Heiligabend & Weihnachten
Heiligabend is the main celebration for tree lighting, gifts and church, followed by two days of Christmas feasts.
Heiligabend, or Christmas Eve, is the primary celebration in Germany, occurring on December 24th. Families gather in the evening to light the Christmas tree (Tannenbaum), exchange gifts (Geschenke), and attend midnight mass (Christmette) at their local church. The day is marked by anticipation and togetherness, with children eagerly awaiting the arrival of Christkind or Weihnachtsmann, who brings presents. On the afternoon of the 24th shops close early, the tree is decorated behind closed doors, and at the Bescherung, the giving of presents, the family gathers around it to sing 'Stille Nacht' before the parcels are opened; the traditional Christmas Eve supper is deliberately simple, often potato salad with sausages.
The following two days, December 25th (Erster Feiertag) and December 26th (Zweiter Feiertag), are public holidays dedicated to extensive family feasts. Traditional meals include carp (Karpfen), goose (Gans), or roast (Braten) served with potato dumplings (Kartoffelknödel) and red cabbage (Rotkohl). The atmosphere is filled with warmth, love, and the spirit of giving, as families enjoy each other's company and reflect on the year's blessings.
The pack has 36 words spread across these domains.
Same words in both. Beginner gets more help: matching and completing. Advanced listens and spells it out unaided. Pick it in practice; it locks when you take the scored run.
Practise as often as you like, all year. The scored run happens once, while the competition is open, and cannot be retaken.