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Advent

Advent is a season observed in many Christian countries as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming".

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All Content on this topic

Verschwundene Dinge

Verschwundene Dinge

The advent of tape recorders

The first analogue tape recorder was launched more than 80 years ago.

Christmas tree in Hamburg, Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Bockwoldt

Christmas tree in Hamburg, Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Bockwoldt

Christmas in Germany

From mulled wine to Advent calendars, experience Christmas in Germany with these articles and picture galleries.

Adventskalender

Adventskalender

The wonderful (and weird) world of Advent calendars

Advent calendars are a way to count down to Christmas Eve. Today, the choices are nearly endless.

Weihnachtsbäckerei

Weihnachtsbäckerei

10 treats to make Christmas even sweeter

Want to spice up your holiday recipe collection? Try these German favorites.

Deutschland Wirtschaft Übernahmeangebot für Handelskette Douglas

Deutschland Wirtschaft Übernahmeangebot für Handelskette Douglas

Douglas prepares IPO

German perfume retailer Douglas plans a stock market listing, consisting of a share sale and a capital increase.

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Advent Calendar Series: The Christmas Angel

It is Day 24 for us! The 24th of December is big in Germany when you exchange presents and spend time with family! Euromaxx did the countdown to Christmas in the traditional German way. We've been unveiling different European Christmas customs and specialties each day. This time we look at the Christmas Angel.

Euromaxx Advent Calender - Day 23

Christmas wouldn‘t be complete without a Christmas tree. Whether you opt for sophisticated simplicity or a riot of brightly-coloured baubles, decorating them is one of the most enjoyable parts of the festive season and a chance to get as creative as you like!

Traditional Christmas Market

Traditional Christmas Market

A traditional Christmas market

There are about 1,500 Christmas markets in Germany, and every year about 85 million people pay them a visit. But what’s their secret? We head for Dresden’s famous Striezel Market to find out more.

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 21

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 21

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 21

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 19

Before the Christmas tree became popular in Germany, almost every family had a crib. The manger where the the newborn baby Jesus was supposed to have lain symbolizes the Christmas story.

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 18

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 17

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 16

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 16

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 16

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 12

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 12

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 12

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 11

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 11

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 11

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 10

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 10

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 10

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 9

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 9

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 9

Christmas market in Dresden

Christmas market in Dresden

A superlative Christmas

German Christmas markets can be record breaking affairs. But at what cost?

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 3

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 3

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 3

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 2

11.2014 DW Euromaxx Adventskalender 2

Euromaxx Advent Calendar - Day 2

A treat from Dresden.

Countdown to Christmas

Take a look at two of the most popular German customs: the Advent wreath and the Advent calendar.

Dresden Striezelmarkt

Dresden Striezelmarkt

Dresden - A Baroque City in Advent

For millions of tourists in the pre-Christmas season, Dresden's Striezelmarkt is a major attraction.

Dresden's Striezelmarkt

Dresden's Striezelmarkt

Dresden - A Baroque City in Advent

For more than two and a half million tourists in the pre-Christmas season, Dresden's Striezelmarkt is a major attraction. It's named for a pastry called "Striezel”, a forerunner of the Dresden Christmas Stollen.

An Advent calendar entitled: "Die kleine Stadt" (The Small Town)

An Advent calendar entitled: "Die kleine Stadt" (The Small Town)

A musical Advent calendar

For many in the West, December signifies one thing above all else: Christmas. In this feature, DW journalists present favorite Christmas carols from around the world.

Rick Fulker Copyright: Rick Fulker

Rick Fulker Copyright: Rick Fulker

Bah! Humbug!, but "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen": Olde English carol for an American Christmas

DW's head of the music department, Rick Fulker, recalls Christmas past and present, strenuous holiday rituals and an ancient melody that radiates glad tidings.

Stephanos Georgakopoulos Copyright: private

Stephanos Georgakopoulos Copyright: private

Between worlds

Stephanos Georgakopoulos celebrates Christmas twice: with German and Greek traditions.

Anastassia Boutsko Copryright: Anastassia Boutsko/DW

Anastassia Boutsko Copryright: Anastassia Boutsko/DW

Sweet trees

The most famous Christmas song in Russia: "The forest raised a Christmas tree."

Lavinia Pitu Copyright: Jenny Sieboldt

Lavinia Pitu Copyright: Jenny Sieboldt

Good news

On Christmas Eve in Romania, there are plenty of religious songs to sing together.

