Germany’s Christmas Markets: You Will Wish You Can Go There 365 Days a Year

The greatest Christmas Markets in Germany

Unfortunately, you cannot visit the Christmas markets of Germany the whole year round simply because these are only open four weeks before Christmas Day itself. Still, a whole month surrounded by the glories of the most wonderful time of the year is worth the wait for the next eleven months!

And so, you have to gain appreciation for the festivities, the feasts and the fanfare of the Christmas markets in Germany to take the most out of them and to sustain you through the non-Christmas days. Read on and enjoy the Christmas markets of Germany through fresh eyes!

History of the Christmas Markets

If the Magi and the shepherds knew that Jesus’ birth more than 2,000 years ago will be heralded by Christmas markets with an abundance of lights, gifts, decorations and people, they will probably travel through time to partake of the joyous celebration. And what a history of celebration the Christmas markets have!

Starting from the Late Middle Ages, with Bautzen in 1384 and Dresden in 1434 as two of the oldest, Germany’s Christmas markets continues to attract millions of visitors to their numerous stalls. One can only imagine the simplicity of the Christmas markets more than 600 years ago when there was no electricity to brighten up the nights albeit the spirit of Christmas must have been stronger then. Also called Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindel markt, the Christmas markets will be here to stay for as long as man loves to celebrate Christmas. And with more than a billion Christmas, there are a billion reasons, too!

The greatest Christmas Markets in Germany

Germany's most famous Christmas Market is in Nuremberg Main Market Square. It is the most authentic Christmas Market in Germany. You will find there bout 180 wooden stalls, festooned with red-and-white cloth. This Christmas Market has the second name 'Little Town from Wood and Cloth', 200 stall holders present their traditional wares: You have to tray Nuremberg's spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, bakery goods and sweets! Berlin is pretty to all seasons but you have discover the charm of “WinterMagic” from Berlin! Berlin is the capital city of the German Christmas Markets. WeihnachtsZauber on Gendarmenmarkt is a classic Christmas Marke in Berlin. The Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and is more beautiful during Christmas time. The heart of “WinterMagic” beats on the Potsdamer Platz and in the Sony Centre, where there is a Christmas Market on t 4,000 square metre event area. You have to go to Berlin and enjoy it!

Hannover's Christmas market takes place in the historical old quarter around the Market Church, Lister Meile and on the Ballhofplatz. The Ballhofplatz in Hannover is famoes for Christmas market of Middle Age with special food and drinks and with the big bonfire in the middle. There are a lot of children's programme features a puppeteer and a storyteller. Dresden's Christmas Market is oldest one and traditionally called Striezelmarkt. Its name derives from Hefestriezel, a sweet delicacy which centuries later has become know as “Dresden Christstollen” (German Christmas Cake). The Christmas Market in Dresden is located in the historical part of the city centre between the recently rebuilt Frauenkirche and the culinary famous restaurant street of Münzgasse. The focal point of Leipzig's traditional Christmas market is the beautiful old market square in front of the Old Town Hall. Leipzig offers City on Ice, a 500m2 ice rink on Augustusplatz and the Old Town Hall trumpeters. Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of Germany’s oldest and most popular Christmas markets in Europe. In fact the Frankfurt Christmas Market is so good and beautiful that every year a smaller sister version takes place in the UK city of Birmingham, which is probably one contributing factor why the German Christmas Markets have grown so much in popularity in the last few years.

Nordic City Hamburg during Advent will became again to the most charming Christmas market. One hundred merchants will set up their shops on Hamburg’s largest urban square. Here you will find hand-crafted Christmas decorations from the Erzgebirge region, woodcarvers from Tyrol, bakers form Aachen producing their famous “printen” cookies on the scene, gingerbread makers from Nuremberg, pottery from the Lausitz. In south of Germany you will visit the most gorgeous Munich's Christmas Market - whose roots go back to the 14th century - is held on Marienplatz in the heart of the city centre of Munich. Munich Christmas Market offers traditional Bavarian Christmas gifts, including wood carvings from Oberammergau, gingerbread (Lebkuchen) from Nuremberg and notably some exquisite glassware from the Bavarian Forest. Each day, from the balcony of Munich’s town hall, music lovers will be able to enjoy the festive season celebration with a special alpine Christmas Market concert. The equally popular Kripperlmarkt, one of the largest in Germany to specialise in cribs and other nativity accessories, is a short walk away on nearby Rindermarkt.

