Essential German Words and Phrases to Discuss Christmas Plans

How to Talk About Your Weihnachtspläne in German

The holiday season brings with it the opportunity to chat about festive plans — in English, and in German. Whether you’re speaking with German-speaking friends, visiting family in Germany, or simply want to feel confident talking about Christmas in German, this guide will help you explore the right words and phrases to discuss your plans for Weihnachten.

Here you’ll find:

• Key vocabulary for Christmas planning and holiday activities

• Practical phrases for asking about others’ plans and describing your own

• Sample dialogues to practise useful conversation patterns

• Grammar and usage notes for smooth speaking

• Cultural insights into how Christmas planning works in German-speaking countries

Essential German Words and Phrases to Discuss Christmas Plans

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🎁 1. Useful Vocabulary for Christmas Plans

Before jumping into full phrases, let’s build a strong foundation of words you’ll encounter. Each term helps you talk about different aspects of planning your holiday season.

German (with article)	English
Weihnachten	Christmas (the season)
die Weihnachtsferien	Christmas holidays / school holidays
der Heiligabend	Christmas Eve
der erste Weihnachtstag	First Christmas Day
die Bescherung	gift exchange (usually on Christmas Eve)
die Feiertage	the holidays / public holidays
die Verwandten	relatives
die Großeltern	grandparents
die Reise	trip / journey
verreisen	to travel / go away on holiday
der Weihnachtsmarkt	Christmas market
die Tradition	tradition
die Planung	planning
das Geschenk	present
der Weihnachtsbaum	Christmas tree

Example sentence:

• Wir planen die Weihnachtsferien mit den Großeltern auf dem Land.– We are planning the Christmas holidays with the grandparents in the countryside.

Language tip: Learning the article (der/die/das) with the noun helps you later build correct phrases and link to grammar.

🤔 2. Asking About Christmas Plans

To engage in conversation about Christmas plans, you’ll need some simple but effective question phrases. These help you ask what others are doing, where they will be, or how they intend to celebrate.

German Question	English Translation
Was machst du zu Weihnachten?	What are you doing for Christmas?
Wie feierst du Heiligabend?	How are you celebrating Christmas Eve?
Wirst du über die Feiertage verreisen?	Are you travelling during the holidays?
Feierst du Weihnachten mit deiner Familie?	Are you celebrating Christmas with your family?
Gehst du auf den Weihnachtsmarkt?	Are you going to the Christmas market?
Hast du schon alle Geschenke gekauft?	Have you already bought all the presents?

Example dialogue:

• A: Was machst du zu Weihnachten?

• B: Ich feiere mit meiner Familie. Am Heiligabend schmücken wir den Weihnachtsbaum und essen gemeinsam. Und du?

• A: Ich werde über die Feiertage verreisen. Wir fahren in die Berge und feiern dort.

Cultural insight: In Germany, many families celebrate on Heiligabend rather than Christmas Day. Asking Wie feierst du Heiligabend? is therefore very relevant.

📣 3. Describing Your Own Christmas Plans

Once you’ve asked about others, it’s your turn to share. Here are phrases you can use to describe what you plan to do and who you’ll spend the holiday with.

German Phrase	English Translation
Ich feiere Weihnachten mit meiner Familie zu Hause.	I’m celebrating Christmas at home with my family.
Wir fahren über die Feiertage in die Berge.	We’re going to the mountains for the holidays.
Am Heiligabend schmücken wir den Weihnachtsbaum und essen gemeinsam.	On Christmas Eve we decorate the tree and have dinner together.
Ich werde Geschenke für meine Familie und Freunde kaufen.	I will buy presents for my family and friends.
Wir besuchen am ersten Weihnachtstag die Großeltern.	On the first Christmas day we visit our grandparents.
Ich plane, auf einen Weihnachtsmarkt zu gehen und Glühwein zu trinken.	I plan to go to a Christmas market and drink mulled wine.

