I teach Kindergarten and would love to share the traditions of a German Christmas with my class. This would also include crafts and art the children could make and display. German recipes to cook with the children would be wonderful also.

In Germany and Austria, Christmas eve IS X-mas. The presents are given, but not packaged. They are usually all put under a cover for each person, unwrapped, ready to use. This is done right after dinner, and in the morning everyone can sleep in.

German Christmas happens on the eveing of December 24th. It's Baby Jesus himself who bings the presents (pretty amazing that, and keeps young Germans thinking that young kids can do a lot if only they put their mind to it). The Christmas tree is being decorated all day by the parents in the secrecy of the living room, and no kid is allowed in during that time. Instead, everybody eats something ostentatiously simple in the kitchen for lunch. usually pea soup with wieners, or, in Bvaria, white sausages and pretzels. In the evening, when the tree is all done up and the presents placed beneath the tree, a bell rings (rung by the parents, of course), and the door to the living room mysteriously opens, and there are all the presents under the tree... but first, songs will need to be sung (Ihr Kinderlein kommet, Oh Tannenbaum), and the Gospel after Luke needs to be read. After that, it's happy unwrapping time, and the grown-ups will open a bottle of champagne. Afterwards, there is usually a relatively light dinner of fish dishes (lobster, oysters, etc.). The real pig-out happens on December 25, when goose with dumplings and red cabbage is served, with lots of gravy and red wine. Hm, makes me want to go back to Germany this year... Have fun with your class.