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Dec 19, 2007

Die Bibel - Weihnachten Bible scripture for X'mas Matthäus, 2.

The following German-English biblical passages are related to the Christmas story. The German is taken from the Lutherbibel as it appears in the Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden of 1908. The English is from the King James or Authorized Bible that first appeared in 1611. For more about various versions and translations of the Bible, see our article The Bible in German.
 
Matthäus - Matthew 2
Matthäus, 2. Kapitel - Lutherbibel

1 Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem im jüdischen Lande, zur Zeit des Königs Herodes, siehe, da kamen die Weisen vom Morgenlande gen Jerusalem,
2 und sprachen: Wo ist der neugeborene König der Juden? Wir haben seinen Stern gesehen im Morgenlande und sind gekommen ihn anzubeten.
3 Da das der König Herodes hörte, erschrak er, und mit ihm das ganze Jerusalem.
4 Und ließ versammeln alle Hohepriester und Schriftgelehrten unter dem Volk, und erforschte von ihnen, wo sollte Christus geboren werden.
5 Und sie sagten ihm: Zu Bethlehem im jüdischen Lande. Denn also stehet geschrieben durch den Propheten:
6 Und du Bethlehem im jüdischen Lande bist mit nichten die kleinste unter den Fürsten Juda; denn aus dir soll mir kommen der Herzog, der über mein Volk Israel ein Herr sei.
7 Da berief Herodes die Weisen heimlich und erlernte mit Fleiß von ihnen, wann der Stern erschienen wäre;
8 Und wies sie gen Bethlehem und sprach: Ziehet hin und forschet fleißig nach dem Kindlein, und wenn ihrs findet, saget mirs wieder, dass ich auch komme und es anbete.
9 Als sie nun den König gehöret hatten, zogen sie hin. Und siehe, der Stern den sie im Morgenlande gesehen hatten, ging vor ihnen hin, bis dass er kam und stand oben über, da das Kindlein war.
10 Da sie den Stern sahen, wurden sie hoch erfreut,
11 Und gingen in das Haus und fanden das Kindlein mit Maria, seiner Mutter, und fielen nieder und beteten es an und thaten ihre Schätze auf und schenkten ihm Gold, Weihrauch und Myrrhen.
12 Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum, dass sie sich nicht sollten wieder zu Herodes lenken. Und zogen durch einen anderen Weg wieder in ihr Land.
 
Matthew, Chapter 2 - King James

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he damanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
 

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German Christmas Vocabulary

A

Advent r Advent
Advent calendar(s) r Adventskalender (-)
Advent season e Adventszeit
Advent wreath r Adventskranz

Advent (Latin for "arrival, coming") is the four-week period leading up to Christmas. In German-speaking countries and most of Europe the first Advent weekend is the traditional beginning of the Christmas season when open-air Christmas markets ( Christkindlmärkte) appear in many cities, the most famous ones being those in Nuremberg and Vienna. Most stores and shops in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are open weekends and evenings during Advent. - In Austria the 's' is often dropped in Advent-words (as in Adventzeit or Adventkalender). - See our special Advent Calendar with daily Christmas facts!

angel(s)

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r Engel (-)

B

baked goods, pastry s Gebäck
See our German Christmas Recipes

Barbara Branch Barbarazweig - A pre-Christmas custom celebrated in Catholic regions on Dec. 4th, the traditional feast day of St. Barbara (Barbaratag). See our feature: Barbara: The Name, the Legend.

Basel chocolate balls Basler Brunsli - A sweet confection made with chocolate, almonds, and hazelnut; a Christmas treat.

