Feste und Feiertage
JANUAR
 Feuerwerk
Bleigießen – “lead pouring”
• An old practice using molten
lead like tea leaves.
• A small amount of lead is
melted in a tablespoon (by
holding a flame under the
spoon) and then poured into
a bowl or bucket of water.
The resulting pattern is
interpreted to predict the
coming year.
– For instance, if the lead
forms ein Ball, that means
luck will roll your way. The
shape of ein Anker (anchor)
means help in need. But ein
Kreuz (cross) signifies death!
Feuerzangenbowle
• A popular traditional
German New Year's
drink.
• Part of the popularity of
Feuerzangenbowle is
based on a classic novel
of the same name by
Heinrich Spoerl (18871955) and the 1944 film
version starring the
popular German actor
Heinz Rühmann.
• The hot punch drink's
main ingredients are
Rotwein, Rum, Orangen,
Zitronen, Zimt und
Gewürznelken (cloves).
Heilige Drei Könige – 6. Januar
• The twelve days of Christmas end with the Feast of Epiphany also
called "The Adoration of the Magi" or "The Manifestation of God."
• It is known as the day of the Three Kings (or wise men/magi):
Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
• January 6, the last day of Christmas, comes with its own traditions,
rituals and symbols.
– In many homes the Christmas tree is taken down and in some areas is
burnt in a big bonfire. Now is when the children get to “plündern”
(raid) the tree of all the sweets that were used as ornaments.
– The custom of the Star Singers, reminiscent of the travel of the Three
Kings is still very much alive in Bavaria and Austria. Beginning with
New Years and through January 6, children dressed as the kings, and
holding up a large star, go from door to door, caroling and singing a
Three Kings' song. For this they receive money or sweets. Formerly the
collected donations went to unemployed craftsmen and veterans;
today they go to charities of the church or the Third World.
FEBRUAR
• Sankt Valentin and the lovers' celebration in his
name are not traditionally German, but in recent
years Valentinstag has become increasingly
popular in Germany.
• In Germany men and women give each other
flowers as an expression of love. The symbol of
love for Germans are red Roses.
– "Dunkelrote Rosen, bring ich schöne Frau, und was
das bedeutet, wissen Sie genau," goes one song.
Mariä Lichtmess – 2. Februar
• Mariä Lichtmess (Candlemas)
was an official holiday in
Germany until 1912.
• The Roman Catholic Church has
celebrated the feast day of
Candlemas since 1960.
• It commemorates the purification
of the Virgin Mary and the
presentation of Jesus in the
Temple at Jerusalem.
• It is named after the candle light
procession, which precedes the
mass.
MÄRZ
APRIL
• The Germanic celebration of Easter
(Ostern in German) is very much
like that in most of the Christian
world. It features the same fertility
and spring-related icons—eggs,
bunnies, flowers—and many of the
same Easter customs. The art of
decorating hollowed-out eggs
(ausgeblasene Eier) for Easter is an
Austrian and German tradition.
• The Easter celebration (das Osterfest) takes on
both religious and secular forms. The Christian
religious celebration is the most important day
in the church calendar, reflecting Christianity's
very beginnings in the Resurrection of Jesus.
MAI
• In Austria, Germany, and Switzerland Muttertag is observed on the
second Sunday in May.
• During WWI, Switzerland was one the first European countries to
introduce Mother's Day (in 1917). Germany's first Muttertag
observance took place in 1922, and Austria's in 1926.
• Muttertag was first declared an official German holiday in 1933 and
took on a special significance as part of the Nazi motherhood cult
under the Hitler regime.
– There was even a medal—das Mutterkreuz—in bronze, silver, and gold
(eight or more Kinder!), awarded to mothers who produced children
for the Vaterland. (The medal had the popular nickname of
"Karnickelorden," the "Order of the Rabbit.")
• After World War II the German holiday became a more unofficial
one that took on the cards-and-flowers elements of the U.S.
Mother's Day.
Erster Mai / Tag der Arbeit
• Known in most parts of the world as Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit),
May 1st is also related to the Maypole (der Maibaum) and the
welcoming of spring, especially in Austria and Bavaria.
• Unlike the U.S. observance, which cuts across all classes, Germany's
Tag der Arbeit and most European Labor Day observances are
primarily a working class holiday.
•In Austria and many parts of Germany, especially in
Bavaria, the tradition of raising a Maypole (Maibaum) on
May 1 still serves to welcome spring.
•It’s a tall wooden pole made from a tree trunk (pine
or birch), with colorful ribbons, flowers, carved
figures, and various other decorations.
•Maibaum reflects the custom of placing a small
pine tree atop the Maypole, which is usually set up
in a town's public square or in front of city hall.
Traditional dances, music, and folk customs are
often associated with the Maypole.
SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER
Martinstag
• The Catholic Martinstag observance is held on November 11.
• According to legend, Martin cut his red cloak in half to share with a
beggar during a snowstorm. Today, one can see costumes of red
cloaks on this day.
• The traditional baked goose (Martinsgans) meal is based on
another part of the legend. Feeling unworthy of becoming a bishop,
Martin hid in a stable filled with geese. The noise made by the
geese betrayed his location, and the people of Tours had him
consecrated as a bishop.
• In parts of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland the Martinstag
observance is a children’s affair. Carrying paper lanterns they have
made in school, the young children take part in an evening
procession, sometimes led by a rider on a white horse, emulating
St. Martin and his red cloak. Sometimes the lantern procession
ends with a Martinsfeuer (bonfire).
Allerheiligen / Allerseelen – 1. und 2.
November
• All Saints/All Souls became focal points of
veneration of the dead ever since Pope Gregory
in 835 initiated the church wide celebration.
• Allerheiligen was at first celebrated to honor all
martyrs, later including all saints, known and
unknown, and it now honors all those who died
in the faith. Devout Catholics would take the
name of the saint on whose feast they were
baptized and would celebrate their “nameday”
every year.
DEZEMBER
Heiliger Abend
Geburtstag