These are not a bunch of free-ranging hippies, on the contrary: the World Wide Fund for Nature organized the event in Grugapark in Essen with a very clear goal in mind – to publicize the need to protect our forests as wildlife habitat. What better excuse do 848 people need to hug a tree? Viel Spaß!

Diane and her little helpers, Ivana, Sabine and Alina, get into the Christmas spirit and bake cookies...

Watch this second segment of Diane and her three little helpers baking Christmas cookies. Enjoy!

Paula demonstrates how to bake vegan lemon Christmas cookies. Just watching her makes you want to try it out for yourself.

Come and join Eva at the Christmas market on Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt! She samples some of the seasonal delicacies, as well as the ever-popular mulled wine.

Marion and Johannes share a bottle of wine together, and Marion admits that she has feelings for him and sometimes wishes they had never split up. But their moment is interrupted when Sascha appears and has a terrible accident.

"In der Weihnachtsbäckerei" (In the Christmas Bakery) is a Christmas song written and composed by singer-songwriter Rolf Zuckowski, who writes songs primarily for kids. This version features comedian Otto Waalkes, who’s accompanied by a team of little Christmas bakers.

How do people celebrate Christmas in Germany? Paula and Alina compare their family traditions.

This Epiphany⁠—or Three Kings Day, Alina recites a poem by Heinrich Heine, a great German author from the 19th century.

Alina and Paula treat us to their rendition of "O du fröhliche," a classic German Christmas carol, and invite you to sing along.

"Schneeflöcken, Weißröckchen" is actually a winter song, but it is also sung throughout Germany during Advent and Christmas. Learn the words here!

Alina has a special treat for us today: a German Christmas poem by Gustav Falke. Why not see if you can memorize it?

It's time to play the Christmas ABCs! Paula and Alina take turns guessing Christmas-related words and share what they particularly like about this time of year.

This is the story of St. Martin of Tours, a man who gave his time, energy, and belongings to the poor and needy. In Germany, St. Martin’s Day is celebrated in mid-November with a feast, bonfires, and processions of children carrying lanterns through the streets.

It's Eva's laundry day, and she's ready to give us all of the necessary vocabulary for doing laundry in Germany.