Advent in Germany: traditions, calendar, wreath and Christmas markets

Advent, or Adventszeit, is the pre-Christmas period in Germany: four weeks of waiting for Christmas, decorated streets, markets, wreaths with candles, Adventskalender, and homemade baking. In 2026, the first Sunday of Advent falls on November 29, and the period itself ends on Christmas Eve, December 24.

For believers, Advent is connected with the anticipation of the birth of Christ. For many families in Germany, it is also a cozy season of preparation: choosing gifts, baking Plätzchen, going to a Weihnachtsmarkt, lighting a candle on the Adventskranz, and opening the next door on the calendar.

What Advent means

The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” In the Christian tradition, it refers to the expectation of the birth of Jesus Christ and preparation for Christmas.

In the Middle Ages, Advent was observed more strictly than it is today: it was a time of fasting, reflection, and religious preparation. In some regions, the period could last five or six weeks. Later, the familiar four-week Adventszeit became established: the four Sundays before Christmas became the main calendar marker.

Today, the religious meaning remains, but in everyday life in Germany Advent has long since also become a cultural tradition. Wreaths appear in homes, candle arches glow in windows, children receive calendars with surprises, and Christmas markets open in towns and cities.

When Advent begins

The first Sunday of Advent always falls on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. That is why the date changes every year: it can be at the end of November or in the first days of December.

In 2026, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29. After that, another candle is lit on the Adventskranz each Sunday until Christmas, and on December 24 Germany celebrates Heiligabend, the Holy Evening. That is when many families open gifts and Christmas begins.

Adventskalender: the Christmas countdown calendar

Adventskalender is one of the most recognizable symbols of Advent in Germany. The classic calendar is designed for 24 days, from December 1 to December 24. Behind each door is a small surprise: chocolate, a toy, tea, cosmetics, a note, a mini gift, or a task for the day.

The Advent calendar has a chocolate candy behind every door.

Originally, the Adventskalender was a children’s tradition, but now calendars are also given to adults. In shops you can find chocolate, tea, cosmetic, book, and even hobby-themed calendars. Many families make them themselves: they hang numbered envelopes, bags, or boxes and put small gifts inside.

It is important not to confuse the calendar with the start date of Advent. Even if the first Sunday of Advent falls in November, most Adventskalender are opened from December 1.

Adventskranz: a wreath with four candles

Adventskranz is a Christmas wreath made of evergreen branches with four candles. Each Sunday of Advent, a new candle is lit: one on the first Sunday, two on the second, three on the third, and four on the fourth.

The history of the modern Advent wreath is often linked to the Protestant theologian Johann Hinrich Wichern. In 1839, he used a large wooden candle holder with candles so children could count down the days until Christmas. Later, the idea was simplified to a wreath with four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent.

A typical Advent wreath in Germany: four red candles on evergreen branches.

You can buy the wreath ready-made or assemble it at home: evergreen branches, candles, cones, ribbons, Christmas ornaments, dried fruit, and cinnamon all convey the atmosphere of the season well. In families with children, the candles are usually lit only under adult supervision.

How homes and cities are decorated

During Adventszeit, Germany changes noticeably. String lights appear in the streets, shop windows become festive, squares are decorated with Christmas trees, and in the windows of homes you can often see glowing arches called Schwibbogen. This tradition is especially associated with the Ore Mountains, but today these candle arches can be found throughout the country.

Advent window decorations in Germany: candle arches

Many people buy the home Christmas tree closer to Christmas so it does not dry out too early. Artificial trees are often decorated already in the first weeks of Advent. Gifts may appear under the tree in advance, but in German families they are usually opened on the evening of December 24.

Christmas markets during Advent

Advent is the main season for German Christmas markets, Weihnachtsmärkte. In cities and smaller towns, stalls open with hot drinks, sweets, decorations, candles, toys, and handmade gifts.

At the markets, people usually sell:

• Glühwein, spiced hot wine;
• Kinderpunsch, non-alcoholic hot punch;
• Lebkuchen, gingerbread;
• Stollen, a Christmas loaf with dried fruit;
• roasted nuts and almonds;
• waffles, pancakes, cookies, and other sweets;
• sausages, potato dishes, and hot snacks.

Market schedules differ by city, so before a trip it is best to check the website of the specific city or organizer. In larger cities, markets often run from late November until Christmas, but some locations may close earlier or continue after December 24.

What people eat and drink in Germany during Advent

Adventszeit cuisine is all about spices, baking, and hot drinks. The most recognizable flavors of the season are cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, almonds, orange zest, marzipan, and honey.

Baked carp in the pre-Christmas period is a common dish on German tables

Traditional treats include:

• Plätzchen, small Christmas cookies in different shapes;
• Lebkuchen, gingerbread, often with nuts, icing, or chocolate;
• Stollen, a dense Christmas loaf with dried fruit and powdered sugar;
• baked apples with nuts and spices;
• fish dishes, including Weihnachtskarpfen in families that preserve older traditions from the fasting period.

Glühwein remains the main drink at the markets, but there is almost always hot chocolate, tea, cocoa, and non-alcoholic Kinderpunsch nearby as well.

Plätzchen: simple Christmas cookies

In kindergartens, schools, and families, people often bake Plätzchen during Advent. This is not one specific recipe but a whole category of small Christmas cookies. The shapes can be anything: stars, hearts, trees, bells, little people.

Ingredients

• 100 g sugar
• 200 g butter
• 300 g flour
• 1 egg

For decoration:

• powdered sugar or sugar
• lemon juice
• Streusel, chopped nuts, poppy seeds, chocolate sprinkles, or other toppings

How to make them

1. Chill the butter and egg.
2. Mix the sugar, butter, flour, and egg, and knead into a smooth dough.
3. Wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
4. Roll it out to a thickness of about 5 mm.
5. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters or a glass.
6. Transfer the cookies to a baking tray lined with Backpapier, leaving a little space between the shapes.
7. Bake for about 10 minutes at 170 degrees, adjusting for your oven.

Icing and decoration

Mix lemon juice with powdered sugar or sugar until it forms a thick icing. Spread it on the cooled cookies and add Streusel, nuts, poppy seeds, or chocolate sprinkles.

Plätzchen come in many different shapes, fillings, and sizes.

Advent for the family: what you can do at home

If you want to experience German Adventszeit without complicated preparation, it is enough to choose a few simple traditions:

• put up an Adventskranz and light the candles on Sundays;
• make an Adventskalender for children or a partner;
• bake Plätzchen on the weekend;
• go to a Weihnachtsmarkt;
• decorate a window with string lights, a candle arch, or paper stars;
• prepare gifts in advance, but leave opening them for Heiligabend.

What people value in Advent in Germany is precisely the anticipation: not one festive day, but several weeks of small rituals, the smell of baking, lights, and preparation for Christmas.