{"id":93482,"date":"2015-12-15T05:20:41","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T10:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/german-christmas-cartoons\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T04:40:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T09:40:48","slug":"german-christmas-cartoons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/german-christmas-cartoons\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Christmas Cartoons for German Learners"},"content":{"rendered":"

German Christmas cartoons are an incredibly fun way to learn<\/a>, and with them, you’ll pick up all kinds of vocabulary and grammar that you can use during the holidays as well as year-round.<\/p>\n

Keep reading to learn about four of my favorites, along with key vocabulary and grammar for each video.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc skip=3,4]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. “Der Nussknacker und der Mausek\u00f6nig”<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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This cartoon is from an 1816 story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, which was adapted into the beloved Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.<\/p>\n

In Hoffmann’s story, a young girl receives a nutcracker for Christmas and it comes to life, defeats an evil Mouse King in her house, then whisks\u00a0her away to a magical land full of dolls. In the ballet, the Nutcracker takes the young girl to a land full of dancers inspired by various world cultures.<\/p>\n

This cartoon version is a direct-to-video adaptation from 2004, and more closely tracks the story in Hoffmann’s original tale, although it uses some music from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet as well.<\/p>\n

Those who can play\u00a0Region 2<\/a>\u00a0DVDs can check for the DVD<\/a> on Amazon.de.<\/p>\n

Vocabulary from “Der Nussknacker und der Mausek\u00f6nig”<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

der Nussknacker<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 nutcracker<\/p>\n

der Mausek\u00f6nig<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 mouse king<\/p>\n

der Neffe<\/em><\/strong> \u2014\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>nephew<\/p>\n

auspacken<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 unwrap<\/p>\n

die Kristallkugel<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 crystal ball<\/p>\n

das Schicksal<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 fate<\/p>\n

Ich versuche mein bestes<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 I’ll try my best<\/p>\n

die Standuhr<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 grandfather clock<\/p>\n

Grammar in “Der Nussknacker und der Mausek\u00f6nig<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wie f\u00fchlst du dich?<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 How do you feel?<\/p>\n

This is an example of a reflexive verb, or a verb that takes the same subject and object.\u00a0Reflexive verbs are common in German, so learn this construction!<\/p>\n

im sommer<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 in the summer<\/p>\n

This is an example of a dative plus preposition<\/a> construction. It’s a shortened version of i<\/em><\/strong>n dem Sommer<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em>In<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0is a preposition that takes the dative, and since Sommer<\/em><\/strong> is masculine, its dative article is dem<\/em>. In<\/em><\/strong> plus dem<\/em><\/strong> equals im<\/em><\/strong>. This is a rule usually learned by beginners, but it’s still tricky and can trip up more advanced learners, so pay attention.<\/p>\n

Ich muss das wissen<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 I must know it<\/p>\n

This is an example of a modal verb with an infinitive. M\u00fcssen<\/em><\/strong> (must) is one of the six modal verbs, a “helping verb” of sorts that accompanies an infinitive in a sentence. This is only one example of a modal verb in this movie; see if you can spot some of the others!<\/p>\n

2. “Die Wichtelm\u00e4nner”<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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This is a cartoon version of “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” a Christmas story recorded by the Grimm Brothers in their famous book of fairy tales.<\/p>\n

“The Elves and the Shoemaker” tells the story of a poor man and his wife who are barely scraping by, but receive help in the night from mysterious elves who help them assemble their shoes.<\/p>\n

The story appeared in the original edition of “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” which was published on December 20, 1812\u2014a release date that means these tales are often associated with Christmastime.<\/p>\n

This cartoon version is specifically designed for language learners by Bookbox.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Vocabulary from “Die Wichtelm\u00e4nner”<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

der Wichtelmann<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0<\/em>a literary term for an imp, dwarf, elf or other supernatural being<\/p>\n

das Leder<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 leather<\/p>\n

n\u00e4hen<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 to needle\/sew<\/p>\n

der Arbeitstisch<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 work table<\/p>\n

dankbar<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 grateful<\/p>\n

winzig<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 tiny<\/p>\n

die Mitternacht<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 midnight<\/p>\n

in Windeseile<\/strong> \u2014\u00a0<\/em>fast as the wind<\/p>\n

Grammar in “Die Wichtelm\u00e4nner”<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

obwohl<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 although (:22)<\/p>\n

