Holidays and Celebrations in German-Speaking Countries

Presentation Transcript

By Jacob Scribner

PRE 770

Celebrated January 6th
Not all of Germany celebrates this day (mostly celebrated by members of Catholic and Eastern Churches)
The holiday observes the revelation of the god of the Bible in human form, and it is celebrated by a feast with cake as the main dish

Celebrated on May 1st and is observed by all of Germany
Became an official holiday in 1933 after the Nazi Party rose to power
Although the Nazis outlawed free unions the day after endorsing this holiday, many German workers still continued to observe and celebrate it anyway.

Celebrated from the middle of September to early October. This custom was started to allow the attendees to enjoy the festivities in warmer weather.
Originated on October 12, 1810 as a wedding celebration between Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen and ended five days later.
Over the centuries, it has become the biggest festival in the world, attracting an average of six million people each year.

Celebrated nationwide by Germany every October 3rd to commemorate the reunification of Germany in 1989.
It began in Berlin in 1990, and every year it is celebrated in one of the German State Capitals in rotation.
The holiday is typically celebrated by the consumption of beer.

Literally translating to “carving bench,” this is a song which is commonly sung by children for learning new words and by adults during large social celebratory gatherings.
The song involves adding rhyming pairs of words to each new verse and repeating those words backwards to the refrain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96HbPgDmMuk

While this mythical creature is believed to predate Christian tradition, he is a demon-like beast who accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season.
Observed mostly in Austria, many young men during the first few weeks of December dress up as Krampus and go about town causing mischief.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSFAUyZVfdQ

While not as beastly as Krampus, Knecht Ruprecht is another mythological companion of Saint Nicholas observed by people in central Europe.
There are many different versions of Ruprecht’s character, but he is commonly seen as Saint Nicholas’s enforcer. Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children, and Ruprecht punishes the naughty children--usually with a small whip.

Celebrated in Vienna, Austria since 1983.
Three-day concert usually held in June on a series of small islands on the Danube River.
In recent years, the festival has drawn nearly three million from around the world.
Previous acts have included Falco, Bloodhound Gang, and Chris Daughtry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO4XUZnP-eI

While it is believed that yodeling was developed around the Swiss and Austrian Alps as a way of communicating between mountain peaks, it later became a part of the local culture and incorporated into the region’s music.
Yodeling is often done in the mountains or near lakes so as the singer can hear his or her voice echo off of the natural acoustics.
After being integrated into the local culture, yodeling is sometimes performed during celebrations involving singing and dancing to allow crowd interaction and to create merriment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO4XUZnP-eI