Christmas is a quiet time in Germany. People are in a thoughtful mood.
Everywhere the main streets are decorated and all towns, large or small have Christmas Markets. 
The Christmas season begins on the first Sunday before Christmas with the lighting of the first candle on the Adventskranz, Advent wreath, which is decorated with four candles. On the first Sunday the first candle is lit followed by the second one on the second Sunday, and so on.... 
Children have an Advent Calendar for the countdown to Christmas, where they open a little window for every day, until the 24th.
On the 6th of December, St. Nickolaus comes to bring the children baskets filled with goodies, such as fruits, nuts and candies. Children have to give an account of their behaviour for the year and if they were good, St. Nickolaus rewards them. .
A few days before Christmas a tree is selected  and decorated. On Christmas Eve, the 24th, which is called Heiliger Abend (Holy Night), the doors are locked to the living room  and children are not allowed in until the the Christkindl has been. When the children enter the candles will be lit on the tree and everybody gathers around it to sing Christmas songs, before the presents will be exchanged.
Afterwards the family will sit down for Dinner of Roast Goose, potato dumplings and Red Cabbage.
At Midnight many people will go to Midnight Mass to celebrate Christmas.
The following 2 days are spent visiting Family and Friends. 
On the 6th of January the tree will be taken down, which is the  Day of the three kings ( Tag der Heiligen Drei Könige, a holiday in Germany) and all the decoration is put away for another year.