Рассказ об особеность праздновании рождества в Германии

Christmas in Germany
Christmas in Germany is celebrated with many traditions that are unique to Germany. Christmas celebrates the birth of the Christ child, Baby Jesus.
Christmas celebrations start in Germany on 24th December (Christmas Eve) when Christmas gifts are exchanged. On 25th December (Christmas Day) and 26 December, usually the family gets together for celebrations and also the religious Christians will visit Christmas mass during these days. The German festive season starts at the end of November or early December with the Advent celebrations. During the festive season, many cities and towns hold christmas markets which open usually from beginning of December until Christmas eve. Here see a photo of the traditional Christmas market in Frankfurt.
Many town squares do have their own tall Christmas tree in front of the townhouse or city hall which are beautifully decorated with fairy lights and often the lights are switched on early in December with a big party.
There is always a majestic Christmas tree put up in front of Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
There is a festive atmosphere during the whole month of December. Christmas markets and stalls sell traditional German delicatessen such as Christmas stollen, hot and sticky sweet roasted almonds, 'Lebkuchen' hearts (gingerbread hearts) and other Christmas sweets as well as typical Christmas decorations can be found in many towns. The most famous German christmas market is in Nuremberg. There are many stands with mouth-blown and delicately painted glass baubles in all sizes and colours.

Typical Advent Traditions
The festive season is started with the Advent celebrations in preparation to the arrival of baby Jesus on Christmas day. Advent in Germany always starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, the 25th of December. In 2016, the four Advent Sundays are celebrated on 27 November, 4 December, 11 December and 18 December as Christmas day is on a Sunday this year. Typically, families decorate an Advent wreath with four red candles. On every Advent Sunday, one more candle is lit until all candles are alight to announce the imminent birth of Christ.
Adventcalendars filled with sweets or chocolates are popular with children - now a tradition all over the world. The first door is opened on the 1st December until the last and often biggest door is opened on the 24th of December. In Germany, the calendar has 24 doors as Christmas celebrations already start on Christmas eve!
On the 6th of December, families celebrate Saint Nicholas Day. Often a 'real' Saint Nicholas, dressed in the red coat and hat and wearing a white beard -to disguise the father of family friend- and sometimes even his fearsome helper 'Knecht Ruprecht', who is dressed in black, come to the homes with young children. They come to ask the children if they have been good all year and also bring small gifts to the good children and to reprimand the naughty ones. Usually this is a merry and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family and Christmas carols are sung. Children are often asked to prepare and recite a poem for St Nicholas on that evening.
Children also put their shoes, stockings or plates outside, so if Saint Nicholas does not come into the house, he still can leave some fruits, nuts and sweets for the children.
Many Germans display a traditional wooden Christmas pyramid in their living room. This pyramid is actually a little carousel with Angels and a nativity scene, that stand on several levels and spin. The carousel spins with the help of lit candles that through the heat of their flames set the mechanism in motion.