How Hitler Stole Christmas
Nazi Germany’s version of Christmas
Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, and Christmas markets are but a few of the many things to love about Christmas that are German in origin. In fact, most of the Christmas traditions we practice today predate their Christian associations. It is argued that the Church co-opted pagan traditions and turned them into a celebration for the birth of Jesus Christ.
And since Jesus was a Jew, Hitler had a big problem with the Christianizing of Christmas. For him, the holiday's Germanic roots needed to be back at the forefront of people’s minds.
The dictator also conveniently took the opportunity to use this campaign to spread more Nazi propaganda.
Why the Nazis targeted Christianity
Ever since the missionary work of Columbanus and St. Boniface around the 7th century, the Germanic people have been predominantly Christian. This religion hindered the radical and violent form of nationalism that the Nazis wanted to create.
One solution to this was to celebrate “German Winter Traditions” as opposed to “Christmas.” According to one…