Baumkuchen r Baumkuchen - "Tree cake" is a layered cake whose interior resembles (Christmas) tree rings when cut.

bell e Glocke, s Glöckchen (little bell)

Bible e Bibel
Also see: Die Bibel - Weihnachten

bow (ribbon) (n.) e Schleife

C

candle(s) e Kerze (-n)

Candles, with their light and warmth, have long been used in winter celebrations as symbols of the sun in the dark of winter. The Christians later adopted candles as their own symbol of the "Light of the World." Candles also play an important role in the eight-day Jewish "Festival of Lights" Hanukkah celebration.

candy, sweets s/r Bonbon (-s), Süssigkeiten (pl.)

carol(s), Christmas carol(s) s Weihnachtslied (-er)

carp (n.) r Karpfen (-)

Carp is considered a Christmas or New Year's delicacy in many parts of Germany.

chimney r Schornstein

choir r Chor

crèche, manger e Krippe

Christ Child s Christkind, s Christkindl

The word "Kris Kringle" is a corruption of Christkindl. The word came into American English via the Pennsylvania Germans, whose neighbors misunderstood the German word for the bringer of gifts. With the passage of time, Santa Claus (from Dutch "Sinterclaas") and Kris Kringle became synonymous. The Austrian town of Christkindl bei Steyr is a popular Christmas post office, an Austrian "North Pole."

Christmas E-Cards in German

Christmas s Weihnachten (sing., pl.), s Weihnachtsfest
Es weihnachtet. It's Christmas./Christmas is coming.
Frohe Weihnachten! Merry/Happy Christmas!
Also see: Die Bibel - Weihnachten (The Bible - Christmas)

Christmas bread/cake, fruit cake (n.) r Stollen, r Christstollen, r Striezel (dial.)

Christmas card(s) e Weihnachtskarte (-n)

Send digital Greetings of the Season to anyone with an email address... free!

Christmas Eve r Heiligabend

Christmas market(s) r Weihnachtsmarkt (-märkte), r Christkindlesmarkt

Christmas pyramid e Weihnachtspyramide (-n)

Originally from the Erzgebirge region of Germany, the wood or rope pyramid was the "poor man's Christmas tree." Today it is a popular Christmas decoration in many parts of Germany, usually made with candles and bells that ring as the heat from the candles turns a wooden rotor at the top.

Christmas tree r Christbaum, r Tannenbaum, r Weihnachtsbaum

The first Christmas tree to decorate the inside of the White House was put up by US President Franklin Pierce in 1856. (German immigrants brought the custom to America.) In England Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert (1819-1861) of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, helped popularize the Christmas tree and other German Christmas customs.

cinnamon star(s) r Zimtstern (-e) - Star-shaped, cinnamon-flavored Christmastime cookies

cookies (pl.) Kekse, Kipferln, Plätzchen
See our German Christmas Recipes

cradle, crèche e Krippe, s Kripplein, e Wiege

crescent(s) s Kipferl (-n) - Also see: cookies, vanilla crescent(s) Vanillekipferl(n)

German Christmas Word Search

D

decorate (v.) schmücken, verzieren, dekorieren
decoration(s) (Christmas) r Weihnachtsschmuck

Dresden Christmas [fruit] bread/loaf Dresdner Weihnachtsstollen
See our Recipe for Dresdner Stollen

E

eggnog r Eierlikör (similar but not the same as eggnog)

Epiphany s Dreikönigsfest (Jan. 6)

F

Father Christmas, Santa Claus r Weihnachtsmann

In the 16th century Protestants, led by Martin Luther, introduced "Father Christmas" to replace Saint Nicholas and to avoid the Catholic saints. In the Protestant parts of Germany and Switzerland, Saint Nicholas became der Weihnachtsmann ("Christmas Man"). In the U.S. he came to be known as Santa Claus, while in England children look forward to a visit from Father Christmas.

fir/pine branch r Tannenzweig

fir tree r Tannenbaum (-bäume)

Originally, most German Christmas trees were fir trees (Tannenbäume). Over the years, as the percentage of fir trees in German forests dropped, spruce trees (Fichtenbäume) became more prevalent. But today the word Tannenbaum is still synonymous with "Christmas tree."

fireplace r Kamin

frankincense r Weihrauch

fruit bread, Christmas bread r Stollen, s Kletzenbrot (an Alpine rye bread containing dried pears, Kletzen, and various spices)

