Nikolaustag (St. Nicholas Day)
Which Christian saint is Santa Claus based on?
St. Nicholas of Myra
Lederhosen and dirndls
When do Germans exchange their Christmas gifts?
Christmas Eve
True/False: Tag der deutschen Einheit is the only official national holiday, all other holidays are regulated on the regional basis.
True
What are the biggest days of celebration?
The Thursday-Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
What day is celebrated as St. Nicholas's Day?
December 6th
Where is Oktoberfest celebrated?
At the Theresienwiese in Munich
What is the item given on the 1st of December with 24 “windows” filled with chocolate?
Adventskalendar (Advent Calendar)
What does German Unity Day celebrate?
Reunification of FDR and GDR in 1990
What are two of the different names for this holiday?
Fasching, Fosnat, Fasnet, Fastnacht, Karneval
How do Germans celebrate Nikolaustag?
By filling children's shoes with chocolate
How long does Oktoberfest last?
16-18 days (starts in September and ends by Oct. 3)
Where is the oldest Christmas Market in Germany located?
Dresden
What city officially hosts the Bürgerfest each year?
Different city every year (Berlin always has a festival, but it is unofficial)
How long has Fasching been celebrated?
Since the 13th century
Who is St. Nicholas's partner, who travels with him to punish naughty children?
Knecht Ruprecht
Why do people celebrate Oktoberfest?
It was originally to celebrate the wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese (of Sachsen-Hildsburghausen) in 1810, but people enjoyed it so much it became an annual event.
Where in the house do German children typically leave their letters to the Christkind (Christ Child)?
On the windowsill
How is this holiday celebrated in Berlin?
With a three-day festival by the Brandenburg gate
Which is not a tradition associated with Karneval: parades, costumes and masks, breaking dishes, or women cutting off men’s ties?
Breaking dishes
What is typically baked in celebration of St. Nicholas's day?
Stutenkerl/ Printenmann
How many people attend Oktoberfest each year?
About six million
What popular drink can be found at Christmas Markets in Germany?
Glühwein
Why was the date of the fall of the Berlin Wall (November 9) not selected as the holiday’s date?
Because it coincided with the date of ‘Kristallnacht’ and anti-Jewish pogrom in 1938 and the proclamation of the Weimar Repiblic in 1918.
When does the Karneval season officially start in Köln (Cologne)?
11:11am on Nov. 11 (though there aren’t really any carnival celebrations during Advent and Christmas)