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Pure nostalgia: The best moments from the GDR Christmas show!
Find out more about the legendary GDR show “Between Breakfast and Roast Goose”, which shaped Christmas for 34 years.
Pure nostalgia: The best moments from the GDR Christmas show!
For many people, Christmas is a time of reflection and togetherness. In the GDR it was often particularly festive, and one of the best-known traditions was the television program “Between Breakfast and Roast Goose”. This show was not only an integral part of the holiday program, but also developed into a true cult classic over 34 years. The creator of the show was the popular presenter Heinz Quermann, while Margot Ebert, as his partner, complemented the program in a charming way. They entertained the audience with music, dancing and funny skits, all of which contributed to a merry Christmas, according to MDR.
“Between Breakfast and Roast Goose” was broadcast from 1957 to 1991 and offered people in the GDR a welcome distraction between the festive breakfast and the traditional goose meal. These family celebrations were formative and were often celebrated at work or among friends. The musical guests included numerous well-known artists, including Costa Cordalis, Karel Gott and Ireen Sheer, who delighted the audience with their performances. A famous saying from the show was: “Now put the potatoes on quickly,” which has also become a ritual in the viewers' memories, reports the Berliner Kurier.
Family traditions and nostalgia
Christmas in the GDR was, as [n-tv](https://www.n-tv.de/panorama/Wie-in-der-DDR-Weihnachten-ge Feiert-wurde-id30158168.html) emphasizes, a time of family togetherness. The gifts were often homemade and less expensive, with a focus on time together rather than material value. Tinsel, made by VEB Thüringer Glasschmuck Lauscha, was available in considerable quantities, and families were inventive to make the Christmas trees as attractive as possible, often with a mix of two trees.
Nostalgia surrounds the memories of the television show. Many people today look back on the highlights and revel in the memories that they associate with “Between Breakfast and Roast Goose”. The show even went so far that old episodes are available on DVD and some recordings can also be found on YouTube, giving fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the contemplative times of the past, as the Berliner Kurier describes.
An unforgettable Christmas feeling
The combination of entertainment, tradition and the feeling of togetherness made this show unique. Even though the SED leadership tried to ban Christian symbols from Christmas, the core of the celebrations and the joy of the people remained unbroken. And so “Between Breakfast and Roast Goose” was more than just a show – it was an integral part of the Christmas season in the GDR, creating many warm moments and ensuring an unforgettable Christmas feeling across generations.