See our German Christmas Recipes

garland

G



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garland (n.) e Girlande (-n)

gift(s), present(s) s Geschenk (-e)

Caution! The German word das Gift means "poison." If you are mailing a present to German Europe, you may wish to mark it with the German word Geschenk, in addition to "gift."

gift giving, exchange of presents e Bescherung

gingerbread r Lebkuchen

glass ball e Glaskugel (-n)

Christmas E-Cards in German

H

Happy New Year! Prosit Neujahr!

holy (adj.) heilig

holly (n.) e Stechpalme

In pagan times, holly was believed to have magical powers that kept evil spirits away. The Christians later made it a symbol of Christ's crown of thorns. According to legend, the holly berries were originally white, but turned red from Christ's blood.

I

ice s Eis

icicle(s) r Eiszapfen (-), (tinsel) s Eis-Lametta

ice skate(s) r Schlittschuh (-e)

ice skate (v.) Eislaufen, Schlittschuhlaufen

ice skating s Eislaufen

J

Jesus Jesus (YEA-zoos), Jesulein (Baby Jesus)

K

king(s) r König (-e)
Three Kings (Wise Men) die Heiligen Drei Könige, die Weisen

Kipferl(n) (n.) s Kipferl (-n) - An Austrian Christmas cookie. See: vanilla crescents Vanillekipferln

Krampus r Krampus - See Ruprecht
L

lighting e Beleuchtung
outdoor lighting e Außenbeleuchtung

lights e Lichter, elektrische Kerzen (electric candles)

M

manger e Krippe

Mary and Joseph Maria und Joseph

marzipan s Marzipan (almond paste candy)

Merry Christmas! Happy Christmas! Fröhliche Weihnachten!, Frohe Weihnachten!
See our German Christmas Greetings for more.

midnight mass e Christmette, Mitternachtsmette

mistletoe e Mistel

mulled, spiced wine r Glühwein ("glow wine")
See our German Christmas Recipes

myrrh e Myrrhe

N

nativity e Krippe, s Krippenbild, die Geburt Christi

Nickel (name) r Nickel - See Ruprecht below.

nut(s) e Nuss (Nüsse)

nutcracker(s) r Nussknacker (-)

O

organ, pipe organ e Orgel

ornaments, ornamentation (tree, etc.) e Verzierung, r Schmuck

P

Peace on Earth! Friede auf Erden!

pickle saure Gurke
See The German Christmas Pickle - tradition or myth?

poinsettia e Poinsettie, r Weihnachtsstern
Named for J.R. Poinsett (1779-1851), US ambassador to Mexico, who popularized the flower. In German it is also called "Christmas star." See graphic below.

poinsettia

pyramid (See "Christmas pyramid")

R

reindeer s Rentier (-e)
See the popular Christmas song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in German and English!

Rejoice! Freut euch! Freue dich!

ring [bells] (v.) erklingen, klingeln

rod, switch (n.) e Rute (see "Ruprecht" below)

Ruprecht (name) r Ruprecht, Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus

A demonic figure who used to accompany St. Nicholas to punish bad children with his Rute; based on mythical winter figures going back to pagan times. Rarely seen today. Also known as: Hans Muff, Krampus, or Nickel. In some parts of Germany, Ruprecht is good — just another Weihnachtsmann, and Krampus is the bad guy. - See The Many German St. Nicks for more.

Christmas E-Cards in German

S

Saint Nicholas r Sankt Nikolaus

Saint Nicholas is not Santa Claus or the American "Saint Nick." Dec. 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas, is the day upon which the original Bishop Nicholas of Myra (today in Turkey) is commemorated — and is the date of his death in the year 343. He was later granted sainthood. The German Sankt Nikolaus, dressed as a bishop, brings gifts on that day. (Also see "Ruprecht" above.)
According to legend, it was also Bishop Nicholas who gave us the Christmas tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace. The kindly bishop is said to have thrown bags of gold for the poor down the chimney. The bags landed in stockings that had been hung by the fire to dry. This Saint Nicholas legend may also partly explain the American custom of Santa coming down the chimney with his bag of gifts. - See The Many German St. Nicks for more.
It was the German-American Thomas Nast who gave the US its traditional image of Santa Claus. (See Christmas - The German Way for more about Nast.

