Germany's Christmas Markets - Celebrating Christmas German Style: Germany's Christmas markets are famous for great food, great gifts and great times. Visiting any one of Germany's many Christmas markets will be sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. Whether you are there to buy Christmas gifts, sip on a
Gluhwein
(hot spiced wine), or buy Christmas sweets, you are sure to have a good time.
No matter what city you are visiting at Christmas, you will find a Christmas market that offers great Christmas gifts in a festive Christmas atmosphere.
German Gifts to Buy at the Christmas Markets: German Christmas markets offer a world of gifts and Christmas items to choose from - nobody does Christmas quite like the Germans - from famous wooden nutcrackers to handmade Christmas ornaments and gifts.
Learn about favorite gifts to buy at German Christmas Markets.
German Christmas Market Foods to Enjoy: Every Christmas market has its specialities, but regardless of where you go you will find these great Christmas market foods:
- Glühwein (Hot Spiced Wine)
- Hot Chocolate
- Hot Fruit Punch
- Sausages (all sorts)
- Knobibrot
- Lebkuchen (Gingerbread)
- Marzipan
- Sauteed Mushrooms With Various Sauces
- Potato Pancakes
- Gulasch
- Regional Specialities
- Roasted Chestnuts and Almonds
- Chocolate Dipped Fruits
- Baked potatoes loaded with whatever you want
- Pfannekuchen (crepes)
- Bratkartolffen (fried potatoes)
Christmas in Germany - Kris Kringle and Saint Nicholas : Not to confuse matters, but Germany has both Saint Nicholas and Kris Kringle
(derived from Christkindl). German Santas are not necessarily the fat and jolly guys we see at Christmas in other countries. In fact, they look downright malnourished much of the time.
Saint Nicholas has a day of his owns and fills the kiddies' shoes with goodies on Dec. 6. After that, Kris Kringle takes over and delivers presents Christmas Eve. It's confusing because, I swear, they could be twins!
What to Wear When Visiting Germany's Christmas Markets: It is cold in Germany in the winter and the Christmas Markets are outdoors so make sure you dress warm. Cold toes can put a real cramp in your Christmas shopping.
- Heavy winter coat
- Gloves
- Warm Socks
- Boots or well-insulated shoes
- Scarf
- Hat
- Long underwear if you have a tendency to get cold easily
The Best Time to Visit Germany's Christmas Markets: Most of Germany's Christmas markets start the first weekend of Advent (around Nov. 23-25) and last until December 23rd, a few actually go until the 24th. It gets dark early in winter in Germany, so by 4:30 or so you can start enjoying the lights and the magical nighttime atmosphere. They open around 9 or 10 am and go until anywhere from 9 pm until midnight depending on the city and whether it is a weekend or weekday.
Family Fun at Germany's Christmas Markets: Christmas is for kids and German Christmas markets cater to kids with Kris Kringle, St. Nicholas or Santa Claus always on hand to give out goodies. There are train and carriage rides and carousels for the kids and even petting zoos at some of the markets. Some Christmas markets have special areas where the kids can make their own Christmas gifts.
Buying Gifts and Germany's Christmas Markets: While many stands and booths at the Christmas markets take credit cards, many do not, so plan to bring plenty of cash. You can bargain with some of the vendors but not all - generally it is not an accepted practice unless you are buying a lot.
Christmas Markets to Visit: No matter where you are in Germany, you will find a Christmas market, a German town without a Christmas market is almost impossible to find, whether it is a few small stands or miles of different Christmas Markets in the same city.
German Christmas Markets: The German Christmas Markets are famous worldwide- every city and town hosts a Christmas market, whether large or small and Germany is transformed into one giant Christmas market where you can buy Christmas gifts and treasures to your heart's delight. The markets give the cities a holiday atmosphere for the month leading up to Christmas, leaving the cities feeling empty and lonely after a month of bright lights and the mixed smells of gingerbread, chocolate, Gluhwein and grilled sausages.
The traditions of the Christmas markets date back to the middle ages and turn German towns and cities into festive fairy tale type scenes.
Christmas markets are held during the four weeks of Advent and include booths and stalls set up in town centers around Germany, along with plenty of great Christmas decorations and entertainment. Huge Christmas trees are erected and the shops sell Christmas decorations, ornaments, wooden toys, nutcrackers, figurines, gifts, clothing, candles, foods, local arts and crafts and a lot more.
Bands and choral groups entertain shoppers with favorite Christmas carols and hymns. You can buy fresh gingerbread, or a whole gingerbread house, delight in the smells of mulled wine, spices and roasted chestnuts and almonds and sausages as well as a wide array of other foods and drinks.
Each German Christmas Market has its own personality but regardless of which one you go to you are sure to find plenty of Christmas treasures to bring home as well as be able to revel in the Christmas atmosphere that Germany offers.
Get a little German Christmas spirit as well as a little from the French by visiting the Strasbourg Christmas markets, just across the border.
