Did the Nazis celebrate Christmas?

[Panzer94]

I remember seeing a German newsreel in which Hermann Goering was at a Christmas party in which a Santa was giving out toys to children. I know the holiday is not on the official list of national holiday/celebrations. Did the Nazis even acknowledge Christmas,or any other holiday that we in America celebrate? Thanks!

[Christoph Awender]

Hello!

Of course the "Nazis" how you call them celebrated christmas. Also all other german and austrian people which were no Nazis celebrated it.

I also don´t know where from you know that christmas is not on the official holiday list. Of course the 25. and 26. are holidays.
Maybe you also don´t know that the christmas-tree as we and you know it now comes from the german history. At the beginning of the 20 century England, USA and the rest of the world didn´t have such christmas trees.

We in austria have the "Christkind" (christ-child) who brings the presents on 24.Dezember and puts them under the christmas tree.
Other parts of germany have the "Weihnachtsmann". Here are two traditions mixed together.
In austria we have the "Nikolaus" who comes on 6.December to give presents to good children.

Also at the frontlines the german soldiers set up christmas trees and sing christmas songs. Many accounts report that both sides sing together in the middle of the night.

\Christoph

[Panzer94]

Thanks for the info! I just remember reading a book called "Hitler and Stalin" which listed the official Nazi party holidays,and Christmas wasn't on the list.
When you mentioned German soldiers singing songs and getting together with the Americans,I do remember hearing about that. If I'm not mistaken,that took place during WW1 as well.
I just wonder if there are any pics/video of Hitler(or Himmler,Goebbels) celebrating Christmas with his inner circle,friends or family

Thanks again!

[Christoph Awender]

Hello!

It is not on the official Nazi holiday list as it is not a Nazi holiday. It existed already before the regime.

Official holidays which come to my mind are:
Heldengedenktag in March
Nat.Feiertag des deutschen Volkes: 1.Mai
Erntedanktag: 6.Oktober
Gedenktag für die gefallenen der Bewegung: 9.November
Gründung des Dritten Reiches 30.Januar
Adolf Hitler Geburtstag 20.April

Yes in WW1 this happened also. I saw interviews with british WW1 vets which said the germans brought them christmas trees which they didn´t know by then.

\Christoph

[Nagelfar]

I know there are pictures of 'Christmas trees' decorated with Swastikas posted somewhere in the forum. in the SS it was against policy to use the term "Christmas" on official papers, and was instead to be called 'Julfest' (Yule Festival)

I once read somewhere that the Nazis also promoted the concept of gift giving as a Spring Holiday, instead of during 'Christmas/Yule Fest', though I can't now remember the source. maybe it was 'the mind of Adolf Hitler' or such, because I remember it saying it was his idea, and the author concluded it was because his mother had died around Christmas time, or maybe he didn't think people should be cheery at such a dark time as winter. I don't know if I believe that, but it is of note that Hitler put 'national mother's day' on his own Mother's birthday.

[Steve Arthur]

Though Christmas was celebrated in the Reich like most other places, it should be noted that Himmler attempted to replace it within the SS with a pagan feast as part of his anti-christian program. It should be noted that the operative word here is "attempted" The replacement was not all that well received.

Source: Order of the Death's Head
Heinz Höhne 1969


As a side note...For me, the jury is still out on this work. Any comments towards its accuracy and objectivness?

Steve

[Misty Dawn Bright]

Official holidays which come to my mind are:
Heldengedenktag in March
Nat.Feiertag des deutschen Volkes: 1.Mai
Erntedanktag: 6.Oktober
Gedenktag für die gefallenen der Bewegung: 9.November
Gründung des Dritten Reiches 30.Januar
Adolf Hitler Geburtstag 20.April

\Christoph

Could you translate these into English?

Thanx!

Misty

[nondescript handle]

I think we should define some terms.
In my view a 'official holiday'/'national holiday' is a bank holiday, i.e. no school, most if not all shops closed and so on.
By this standard e.g. Hitlers birthday wasen't a 'national holiday', although is was celebrated officially (e.g. in school) (with the exeption of Hitlers 50th birthday April 20, 1939 which was a bank holiday by decree).

Also 'nazi holiday' - a holiday the nazis
-created or
-altered (e.g. 'Mourning day' into 'Heros day') or
-made a bank holiday (e.g. 1st May, originally socialist adopted, altered and made a bank holyday by the nazis)?

Regards
Mark

[_The_General_]

i have some chrismas foto's off german troops, i will post them tonight!

[Xavier]

what is yuletide ?
what are its principles/bases?
in which date is (was) celebrated?

I have asked a couple german managers of the project I am working in now, and they seem dumfolded..never heard of it.

Xavier
the link scrounger

[Nagelfar]

what is yuletide ?
what are its principles/bases?
in which date is (was) celebrated?

Yule (Old English/Anglo-Saxon 'Geol', Norse & Old High German 'Jul') was a holiday usually considered having "12 days", the name means "wheel" or "circle" and is meant as the time of the rebirth of the Sun or of certain Germanic gods. the "Wild Hunt" of Woden and other such occurances happened at this time. it is somewhat like the Germanic halloween, when the spirits of the dead return, ghost warriors stalk the dark yule nights and seek to add to their ranks, people cut down trees and bring them into their homesteads to bring the nature spirits with them as honour/protection from/to the ancestors; also, 'tree trunks' represented the fallen warrior, whose will persisted after death. in Old Norse "Draugr" was the name for the corporeal living dead, like the word "zombie" today, and "Draug" meant the remnants of a felled tree, the word could actually be related to the celtic "Druid", but in Germanic language has nothing to do with a caste in society but instead of dead ancestors, in Old English the word "Draug" could be taken as "Trow"

[Xavier]

Nagelfar:

enlightening!! I am really thankful for your complete description of the holiday.

I have a picture of a group of ss officers on leave, with families celebrating yuletide (is on one of time-life's books) and I have always wondered about the background of the holiday.

when (time of the year) it is usually held?
is it still celebrated in northern (scandinavia) europe?
is related to the big bonfires stil held in some parts of germany?

regards

Xavier
the link scrougner

[Roderick]

The Führer wishes a happy Christmas for all!
Here's a Nazi Christmas card.

[Helly Angel]

Hello,

There are reprints of http://www.soldat.com

[Dunkirchen1940]

Here is more proof they celebrated Christmas, a photo from my collection