If you are going to be in Frankfurt or in a town near-by on Christmas Eve, make sure you are down in the city center at the Roemer at 17:00. At this time, 50 bells from 10 of the downtown churches will ring together for 30 minutes. This is 70 tons of metal ringing away, but all in harmony. Frankfurt has been doing this since 1954, and it happens four times a year - Christmas Eve, the 1st Advent Sat, the day before Easter, and Pentecost.
It is fun to be there and walk around to hear the difference in the sound of the bells. "Gloriosa", the big, almost 12 ton bell at the Kaiserdom, is the 2nd largest bell in Germany and she makes quite a bit of noise. She was one of the few bells in Germany to survive being melted down for the war.
It is traditional for Frankfurt families to go downtown to the Roemerberg to hear this. Many then go on to church services or home for their big dinner and gift giving.
- P.S. - I just edited this to reflect the date and time change from Advent to Christmas Eve.