In Germany, Christmas preparations begin on the eve of December 6th - St. Nicholas Day. Parents and children spend the day baking spiced cakes, ginger bread houses, biscuits and Christbaumgeback: a white pastry that is molded into shapes and baked in the oven for Christmas tree decorations. Before the children go to bed that night, they leave out a shoe and if they have been good St. Nicholas leaves them cakes, biscuits and sweets. 

In some parts of Germany, it is believe that the Christ Child sends a messenger on Christmas Eve. She appears as a beautiful, fair haired angel, in a white robe and crown. This angel is called Christkind: she carries presents in a basket and, again, if the children have been good, she leaves gifts for them under the Christmas tree. However, the Angel is not the only one to leave presents on Christmas Eve: the Weihnachtsmann or Christmas Man, also leaves gifts for good children.

On Christmas Day, many families in Germany go to church  in the morning, then go back to their homes to eat their Christmas dinner of   roast goose, "Christstollen" (long loaves of bread bursting with nuts, raisins, citron and dried fruit), "Lebkuchen" (spice bars), marzipan, and "Dresden Stollen" ( a moist, heavy bread filled with fruit).