known in the United states As silent night written in 181b by Osl Mohr. . In is the night for family Nash rings around Tho tree although few families still use real candles the typical German Christmas tree gleams with White Light. Ii is unusual for germans to decorate Wilh Tho coloured lights red Blue Green thai have become so popular in i he United slates. A youngster admires a traditional str Ryan Advent Wreath and candles. The Chrisl Ntilis tree like the Yule log Anil , is linked to he Pagan festival jail. Germanic tribes Tai  d on dec. 25, decorating with Pine boughs and burning special logs in Honor of the Sun Gud Fry the same1 Date was later adopted fur Christian celebrations in memory of the birth of Chrisl incl Many of he ancient customs survived in altered form St Boniface who is credited Wilh converting Many of the Pagan Rilius is said to have substituted a fir tree dedicated to the Chrisl child or he Oak tree that honoured the god Wolano in Early Pagan rites. In thu Early 1 ill Century German Church reformer Martin Luther is said to have added candles to his Chris Las tree. Gradually decorations became More elaborate colourful ribbons and bows gilded apples and null beads and Oiler ornaments. Other German Christmas customs vary by Region. In Nuny areas a single Candle is kept burning  one room of the House on Christmas eve Symbol ing the arrival of Chrisl the Light of the world. In Homes among the Eifel Hills Between the lower Moselle and the Middle Rhine a loaf of bread May in left on a Windowsill facing the Church on Christmas eve. The bread is eaten on Christmas Day and id supposed to prevent and cure diseases in Alsfeld and other towns in Hesse townsfolk assemble around the creche or Manger crib in the Market Square on Chris Mai eve. They sing the Chrisl child to sleep Wilh carols and lullabies. Many German farm families trek solemnly out to the barn on Christmas eve to pal their cows horses and other animals. They remember the account that Mary and Joseph and the Christ child had Only stable animals for company on Lull first Christmas. A Black Forest tradition is in Sel an extra place at the dinner table on Christmas eve in Honor of Mary who could find no room at the inn in Bethlehem. In Tho bavarian Alps at almost Midnight families come Down from the Hills or a Christmas eve mass. The torches and lanterns thai Light their Way create Eye catching swirls in the darkness. My wwwwwwlvwt1ltlrfti�w1lewgl non bar 26, 1987 j Tripett nut int 13