Opening the doors to December…

Advent calendars help sweeten the long wait until Christmas. It's a tradition that has spread to many countries in the world. On December 1, most children - and many grown-ups - run to open the first door. Usually, the calendar features 24 doors and is filled with chocolate. But there are some very fancy ones now - filled with pralines, toys, jewelry and even perfume. The first Advent calendars were crafted in a more modest fashion. In 1903, Munich based publisher Gerhard Lang introduced the first kind to the German market. It had two sheets of paper with 24 pictures and 24 boxes. Every day, the children were allowed to carefully cut out one picture with a religious motif and stick it to an empty box.

Now, we have new traditions. Homemade calendars have become popular.

And some Advent calendars turn up as stage performances. From December 1 to 24, several German theaters will raise the curtains to surprise audiences. Stories and poems will be read, and there will be dancing and music. Churches are also presenting Advent calendars. Every day in the Advent season, parishioners decorate windows, inviting you to prayer, Christmas songs, German mulled wine - Glühwein - and cookies.

The Oscars of European film

The award was nicknamed Felix. It was meant to serve as competition for its American counterpart - the Oscars. The European Film Award dropped its nickname in 1997 and is no longer considered in competitive terms. But - founded in 1988 - the prize remains an important one for European film professionals. It will be awarded on December 3 in Berlin. In total, 45 movies from 32 countries are nominated. Among the favorites is "Melancholia" by Danish director Lars von Trier.

Apart from the German co-production "Le Havre" by Finland's Aki Kaurismäki, there are no nominations from Germany. Among those with chances to win the trophy in the category for Best Film are "The Kid with a Bike" by Belgian Brothers Dardenne, "In a Better World" by Danish director Susanne Bier and "The King's Speech" by British director Tom Hooper.

The King's last stand

Kaspar König, the internationally renowned director of Museum Ludwig in Cologne, retires in 2012 and will be replaced by Philipp Kaiser, now curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. König's last exhibition "Before the Law" opens on December 17. The exhibition cites Franz Kafka's short story of the same title in which a farmer is denied access to the law and justice for all his entire life. The "Before the Law" exhibition features sculptures from 26 artists, including Alberto Giacometti, Wilhelm Lehmbruck and Germaine Richier - artists who have been engaged in human rights work. "Before the Law" is on show at Cologne's Museum Ludwig and runs until April 22.

The Christ Child and the Christmas tree

For kids, the highlight in December is of course Christmas Eve on December 24. Traditionally, that is when presents are opened in Germany. Depending on a family's persuasion, it is either the Christ Child or Santa Claus who brings the gifts. The tradition of the Christ Child is the older one. It goes back to the times of the reformist Martin Luther, who invented the figure as a means of protest against the sensual glorification of St Nicholas. Santa Claus entered the fray in the 19th century as a sort of a "redesigned Nicholas" who handed out the gifts on December 24. Around 1800, it was mainly protestant families that placed decorated Christmas trees in their homes. Catholics mocked the Protestant "Christmas tree religion" and installed a nativity scene in their living rooms instead. Today you can find both - a Christmas tree and the nativity scene - in German living rooms, regardless of a family's religion.

Punch and fireworks for the New Year

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, the sky in Germany is ablaze with light. The fireworks makes an almighty racket, friends embrace each other and wish strangers a Happy New Year, toast to good health with a glass of sparkling wine or punch. Unlike Christmas, New Year's Eve is not considered a celebration you share with your family. Germans like to celebrate the last day of the year with friends, neighbors and complete strangers. There are parties everywhere - New Year's Eve concerts and gala events. Possibly the biggest open air party in the world takes place at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. In past years, around a million people have gathered there to celebrate. But no matter whether you choose to celebrate New Year's Eve quietly with a couple of friends or if you like it loud and wild: We wish you all the best for 2012!

Author: Sabine Damaschke /sst
Editor: Zulfikar Abbany