German Traditions, Influences and Leisure Activities in Australia

German Traditions, Influences and Leisure Activities

(Before unification in 1871, "Germany" consisted of many independent states and kingdoms. In these pages the word "German" refers to all areas from which the immigrants came.)

Christmas

Some German speaking communities in Australia today (particularly in the Lutheran churches) hold a Christmas bazaar each year. These bazaars maintain some German traditions, for example Christmas tree decorations, which you can buy at these bazaars.

[Photo: Christmas bazaar. Copyright D Nutting]
Christmas bazaar of St John's German Lutheran church in Springvale 2006

Many things that Australians consider to be parts of a typical Christmas time originate from Germany and Austria, for example the Christmas tree (from Germany) and Christmas carols like Stille Nacht / Silent Night (from Austria). Shiny glass balls and tinsel as ornaments for the Christmas tree are also German inventions. The first blown-glass balls in the shapes of nuts and fruits were produced in 1847 in the German town of Lauscha, which at that time was part of the Duchy of Sachsen-Coburg, but is now in the state of Thuringia.

These days you can buy homemade Christmas ornaments at the Christmas bazaars in Australia. Other things you can look at and perhaps buy at the bazaars include: Christmas tree decorations, handcraft, flowers, antiquarian and other second-hand books, Christmas cards and greeting cards, coffee/tea with cake and biscuits, Bavarian Leberkäs, sausages with potato salad.

[Photo: Christmas bazaar. Copyright D Nutting]
Christmas bazaar in Springvale 2006

[Photo: Christmas bazaar - Christmas decorations. Copyright D Nutting]
Christmas decorations at the bazaar in Springvale

The communities that hold Christmas bazaars include:

German Lutheran Trinity Church Melbourne
St John's German Lutheran Parish Springvale
South Australian German Association / Süd-Australischer Allgemeiner Deutscher Verein Inc. (SAADV)

Christmas in Australia is something new (and strange!) for German-speaking immigrants from central Europe. They are used to it being cold in December in Europe, where there may also be snow at Christmas time. However, it's a big adjustment for them in Australia, for the weather is usually hot, and that is reflected in the ways in which Australians celebrate Christmas. Many Australians like being out in the open air at Christmas time if the weather is nice.

Christmas celebrations in Australia are, for some German-speaking immigrants, both young and older, a mix of German traditions (where, for example, Christmas celebrations start on Christmas Eve, the 24th December) and Australian habits (beach, cricket, barbeques etc.).

In the website infobahnaustralia.com.au several German emigrants in different parts of Australia described in 2006 how they celebrate Christmas in Australia. A mixture of German and Australian traditions can be seen in the article. The article (in German) is available here as a download in PDF format, with the kind permission of Infobahn Australia.

»Wie deutsche Auswanderer Down Under Weihnachten feiern«, PDF , 181 Kb

[Diese Seite auf Deutsch]