Guest Author - Lisa Shea

German traditions have influenced the world of Christmas. Many things that we think are traditionally Christmas come to us from Germany.

To start with, Germans love the advent calendar - the multi-door prize pack that gives you a different prize for each day from December 1 through December 24.

All presents are opened on the night of December 24th, because the gift-giving should be done and complete before the family focusses completely on the Christ child. They go to a midnight mass, and then the 25th is focussed on Christ, and on spending time with family.

Gingerbread - that traditional German treat - is used for gingerbread houses. These were created back in the 1700s and have become more elaborate and intricate over the yeares.

Even the Christmas Tree comes from Germany. Martin Luther used the tree as a way to remind people of the ever green nature of life and religion. Trees used to be decorated with candles, but in modern times it is much safer to use electrical lights.

Nutcrackers are another German tradition, and there is of course a whole Christmastime ballet set with this theme.