Grammar note:When describing future plans, you often use werden (will) or planen + infinitive: Ich werde … or Ich plane …

🧑‍🎄 4. Talking About Traditions & Holiday Activities

Most Christmas conversation also touches on traditions and how the season is celebrated in each household. These phrases help you discuss customs, annual routines, and special activities.

German Phrase	English Translation
Unsere Familie hat die Tradition, am Heiligabend Geschenke auszutauschen.	Our family has the tradition of exchanging presents on Christmas Eve.
Bei uns gibt es jedes Jahr einen Adventskranz.	We have an Advent wreath every year.
Wir backen Plätzchen und hören Weihnachtslieder.	We bake Christmas biscuits and listen to carols.
Am zweiten Weihnachtstag machen wir einen langen Spaziergang.	On the second Christmas day we go for a long walk.
Die Kinder freuen sich immer auf den Besuch vom Nikolaus.	The children always look forward to the visit of St Nicholas.

Cultural note:The Zweiter Weihnachtstag (Boxing Day, December 26) is also a public holiday in Germany—so many families meet again or continue celebrations that day.

These phrases tie nicely with the wider set of vocabulary in our post on German names of 50 common Christmas terms.

🗣️ 5. Sample Conversations

To bring the vocabulary and phrases to life, here are longer dialogues you can practise.

Dialogue A – Checking Plans with a Friend:You: Hast du schon Pläne für Weihnachten?Friend: Noch nicht ganz. Wir fahren voraussichtlich zu meinen Eltern nach Baden-Württemberg. Und du?You: Ich bleibe dieses Jahr in London, aber wir feiern online mit der Familie. Ich plane, am 24. Dezember zu skypen.Friend: Das klingt gut. Ich wünsche dir frohe Weihnachten und viel Spaß beim Online-Feiern!You: Danke! Dir auch — genieße die Feiertage mit deiner Familie.

Dialogue B – At Work Talking About Holiday Travel:Colleague: Wirst du über die Feiertage verreisen?You: Ja, ich fliege am 23. Dezember nach München. Wir verbringen den Heiligabend mit dem Weihnachtsmarkt und der Bescherung.Colleague: Das klingt wunderbar! Und wie lange bleibst du dort?You: Wir sind bis zum 27. Dezember dort. Danach fahre ich zurück.Colleague: Gute Reise und frohe Weihnachten!You: Vielen Dank! Auch Ihnen frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!

📝 6. Grammar & Pronunciation Tips

• Notice the word order when using infinitives at the end: Ich plane, eine Reise zu machen.

• The verb verreisen (to go on holiday) is separable: Ich verreise über die Feiertage.

• Pronunciation: the “ei” in Weihnachten sounds like “eye” [ˈvaɪ̯naχtn̩].

• Use the correct article with family words: die Familie, der Großelternbesuch (grandparents visit).

• When using plural forms: die Feiertage (the holidays), die Pläne (the plans).

🎄 7. Cultural Insight into German Christmas Planning

In German-speaking countries:

• Many people decide early December what they’ll do for Christmas—whether they’ll travel, stay home, or invite family.

• The period from Heiligabend (24 December) to Zweiter Weihnachtstag (26 December) is the main festive time.

• Bescherung typically happens on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas morning.

• Travel during the holidays is common — asking „Wirst du verreisen?“ is a typical small talk question.

🎓 8. Why This Helps Your German Learning

Being able to talk about your Christmas plans is more than learning vocabulary—it's practising real-life conversation, applying grammar naturally, and engaging culturally. Using these phrases helps you:

• Use the future tense and planning verbs in German.

• Build social competence by asking relevant questions in festive contexts.

• Understand cultural norms around timing, family gatherings, and holiday customs.

To deepen your learning and expand your vocabulary, join Olesen Tuition, the top-rated German language school in London, offering:

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• Explore over 600 posts on vocabulary, grammar and culture in our German language blog.

So whether you're chatting about your travel plans, family traditions, or shopping lists, you’ll be ready to say it in German—confidently and naturally.

Frohe Weihnachten und viel Erfolg bei deinen Weihnachtsplänen!Merry Christmas and good luck with your holiday plans!