Christmas brings three days of celebrating in her old home in Dresden, Germany according to Mrs. Alvin Doering.
Santa Claus, the same jolly old saint visits the children Christmas eve, leaving toys, for the little folks and gifts of candy and nuts. The best singer and musicians available furnish music at the churches.
"Stores and offices stay closed the second day after Christmas and everybody goes to the theatre or to the dances, " Mrs. Doering said. "On the third day the stores open up but the factories are still closed while the people celebrate. Feasting goes on, roast goose furnishes the holiday dinners, much wine is drunk, and other fine food enjoyed. Each housewife bakes about 20 big rich fruit cakes for Christmas, much like the American kind, except that they are nearly two feet long and five or six inches thick. These are brought out on Christmas day and served every day thereafter until all are eaten."
"In the mountains districts near the city people still keep up many of the old time customs, " Mrs. Doering reported, "they carry lighted candles to and from the church on Christmas day, carve wooden angels holding lighted candles to decorate their home and hang in the windows."
"We didn't use the same paper and tinsel decoration for our Christmas tree, we hung our tree with angels and lighted candles."
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 435