1. Holidays and Celebrations in German-Speaking Countries By Jacob Scribner PRE 770

2. Heilige Drei Koenige (Epiphany) • Celebrated January 6th • Not all of Germany celebrates this day (mostly celebrated by members of Catholic and Eastern Churches) • The holiday observes the revelation of the god of the Bible in human form, and it is celebrated by a feast with cake as the main dish

3. Tag der Arbeit (Labour Day) • Celebrated on May 1st and is observed by all of Germany • Became an official holiday in 1933 after the Nazi Party rose to power • Although the Nazis outlawed free unions the day after endorsing this holiday, many German workers still continued to observe and celebrate it anyway.

4. Oktoberfest (October Festival) • Celebrated from the middle of September to early October. This custom was started to allow the attendees to enjoy the festivities in warmer weather. • Originated on October 12, 1810 as a wedding celebration between Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen and ended five days later. • Over the centuries, it has become the biggest festival in the world, attracting an average of six million people each year.

5. Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day) • Celebrated nationwide by Germany every October 3rd to commemorate the reunification of Germany in 1989. • It began in Berlin in 1990, and every year it is celebrated in one of the German State Capitals in rotation. • The holiday is typically celebrated by the consumption of beer.

6. Schnitzelbank • Literally translating to “carving bench,” this is a song which is commonly sung by children for learning new words and by adults during large social celebratory gatherings. • The song involves adding rhyming pairs of words to each new verse and repeating those words backwards to the refrain. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96HbPgDmMuk

7. Krampus • While this mythical creature is believed to predate Christian tradition, he is a demon-like beast who accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season. • Observed mostly in Austria, many young men during the first few weeks of December dress up as Krampus and go about town causing mischief. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSFAUyZVfdQ

8. Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Rupert) • While not as beastly as Krampus, Knecht Ruprecht is another mythological companion of Saint Nicholas observed by people in central Europe. • There are many different versions of Ruprecht’s character, but he is commonly seen as Saint Nicholas’s enforcer. Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children, and Ruprecht punishes the naughty children--usually with a small whip.

9. Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) • Celebrated in Vienna, Austria since 1983. • Three-day concert usually held in June on a series of small islands on the Danube River. • In recent years, the festival has drawn nearly three million from around the world. • Previous acts have included Falco, Bloodhound Gang, and Chris Daughtry • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO4XUZnP-eI

10. Yodeling • While it is believed that yodeling was developed around the Swiss and Austrian Alps as a way of communicating between mountain peaks, it later became a part of the local culture and incorporated into the region’s music. • Yodeling is often done in the mountains or near lakes so as the singer can hear his or her voice echo off of the natural acoustics. • After being integrated into the local culture, yodeling is sometimes performed during celebrations involving singing and dancing to allow crowd interaction and to create merriment. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO4XUZnP-eI