Christmas and New Year Holidays

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Christmas and New Year Holidays
German Christmas markets are a kaleidoscope of colours and lights. These are street markets that are generally held in town squares and spill over into nearby pedestrian zones.

There are Christmas markets throughout Europe, but the tradition of Christmas markets in Germanic speaking parts of Europe seems to go back to the Middle Ages.

The markets normally coincide with the Christian "season" of Arrival which starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, so ... Starting about the last week of November, you'll find the Market Squares in several German cities transformed.

Lights twinkle, and the aroma of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and savoury grilled German sausages fills the air. Who wouldn't feel festive? There is music and standard dancing. Open air stalls sell everything you can envision related to standard German Christmas events.

You'll find Nativity settings, nutcrackers, candle arches (Schwibbogen), candle pyramids, and those Christmas trees with the wooden curls ... All of those are to buy, but you may even find the town decorated with town-size versions of all of these! Each city or town has it's own traditions and specialities. There is so much to choose from.

Frankfurt is a good city to fly into, and it has one of the oldest Christmas Markets in Germany. It started in 1393. On Romerberg Square, Paulsplatz and Mainkai Quay you'll find hundreds of stalls selling arts, crafts and seasonal food and drink.

Munich is another city you can fly into. You can probably find everything you want on the main square at Marienplatz. You can also check out the market in Schwabing. Artists and artisans have held a Christmas Market here going back 1,200 years.

Berlin is Germany's capital again. It looks like a fairytale land at Christmas with around 60 standard Christmas markets! There are countless shopping opportunities, concerts, and lots of food and drink.

Dresden has a prospering Christmas Market tradition that dates back to 1434. They bake a massive "Stollen" cake ... four heaps of cake! It is the centerpiece of a grand parade, and at the end, it is cut and ceremoniously handed around.

In the Romantic Road town of Rothernberg ob der Tauber, you'll find an enchanted Christmas wonderland. There are Christmas stores and a Christmas Museum open in town all year long in case you can't get there at Christmas. Because this is such a cute little town, it's one of the prettiest German Christmas Markets. Kids enjoy in the "Gingerbread House".

Huge cities have huge markets, but don't ignore the smaller ones, they are just as magical. No matter which you pick, you can avoid mass marketed toys and decorations. Days are short, but that just makes the twinkling lights more magical. Nights are crisp, but that makes the mulled wine and standard foods more appealing.

If you want to go to one of the German Christmas Markets, remember it's going to be chilly, so take a lot of warm clothes. You must make reservations well in advance in the smaller towns. Be prepared for crowds, but bear in mind, everyone will be festive and you'll enjoy.