Christmas in Goethe's world is a celebration of the child, which is personally experienced in an intense way and is brought to life again and again in literature. At one moment, it is Wilhelm Meister who is gifted with the puppet show, and at another, it is his own grandchildren who are lovingly observed in their excitement. Goethe's mother also contributes to the festivities, and Goethe keeps an eye on the many visual representations of the Christmas scene. It is remarkable how vividly New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, as well as the Feast of the Epiphany, are incorporated into the perception of this not always quiet time.