Lifestyle

Christmas markets offer gifts, ornaments

November 10, 2006
Petra Lessoing
Kaiserslautern American


Christmas is about six weeks away. Those who need unique ideas or gifts and decorations, or those who want to get into the right Christmas mood, might want to visit a Christmas markets.

In Germany, outdoor Christmas markets are special events taking place during the pre-Christmas season. They consist of little wooden booths and houses decorated with fir tree garlands and light bulbs. Vendors sell traditional Christmas items such as ornaments, candles, angels, Advent wreaths and nutcrackers.

Shoppers also find ideas for Christmas gifts such as wooden toys, puppets, handmade pottery, handcrafted leather items, glass products, jewelry and more.

Typical smells shoppers experience when strolling along the booths are the smells of roasted chestnuts, cinnamon waffles, Thüringer bratwurst and “Glühwein,” which is a typical winter drink. It’s a heated red wine spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks and helps to warm up.

In the KMC, the villages of Schallodenbach and Niederkirchen-Wörsbach hold the first ones Christmas market Nov. 26. The one in Kaiserslautern, set up between Stiftskirche and Schillerplatz, starts Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 22.

***image1***The history of Christmas markets goes back to the 14th century. After farmers had sold their crop, they paid their workers. After attending worship services during Advent, those workers spent their money right away at little markets set up around the church. Most common items offered were sweets and toys. There were also craftsmen selling baskets, pottery, spices, clothes and Christmas tree ornaments.

Christmas markets also feature daily activities, musical entertainment and appearances by Santa Claus.

Generally, Christmas markets open at 10 or 11 a.m. and close between 7 and 9 p.m. depending on the day of week.

Christmas markets in the KMC and
close vicinity:

–
Alsenborn, Dec. 9 and 10
– Bruchmühlbach, Dec. 6
– Dannenfels (Donnersberg hill), Dec. 2
and 3
– Eisenberg, Dec. 2 and 3
– Enkenbach, Dec. 2 and 3
– Eulenbis, Dec. 10
– Erzenhausen, Dec. 3
– Frankelbach, Dec. 3
– Frankenstein, Dec. 2 and 3
– Glan-Münchweiler, Dec. 2
– Heiligenmoschel, Dec. 10
– Hochspeyer, Dec. 9 and 10
– Homburg, Dec. 1 to 10
– Hornbach Kloster (Monastery and
town), Dec. 3
–
Hütschenhausen, Dec. 10
– Kaiserslautern, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
– Katzweiler, Dec. 9
– Kindsbach, Dec. 9 and 10
– Kollweiler, Dec. 16
– Kusel, Dec. 5 and Dec. 15 to 17
– Kusel, Lichtenberg Castle, Dec. 2 and 3
– Landstuhl, Dec. 2 and 3; Dec. 15 to 18
– Mackenbach, Dec. 2
– Mehlbach, Dec. 3
– Mehlingen, Dec. 2 and 3
– Miesau, Dec. 2
– Niederkirchen-Wörsbach, Nov. 26
– Neunkirchen/Potzberg, Dec. 2
– Otterbach, Dec. 2 and 3
– Otterberg, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23
– Queidersbach, Dec. 2 and 3
– Ramstein-Miesenbach, Dec. 2 and 3
– Reichenbach-Steegen, Dec. 3
– Rockenhausen, Dec. 1 to 3
– Rodenbach, Dec. 2
– Schallodenbach, Nov. 26
– Schneckenhausen, Dec. 2 and 3
– Schönenberg-Kübelberg, Dec. 17
– Schwedelbach, Dec. 9 and 10
– Trippstadt, Klug’sche Mühle, Dec. 3
and 10
– Vogelbach, Dec. 2
– Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Dec. 2 and 3
– Weilerbach, Dec. 2 and 3
– Winnweiler, Dec. 3

 

  

Other highly frequented markets in Germany:
– Altleiningen, Dec. 2 and 3
– Alzey, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
– Annweiler, Dec. 2 and 3
– Augsburg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 24
– Baden-Baden, Nov. 24 to Dec. 24
– Bad Bergzabern, Dec. 8 to 10
– Bad Dürkheim, Dec. 1 to 26
– Bad Münster/Stein-Ebernburg, Dec. 2
and 3; Dec. 9 and 10; and Dec. 16 and 17
– Bad Kreuznach, Dec. 1 to 10
– Baumholder, Dec. 8 and 9
– Berlin (center), Nov. 27 to Dec. 26
– Bernkastel-Kues/Mosel, Dec. 2 to 20
– Bingen, Dec. 8 to 10
– Birkenfeld, Dec. 9 to 12
– Cochem/Mosel, Nov. 24 to Dec. 17
– Darmstadt, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
– Deidesheim/German Wine Street, Dec.
1 to 2; Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15 to 17; Dec.
22 and 23
– Dresden: Nov. 29 to Dec. 24
– Edenkoben/German Wine Street, Dec.
1 to 3; Dec. Dec. 6; Dec. 9 and 10
– Frankenthal, Nov. 23 to Dec. 22
– Frankfurt, Nov. 23 to Dec. 21
– Freinsheim/German Wine Street, Dec. 2
and 3; Dec. 9 and 10; Dec. 16 and 17
– Grünstadt, Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15 to 17
– Hassloch, Nov. 24 to 26; Dec. 1 to 3;
Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15 to 17
– Heidelberg, Nov. 29 to Dec. 23
– Idar-Oberstein, Dec. 2 and 3 in
Oberstein; Dec. 8 to 10 in Idar
– Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 8 to 10
–
Köln, Nov. 23 to Dec. 23
– Landau, Nov. 30 to Dec. 21
– Mainz, Dec. 2 to 23
– Mannheim, Nov. 29 to Dec. 23
–
München, Dec. 1 to Dec. 23
– Neuleiningen, Dec. 2 and 3; Dec. 9
and 10
– Neustadt/German Wine Street, Nov. 27
to Dec. 22
–
Nürnberg, Dec. 1 to 23
– Pirmasens, Dec. 1 to 23
– Ramsen, Dec. 9 and 10
– Regensburg, Nov. 30 to Dec. 23
– Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dec. 1 to 23
– Saarbrücken, Nov. 23 to Dec. 23
– Saarlouis, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
– Speyer, Nov. 27 to Jan. 1
– St. Martin/German Wine Street, Dec. 2
and 35; Dec. 9 and 10; Dec. 16 and 17
– St. Wendel, Dec. 9 to171
– Stuttgart, Nov. 30 to Dec. 23
– Trier, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
– Wachenheim, Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15
to 17
– Wiesbaden, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
– Worms, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
– Zweibrücken, Dec. 2 to 17
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