How the GDR’s Unique Christmas Traditions Still Shape Germany Today

The GDR’s holiday rituals were more than politics—they were family moments. Decades later, these Christmas customs still warm German homes.

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2025 December 18 . 7:09 PM

1 min read

This image is taken indoors. In the background there is a wall. At the bottom of the image there is... — This image is taken indoors. In the background there is a wall. At the bottom of the image there is a cotton and there is a woolen cloth. On the right side of the image there is a Christmas tree decorated with rope lights and decorative items. In the middle of the image there are many gift boxes and a few decorative items. At the top left of the image there is a cabin with a few decorative items and there is a cotton.

Christmas or New Year's Eve - How it was celebrated in the GDR - How the GDR’s Unique Christmas Traditions Still Shape Germany Today

Christmas in the GDR blended long-standing traditions with subtle political influences. While families celebrated with familiar customs, the state encouraged secular alternatives to religious symbolism. Many of these holiday practices remain popular in Germany today.

From 1957 to 1991, East German television aired Zwischen Frühstück und Gänsebraten every Christmas Day. The show became a festive staple, watched by families as they prepared their holiday meals. Roast goose, candlelit trees, and carols like Sind die Lichter angezündet—a GDR-penned song promoting peace—filled homes, much as they do now.

The GDR’s Christmas traditions mirrored those of today, despite political attempts to reshape the holiday’s language. Many customs, from regional decorations to festive music, endured beyond 1991. These practices now form part of a shared German heritage, bridging past and present celebrations.