Santa Claus, Father Christmas r Weihnachtsmann

St. Nikolaus Day r Nikolaustag (Dec. 6)

(the) Savior r Heiland, r Retter

sheep s Schaf (-e)

shepherd(s) r Hirt (-en), r Schäfer (-)

"Silent Night" "Stille Nacht"

The world's most popular Christmas carol was created 180 years ago in Austria by Franz Gruber (music) and Joseph Mohr (text), and first performed by them with guitar accompaniment in Oberndorf bei Salzburg on Christmas Eve of 1818. More at "Stille Nacht" from The German Way. - Also see our Silent Night Christmas E-Cards in German.

sing singen

German Christmas Word Search

sled, sleigh, toboggan r Schlitten (-)

snow (n.) r Schnee
snowball (n.) r Schneeball
snowflake (n.) e Schneeflocke
snowman (n.) r Schneemann
snow sled/sleigh (n.) r Schlitten

snow (v.) schneien - It's snowing. = Es schneit.

snowy (adj.) schneeig, schneebedeckt (covered), Schnee- (in noun compounds)

stable, stall r Stall

star(s) r Stern (-e)

Sternsinger ("star singers") - dressed as the Wise Men/Three Kings - make their rounds during Advent to raise money for Catholic missions all over the world.

straw star(s) r Strohstern (Strohsterne) - A traditional Christmas decorations made of straw.

garland

T

(the) Three Wise Men, Three Kings, Magi die Heiligen Drei Könige, die Weisen

tinsel s Lametta, r Flitter

toy(s) s Spielzeug(e)

V

vanilla crescent(s) s Vanillekipferl (-n)

An Austrian/Bavarian pastry. Vanillekipferln or Kipferln are small sweet baked crescents covered with powdered vanilla sugar. Traditionally served around Christmas, Kipferln are also made in nut (Nuss), almond (Mandeln), and other varieties.

See our German Christmas Recipes

W

the Wise Men, the Magi die Weisen, die Heiligen Drei Könige

wreath (n.) r Kranz

Quotations from http://german.about.com/library/blcmasvoc2.htm



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German New Year’s Greetings

 Alles Gute zum neuen Jahr!
  Best wishes for the New Year!

  Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
  A good start in the New Year!

  Prosit Neujahr!
  Happy New Year!

  Ein glückliches neues Jahr!
  Happy New Year!

  Glück und Erfolg im neuen Jahr!
  Good fortune and success in the New Year!

  Zum neuen Jahr Gesundheit, Glück und viel Erfolg!
  Health, happiness, and much success in the New Year!
 


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"Merry Christmas” auf Deutsch

Ich wünsche... / Wir wünschen...
I wish... / We wish...
dir (you)... euch (you all)...
Ihnen (you, formal)...
deiner Familie (your family)...

Ein frohes Fest! - Frohe Festtage!
A joyous holiday! - Season's Greetings!/Happy Holidays!

Frohe Weihnachten! - Frohes Weihnachtsfest!
Merry Christmas! - [A] joyous Christmas celebration!

Fröhliche Weihnachten!
Merry Christmas!

Ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest!
A blessed / joyous Christmas!

Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr!
A blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Herzliche Weihnachtsgrüße!
Best Christmas greetings!

Ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und alles Gute zum neuen Jahr!
A joyful Christmas (festival) and best wishes for the New Year!

Fröhliche Weihnachten!
Merry Christmas!

Zum Weihnachtsfest besinnliche Stunden!
[We wish you] Contemplative hours during the Christmas celebration!

Quotations from http://german.about.com/library/blkarte_chelp.htm


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