Talk:Weihnachten

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Merger proposal[edit]

The article is very short, and the universal Christmas not all that different from the typically German one anyway, nicht wahr? Since there is no real difference between the two, it's the same date and tradition after all, this should be redirected and a section added to Christmas instead, Danke, (7 days)--Flammingo^Hey 12:44, 3 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It should be merged but they should sub title it weihnachten as it would be easyier for kids in schools to find out about christmas in foregin countries it would be easyier and make more sense ok 17/12/08 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.201.17.136 (talk) 08:21, 17 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

No because it is a distinctly different tradition, and merging it with the english christmas tradition would make it look like a subsidiary of english christmas, when much of the english christmas traditions, such as the christmas tree, is based on old German (prussian) tradition. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.195.166.31 (talk) 13:20, 17 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Absolutely not. As pointed out above, the traditions are different and should be separately treated. Assuming that they are equivalent is equivalent to privileging religion over nationality, a throwback to a notion of Christendom that faded sometime in the Middle Ages, despite Renaissance nostaligia. There are no universal Christian traditions unmodified by nationality, region, ethnicity, and sectarianism, accounting for which would cause the general article on Christmas to become unwieldy and confusing at best, or so vague as to be useless. Indeed, many conservative Christian groups decry the Pagan origins of Christmas, and many Pagan groups assert their ownership of the celebration under different names. How, exactly, are all these competing viewpoints to be accommodated in any article of reasonable length if one starts packing them together like sardines? Exactly how are we to reconcile the Shinto/Buddhist semi-commercial Christmas celebrated in Japan with the Russian Christmas which may incorporate the Snow Maiden and Grandfather Frost as well as anti-religious themes into the semi-Christian tradition, when even the celebrations in the USA and the UK, both English-speaking countries, are very different in detail? Not to mention the fact that both countries are multicultural, and contain multitudes of traditions and observances even within their borders. Lee-Anne (talk) 15:40, 28 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Dont't Merge - Expand[edit]

I strongly disagree with merging, although this is a sub-article that could be better structured and better referenced from the main article.

The Christmas festival was introduced by early Christian missionaries in different countries, adapting traditional end-of-season festivals to the underlying belief the missionaries were propagating. It has little or no doctrinal importance, but is an important ritual in confirming belief.

The local rituals in different countries have interest that predates the introduction of Christianity, and deserve their own articles. I would much prefer to see the article expanded to give more information on pre-Christian origins of the rituals. Aymatth2 (talk) 01:19, 8 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't even think that any part of this article is tue enough to even be put on wikipedia. They have left so much out. Don't let them taint the whole Christmas article. JSKILLA78911(youtube channel) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.251.241.30 (talk) 18:42, 8 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Too general, and oddly described.[edit]

"Adults also share gifts while the children are opening theirs, often immediately playing with their new toys." The 'often immediately' seems a really unhelpful, and obvious, generalisation. Also the whole article looks to be based on a somewhat specific idea of a German Christmas, just applying that to "many families". When I lived in Northern Germany not many people would bring Christkind into anything, favouring just the Weihnachtsmann. I don't know which idea is more prevalent, but perhaps some expansion and explanation of alternative Christmas traditions in Germany would be useful. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.128.204.253 (talk) 23:24, 15 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Also, is 'crap' supposed to be listed as a typical Christmas food? Should it be crab, or is it just vandalism? It is carp, a fish! The article seems to have been written by a German-speaking individual. It can be improved by an English-speaking person who is familiar with Germany.

Candles[edit]

"in the past generated by real candles, though today generally replaced by electric lights"

this is not correct, in many German families real candles are still used! (Source: I'm German...)--93.220.86.228 (talk) 12:50, 9 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Difference[edit]

What exactly is the difference with other traditions? I guess if the article should not be merged into any other Christmas article you should name the things that are fundamentally different from other traditions. history, date, importance for other traditions etc. put it into context. right now it feels to me that I have to search through the entire article to find some things that are somewhat special. I don't say that weihnachten is basically the same as our Christmas eve but the article gave me the impression that many things are but named differently. furthermore you state that "Traditions of Weihnachten influenced Christmas and Advent culture throughout the world." Fine, but how? explain, even if some things seem to be obvious.

Weihnachten = Christmas Eve?[edit]

The first sentence of the article is incorrect: "Weihnachten" does not equal "Christmas Eve." Weihnachten is the German word for Christmas, which takes place on the 25th of December; the eve of the celebration, when festivities begin, is Christmas Eve, the evening of the 24th.Ajrocke (talk) 20:36, 24 December 2020 (UTC)[reply]

That's exactly right. Maybe in English speaking countries the meanings are different. But in German language Weihnachten = Christmas and Heilig Abend = Christmas Eve. I write this as a native German reader. Please correct that wrong definition in first sentence. 87.179.21.62 (talk) 18:40, 27 December 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Photoshopped picture?[edit]

Looks like in the first picture of St Nicholas, there are two guys in the background wearing Santa hats that appear to be crudely photoshopped on them. Can someone replace the picture? Halberdo (talk) 19:28, 24 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I saw that too. I tried to replace it with another commons image but couldn't find one with Santa Claus. Any ideas? I think a Christmas tree would be more appropriate anyhow. Walter Görlitz (talk) 21:11, 24 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]