Jürgen Brendel, 1961 Copyright: Brendel Family

Jürgen Brendel, 1961 Copyright: Brendel Family

Winning kids' hearts

Jürgen Brendel loves to talk about St. Nicholas, who is celebrated in many German Christmas carols.

Khrystyna Nikolaychuk Copyright: Marjory Linardy/DW

Khrystyna Nikolaychuk Copyright: Marjory Linardy/DW

New joy

When the song "Nova radist stala" plays in Ukraine, everyone knows: "A New Joy Has Come."

Silvera Padori in her kitchen Copyright: Silvera Padori/DW

Silvera Padori in her kitchen Copyright: Silvera Padori/DW

All good things come in threes

Christmas customs vary greatly from Berlin, to London to Bitola, but music always plays a role.

Suzanne Cords as a little girl out in the snow Copyright: Suzanne Cords

Suzanne Cords as a little girl out in the snow Copyright: Suzanne Cords

Let it snow

FFor journalist Suzanne Cords, Christmas is at its prettiest when the world is covered in white.

A Douglas retail store in Germany

A Douglas retail store in Germany

Advent picks up scent

A US private equity group is aiming to take over Germany's biggest perfume retailer which also happens to trade in books, jewelry and sweets. The move aims to pave the way for further expansion.

Large illuminated Santa figure in Germany

Large illuminated Santa figure in Germany

Scene in Berlin

Frankly, you're better off in Prague. But Berlin is Germany's most popular Christmas destination.

Dresden - A Baroque city during Advent

Dresden is well worth a visit at any time of the year. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, over 2.5 million visitors come to the city. They're drawn by the Striezelmarkt-one of Germany's oldest and loveliest Christmas markets. It's named after a pastry called "striezel," a forerunner of the Christstollen - Dresden’s famous Christmas fruitcake.

Dresden - A Baroque city during Advent

Dresden Dresden is well worth a visit at any time of the year. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, over 2.5 million visitors come to the city. They're drawn by the Striezelmarkt-one of Germany's oldest and loveliest Christmas markets. It's named after a pastry called "striezel," a forerunner of the Christstollen - Dresden’s famous Christmas fruitcake.

An illuminated window in winter

An illuminated window in winter

Advent

Welcome the Advent season with traditional songs, Christmas markets and plenty of good cheer.

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Advent Calendars

Advent calendars are a popular Christmas tradition invented in Germany in the 19th century. The idea of opening a door each day was originally a way to help children endure the countdown to the eagerly awaited holiday. Today the calendars are filled with all sorts of treats - and not just sweets.

Stollen

woman carrying bags

woman carrying bags

Sacrosanct Sunday

Thou shalt not shop, or at least not on all four Advent Sundays in the German capital Berlin.

Advent calendar celebrate 100th birthday

Christmas is only a few days off and if you have an Advent Calendar, then you have at least a couple of windows to open before the big day. They’re intended to make the wait until Christmas go by a little faster.

Christmas market in Cologne, in front of the Cologne Cathedral

Christmas market in Cologne, in front of the Cologne Cathedral

Mulled Wine and Mistletoe

As Advent begins, Christmas markets across Europe are in full-swing.

A woman wrapping up a stollen cake in a bakery

A woman wrapping up a stollen cake in a bakery

Advent in Germany

Christmas trees, creches and Advent calendars -- where do German holiday customs come from?

Werder Bremen midfielder Diego

Werder Bremen midfielder Diego

Festive Foul-Up

A Schalke 04 fan got a shock when he opened the first door on his club advent calendar.

Christmas Goodies

Americans are gobbling up all sorts of yummy German Christmas goodies. The market's booming.

Searching for the Christmas Market Pulse

The holiday season means more than gifts, music and trees in Germany. Many a reveller gets into the spirit at one of the country's omnipresent Christmas markets.

Lecker Things: Secret German Christmas Recipes Revealed!

Germany may not have its own Martha Stewart, but the grandmothers here could give her a run for her money any day with their baked Christmas treats. DW-WORLD's Nancy Isenson shares the best recipes with you.

Where Does Xmas Come From?

On December 25th, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. With approximately 1.8 billion Christians in the world today celebrations are bountiful, but where does the tradition come from?

A Seasonal Story for Each Day until Christmas

Join us every day for a new story, a recipe or some recollection of seasonal traditions.

Merry Messages

Looking for an antidote to the frenetic pace of life? Try a text-message based poetry service which will guarantee you a poem a day, a service which could also make an unusual Christmas present.