Pre-Christmas Weimar
The Christmas season is a popular time for short trips to cities in other regions here in Germany - largely because it's so much fun to visit out-of-town Christmas markets. That's just one of the attractions this time of year in Weimar in the eastern state of Thüringen; back in the late 18th century Weimar was home to THE brightest stars in Germany's literary firmament: Goethe and Schiller...which in turn made it attractive to other artists and intellectuals. We had a look around for a pre-Christmas euromaxx city.
Decoration trends for Christmas
The most common Christmas symbol has got to be the Christmas tree. Decoration trends change from year to year, but the Christmas tree itself remains an absolute constant. For two graduates of the Karlsruhe Academy of Design in south west Germany this wasn't good enough. Every year they put on an exhibition by various artists and designers who are asked to conjure up their own visions of a designer Christmas tree.
The Advent wreath - a german invention
If you live in Germany it just isn't the Christmas season without one: an Advent wreath made of evergreen branches with four candles, to be lit successively on the four Sundays preceding Christmas. It's a ritual that brings many a family together over afternoon tea and sweets, and it's one that began in a children's home in Hamburg in 1839. euromaxx on the first light of a custom that has since spread over much of northern Europe.
Bach's Christmas Oratorio
For many Germans, Bach's Christmas Oratorio sung by the St. Thomas Choir in Leipzig is the classic way to celebrate Christmas. euromaxx has been visiting the choir that has had a special relationship with the Christmas Oratorio and its composer ever since it was first performed in 1734 in Leipzig.
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