Traditionally, the holiday season starts with St. Nicholas' day, December 6. St. Nicholas traveling with a dark faced companion brings gifts to German children After the reformation, authorities frowned upon the idea of having a character representing the bishop/saint distributing gifts. As a result St. Nicholas' modern incarnation Santa Claus was born, complete with long white beard, red suit, and sleigh. \r\nWe can trace some of our most beloved holiday traditions to Germany. The Christmas season officially begins with the beginning of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day. The tradition of the Advent wreath, a circle of greenery in which four candles are set, originated with the German Lutherans. One candle is lit the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit the second Sunday, and so on until the fourth Sunday. A large white candle in the center is lit on Christmas Day. The Advent calendar, an elaborate calendar with windows, behind which a piece of candy or chocolate can be found, is used by children to count down the days until Christmas and also originated in Germany. \r\nThe Christmas Tree owes its widespread popularity to Germany. In the Middle Ages, the Germans would put on a religious play each December 24th. Over the centuries the plays and associated festivities strayed from their religious origins. However, people continued to set up and decorate a tree in their home every year at Christmas. In 1880 glassmakers discovered how to make blown glass balls and bells, which became the decorations used to trim Christmas trees all over the world.\r\n\r\n\r\n(from Pastrywiz.com)