German Traditions in Australia

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.)

| Singing/Music | Kegeln | Weddings | Food | Language Influence | Christmas |

Christmas

A book about the Barossa Valley described the role that music plays at Christmas time:[1]

Music has always been an important part of the Christmas celebrations in the Barossa; in the earlier years when the German language was the language of the area, carols such as ‘Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht’, ‘Alle Jahre wieder’, ‘O du fröhliche, o du selige’, ‘Ihr Kinderlein kommet’ and many others were sung both in Church and at home around the family organ. Although these words are seldom heard now the tunes live on and so do the words in their English translations.

Don Ross and Reg Munchenberg

Some German-speaking communities in Australia today (particularly in the Lutheran churches) hold a Christmas bazaar or market 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

[Photo: Christmas bazaar - Christmas decorations. Copyright D Nutting]

Christmas decorations at the bazaar in Springvale

The communities that hold Christmas bazaars or markets include:

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 [icon: PDF file], 181 Kb

♦ Notes:

1. Don Ross and Reg Munchenberg, in Munchenberg, Reginald S et al. (1992). The Barossa, a Vision Realised. The Nineteenth Century Story. Barossa Valley Archives and Historical Trust Inc. p.131