| A German Christmas | |
17. Dezember
Der Tannenbaum als Geheimnis
The Secret Christmas Tree!
In many German families with young children, it is the custom to keep the Christmas tree hidden away or locked in a room where the kids can't see it until Christmas Eve. The parents put up and decorate the tree, only to keep it a secret until the big “unveiling” on the 24th. It is a big event when the children get to see the family Tannenbaum for the first time on Christmas Eve, the night of die Bescherung (gift-giving).
To non-Germans it may seem strange to keep one of the key symbols of a German Christmas hidden from sight until the last minute, but it is a long and revered tradition which makes the tree a wonderful surprise for children and a central element of a family's Christmas. The tree stays up until at least January 6—Epiphany, Dreikönigstag, the "Twelfth Day" of Christmas—so the children get to enjoy the decorated tree for almost two weeks.
CAROL > O Tannenbaum
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