Christmas markets in Germany: Weihnachtsmarkt, Christmas traditions
Whenever you decide to visit Germany, Austria or Switzerland in December, the one thing you can’t go without attending are Christmas markets. A Christmas market (called as well Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindlmarkt) is a street market during the four weeks of Advent (between 1st and 24th of December) that is dedicated to the celebration of Christmas. Although the tradition of Christmas markets started in Germany, now you can visit Christmas markets in other countries too.
At Christmas markets it smells like Christmas tree, Christmas decorations are everywhere, and you can drink delicious Glühwein (mulled wine) with various spices. It all looks very Christmassy and gets you in the mood. However….. (of course there is “however” :P) It all would be great, if it wouldn’t finish on 24th of December, when the real Christmas celebration should actually begin ( I mean you don’t celebrate your birthday a few weeks before it and decide you’re done with the celebration on the actual date.) Actually, this has been bothering me since I came to Germany. Coming from the far east of Europe, where you first go through fasting time and only then you celebrate Christmas in a full swing, I couldn’t simply accept trashing the Christmas mood on 24th. And so my little family and I still visit Christmas markets, as they are too adorable to skip, but Christmas starts for us with the birth of Christ and lasts much longer…
So here there are: beautiful Christmas markets from Bavaria from Munich and Nuremberg.