Stuttgart Christmas Market is not only one of the oldest, but certainly also one of the most beautiful and largest Christmas markets in Europe. A lot of illuminations, the wonderful smell of cinnamon and vanilla, Advent concerts, fir branches and Christmas balls create the fantastic Christmas atmosphere. One of the Stuttgart Christmas Market highlight is the Open-air-skating area. Among them are four big Christmas markets - at the Cologne Cathedral, on the Alter Markt, on the Neumarkt and on the Rudolfplatz. Cologne's Christmas markets is closed to Cathedral and makes spacial filling. The most famous Christmas market in Cologne is n the Alter Markt takes place in front of narrow-gabled houses of the Old Town Hall. It has an especially idyllic atmosphere because of its half-timbered stalls. Children in particular will find lots to do here. With a nostalgic children’s roundabout, puppet theatre, Santa Claus’ grotto and many toy stands, this Christmas market in the heart of the Altstadt has attracted young and old to Cologne for many years.

Christmas Foods and Drinks Galore!

Christmas is a time for family and friends to celebrate around the feast of traditional food and drink, often richer in quality and quantity than the other 364 days of the year. For good reason, too! After all, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and it is only fitting that the feast matches the festivities of Christ’s birthday. At the Christmas markets in Germany, you can have your fill of sweet delicacies, soothing drinks, and satisfying meals. For the sweet tooth, there is Gebrannte Mandeln, which are candied and toasted almonds whose scent fills up the Christmas markets and are said to be little pieces of heaven; Christmas cookies like Lebkuchen with tastes ranging from spicy to sweet and Magenbrot that is a light gingerbread with the reputation for being a friend of the stomach; and Christstollen that anybody will be tempted to steal with its rich fruitcake taste coated in icing sugar.

For the soothing drinks to chase away the chill of Christmas winter, you can sip from Glühwein. This is made by combining red wine with spices like cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods and cloves and sweetened with sugar. Once heated, this mulled wine can be taken with a shot of brandy to warm up the stomach and provide for a warm glow all over. Alternatively, you can drink of the Eierpunsch that is prepared using egg whites, sugar, white wine and vanilla with cream or custard as topping. If for nothing else, these drinks make you look forward to winter because these are only available and appropriate then. Again, another piece of heaven in a cup!

For full meals, Germany will not disappoint the herbivores amongst us. Its world-famous bratwurst will fill your stomach like no other burger and fries can! You can have it in many ways – with a bread roll, with potato salad, with mustard and with beer. And you will have many choices to choose from what with Germany having unique a bratwurst per region! Indeed, the Christmas markets of Germany are the best place to celebrate Christmas like the locals do, taste the delicacies au naturelle, and savor the holidays the German way!

Attractions Here, There and Everywhere

Of course, the Christmas markets in Germany boast of attractions that enchants local and tourists alike. And these are not of the commercial varieties that are mass-produced either! You can find traditional Christmas decorations like crib figurines, wood carvings, candles and wreaths that speak of only the highest quality of craftsmanship. You are assured that your purchase today will last for generations and Christmases to come.

For your Christmas gifts, you can choose from a wide array of toys, wood carvings, marionettes and lambskin shoes to warp and put under the Christmas tree. You can even give cookies and cakes as your Christmas gifts! You will never go wrong with these gifts especially when given with hearty cheer. Even if you do not intend to do your Christmas shopping at the Christmas markets for whatever reason, you will imbibe the Christmas spirit immediately. You will enjoy the view of bright lights, the friendly smiles, the smell of baking cookies and candied almonds, the taste of mulled wine and eggnog, and the feelings of joy every visitor brings to the markets.

Indeed, what better way to celebrate Christmas than to visit one of the many Christmas markets in Germany! We can assure you that no other Christmas market in the world can compare with them. Go to Germany and enjoy it!

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