Growing up, I had never given much thought to how Christmas was celebrated in other areas of the world, but working at a German company for the past five years, I have come to realize that Germans and Americans have different ways of celebrating Christmas. Even though there is no set date, being an American, when I think of the beginning of the Christmas season, I would say that it starts the day after Thanksgiving. That is when we start to have celebrations, and the shopping season begins. In Germany, the Christmas season has a set date. It starts four weeks before the 24th of December and is marked with an advents wreath placed in the home. Traditionally, the wreath is green with red candles and bows, but these days all colors are used. Each Sunday, they light a candle until all four are burning.
             Another cultural difference between Germans and Americans is when and how the Christmas tree is put up. In my home, the day after Thanksgiving, we, as a family, choose and decorate our Christmas tree. In Germany, the Christmas tree is put up by the parents on the 24th, and the children are not allowed to be present. They will see the tree for the first time that night, lit and fully ornate. The children in America look forward to Christmas Day when Santa Claus will come and bring them gifts if they have been "good" all year long. In Germany, Santa Claus, (Nickolous) comes on December 6th. The children put their shoes in front of the door and Nickolous, along with his helper "Kuecht Ruprecht", a black man, brings sweets, apples, and nuts and places in their shoes. Bad children will get a "rute", which is a bundle of twigs for spanking. On December 24th, instead of Santa Claus coming, as he does in America, it is believed amongst the children in Germany that Jesus comes back to earth and brings gifts.
             In America, the children look forward to Santa Clause coming on the 24th of December. The children wake up early on the 25th and run dow...