Christmas in Germany takes place on the 24th, and things go down a bit different. Present opening doesn’t take place until night. In fact, the Christmas tree doesn’t go up until this day, and it’s set up in a room that the kids are forbidden to enter. The tree is decorated and the presents set...

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Christmas craziness in Germany is best accentuated by the countess Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas Markets) that spread like tribbles in December. These outdoor markets are usually formed by long rows of stalls that sell candy, German crafts, and most importantly, hot, cinnamon-spiked wine that transforms shopping in the cold into a pleasant experience. Our city of Esslingen...

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Animatronic figures have long since been a part of Christmas tradition. Usually there will be a cozy manger scene, where the animals might bob their heads or the like. There used to a be a Peter Pan display at the local mall when I was a kid. I always liked that one. You don’t see...

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Whenever I burn incense in the house, it makes Andreas think of Christmas, thanks to the smoking men that burst out of attic storage come December. Glorified incense burners, smoking men usually come in the form of wooden figurines, often with nods to various professions, or sometimes as animals. I have the dubious pleasure of...

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Has there been a gay Christmas movie before? None spring to mind, and I really liked the idea of cuddling up with Andreas on the couch, our recently decorated tree glowing to one side of the room while we watched Make the Yuletide Gay. The results were mixed. Like most holiday films, Make the Yuletide...

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These clever little devices are called pyramids in German, but are probably better described as carousels. They operate on a very simple premise. The heat generated from the candles moves the wooden fan blades above, causing everything to spin. Usually there are little figures in the pyramids center that enjoy going for a ride. As...

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If there’s one holiday that’s big in Germany, one big festive money shot that the entire country revels in, then without a doubt it is Weihnachten. That’s Christmas to you and I. Over here the celebrations span multiple days, including four advents, a day dedicated solely to Santa Claus, and a trinity of days as...

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