The History of German Christmas Until 1900. Christmas is the most important celebration of the year for Germans, when the whole family comes together. The Advent season corresponds to the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve and begins with the first Advent, the first Sunday in December. The home is decorated for Christmas with fir branches, Christmas ornaments, and candles. On the table, the Advent wreath, a wreath made of fir branches with four candles, is placed. Each Sunday in Advent, one candle is lit. Children receive an Advent calendar, which has 24 doors or small bags. Each day leading up to Christmas, the children are allowed to open one door or bag. During the Advent season, children also write their wish lists for Christmas. By the days leading up to Christmas Eve at the latest, the Christmas tree (or also known as the holiday tree) is decorated.