Obwohl<\/em><\/strong> is a word that\u00a0appears in subordinate clauses and necessitates moving the verb to the end of the clause. This example of obwohl<\/em> is particularly useful because it’s an example of the word appearing at the beginning of the sentence.<\/p>\n

This may make you think that obwohl<\/em> is part of the sentence’s main clause, and that the verb should appear in second position. However, in this sentence, the subordinate clause appears first.<\/p>\n

um ein letztes paar Schuhe zu machen<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 to make a last pair of shoes (:47)<\/p>\n

This is an example of an um…zu<\/em><\/strong> construction, which is a way to say that you are doing something in order to achieve a desired result.<\/p>\n

sah<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 the literary past tense form of sehen<\/em>, or “to see” (1:07)<\/p>\n

Watch out for the other uses of the literary past tense in this cartoon!<\/p>\n

3. “Wir Kinder aus dem M\u00f6wenweg”<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

This is a Christmas-themed episode of an animated version of a popular German children’s book.<\/p>\n

The 2000 book, by Kirsten Boie, tells the story of\u00a0a young girl named Tara whose family moves to a community called M\u00f6wenweg, where she’s happy to find lots of nice neighbors and other kids to make friends with.<\/p>\n

In this episode, Tara is impatiently waiting for Christmas to arrive, and must distract herself with Christmas decoration and cooking preparations.<\/p>\n

You can buy the DVD on Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Vocabulary from “Wir Kinder aus dem M\u00f6wenweg”<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

der Heiligabend<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Christmas Eve<\/p>\n

verschneit<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 snowy<\/p>\n

der Tannenbaum<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 archaic word for Christmas tree<\/p>\n

feierlich<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 festive<\/p>\n

gebastelt<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 handmade<\/p>\n

die Lichterkette<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 holiday lights<\/p>\n

Es schneit <\/em><\/strong>\u2014\u00a0It’s snowing<\/p>\n

Blatt<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 leaf<\/p>\n

Grammar in “Wir Kinder aus dem M\u00f6wenweg”<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wir freuen uns auf<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 We are looking forward to (from the episode title)<\/p>\n

This is an example of a verb that takes a certain preposition\u2014in this case, freuen<\/em><\/strong> plus auf<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

mein eigenes Handy<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 my own phone<\/p>\n

Notice that eigenes<\/em><\/strong>, which means “own,” has its own special ending based on the case and the gender of the noun in the sentence\u2014just like any other adjective.<\/p>\n

geschm\u00fcckt werden<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 became decorated<\/p>\n

Here’s an example of the passive voice in German, a construction that uses the verb werden <\/em><\/strong>(which is a word that you’ll see a lot<\/a>\u00a0in the German language).<\/p>\n

4. “Weihnachtsgeschichte”<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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This is a German cartoon version of the original Christmas story, from the Bible, of the birth of Jesus.<\/p>\n

Whether you celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, for secular reasons, or both, watching this video will teach you plenty of interesting vocabulary. And plus, most people know this story\u2014so you’ll be at an advantage while watching this in puzzling out the meaning of various vocabulary words.<\/p>\n

Vocabulary from “Weihnachtsgeschichte”<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

die Bibel<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Bible<\/p>\n

der Zimmermann<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 carpenter<\/p>\n

ver\u00e4ndern<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 to change<\/p>\n

schwanger<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 pregnant<\/p>\n

die Geburt<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 birth<\/p>\n

der Platz<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 place<\/p>\n

der Stall<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 stable<\/p>\n

die Nachricht<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 news<\/p>\n

Grammar in “Weihnachtsgeschichte”:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

scheinen…zu sein<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 appeared…to be (1:02)<\/p>\n

This is a great way to explain to someone that something appeared in a certain way (even if it didn’t).<\/p>\n

deshalb<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 therefore (3:02)<\/p>\n

Deshalb<\/em><\/strong> is a word used in a subordinate clause. Pay special attention to the word order after deshalb<\/em>; the verb goes in the second position, and the rest of the words follow after.<\/p>\n

K\u00f6nig der Juden<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 King of the Jews (6:03)<\/p>\n

This is an example of the German genitive, or possessive case\u2014perhaps the rarest of the four cases, but still essential to know.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you watch all four of these videos, paying attention to vocabulary, grammar and the German cultural lessons imparted in each, you’ll close out the year having bolstered your German skills.<\/p>\n

You can continue your studies by finding more cartoons and other authentic German media, about Christmas or anything else your learner’s heart desires.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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