A visit to a German Christmas market awakens all of your senses…the smells, sounds, tastes and views are all breathtaking and are the substance for memories of a lifetime. Christmas in Germany is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that everyone should enjoy.
Whether you visit a smaller market or one of the largest in Germany all of them have one thing in common. Food, treasures and hot beverages served in collectible ceramic mugs. Collecting the mugs is a fun souvenir to remind you of the many markets you visited while living in Germany. Of course they come filled with Glühwein, kinder punsch or Eiserpunsch, my favorite.
We were lucky enough to visit seven markets for a memorable first German Christmas. Rothenburg, Weilerbach, Kaiserslautern, Bernkastle-Kues, Sankt Wendle and Saarbrücken.
The markets are always centrally located in the city’s quaint square, adorned with rows of wooden stalls that either peddle food or handmade Christmas treasures. Our family enjoyed the food especially the bratwurst and pommes, nutella crepes, churro strings, kettle corn and roasted hazelnuts.
Christmas markets are also very entertaining. We saw lots of festive sights Santa and the Christmas Angel flying into Saarbrücken, Christmas choirs and bands playing in the square, a giant Christmas pyramid and even the largest Christmas Advent calendar in Germany. In Bernkastle-Kues the local polar bear club swims the Mosel with lit torches to escort Santa into town.
The markets are a great way for the community to come together they are family-friendly and even dogs are welcome. Our Theo accompanied us to the Weilerbach market.
Our family thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas market season in Germany and we will always remember the sights, smells and taste of this special time of year, in our new home.