Christmas markets 2007

***image1***No one does Christmas like Germans.
 
The holiday season opens each year with one of Germany’s most special events – the Christmas market.

The first Christmas market, not far from the KMC, opened Thursday in Saarbrücken. Today, the one in Saarlouis will open and Monday, the Kaiserslautern Christmas market opens at 6 p.m. near Stiftskirche.

The history of Christmas markets goes back to the 14th century. After farmers sold their crop, they paid their workers, who after attending worship services during Advent, spent their money right away at little markets around the church. Then, most of the items were sweets and toys. There were also craftsmen who sold baskets, pottery, spices, clothes and Christmas tree ornaments.

Today, a typical German Christmas market has 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 might also find ideas for Christmas gifts, including wooden toys, puppets, handmade pottery, handcrafted leather items, glass products, jewelry and more.
Typical smells shoppers experience when strolling along the booths are roasted chestnuts, cinnamon waffles and Thüringer bratwurst. Market-goers who need to warm up might want to taste a cup of “Glühwein,” which is a typical winter drink. It’s a heated red wine spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks.

Christmas markets also feature daily activities, musical entertainments 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 nearby:
Alsenborn, Dec. 1 and 2
Alsenz, Dec. 8 and 9
Altleiningen, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8   and 9
Bann, Dec. 15 and 16
Bruchmühlbach, Dec. 2
Dannenfels, Dec. 1 and 2
Enkenbach, Dec. 8 and 9
Erzenhausen, Dec. 2
Eulenbis, Dec. 9
Frankelbach, Dec. 2
Frankenstein, Dec. 1 and 2
Glan-Münchweiler, Dec. 1
Hauptstuhl, Dec. 15
Heiligenmoschel, Nov. 24
Hirschhorn, Dec. 1
Hochspeyer, Dec. 8 and 9
Homburg, Nov. 30 to Dec. 9
Hütschenhausen, Dec. 9
Kaiserslautern, Nov. 26 to Dec. 22
Katzweiler, Dec. 8
Kindsbach, Dec. 9
Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 7 to 9
Kollweiler, Dec. 15
Kusel, Dec. 4; Dec. 7 to 9
Kusel, Lichtenberg Castle, Dec. 1 and 2
Landstuhl, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 14 to 17
Mackenbach, Dec. 1
Mehlbach, Dec. 2
Mehlingen, Dec. 1 and 2
Miesau, Dec. 8
Neuhemsbach, Dec. 8 and 9
Neunkirchen/Potzberg, Nov. 27
Neuleiningen, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8 and 9
Niederkirchen, Dec. 8
Obermoschel, Dec. 1 and 2
Otterbach, Dec. 1 and 2
Otterberg, Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22
Queidersbach, Dec. 1 and 2
Ramsen, Dec. 8 and 9
Ramstein-Miesenbach, Dec. 8 and 9
Rockenhausen, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2
Rodalben, Dec. 1 and 2
Rodenbach, Dec. 1
Schallodenbach, Dec. 8 and 9
Schneckenhausen, Dec. 1 and 2
Schönenberg-Kübelberg, Dec. 15 and 16
Schopp, Dec. 8
Schwedelbach, Dec. 8 and 9
Stelzenberg, Dec. 1
Sulzbachtal, Dec. 2
Trippstadt, Klug’sche Mühle, Dec. 2 and 9
Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Dec. 1 and 2
Waldleiningen, Dec. 15 and 16
Waldmohr, Dec. 1 and 2
Weilerbach, Dec. 1 and 2
Winnweiler, Dec. 1 and 2
Wolfstein, Dec. 1

Other markets in Germany:
Alzey, Nov. 26 to Dec. 22
Annweiler, Dec. 1 and 2
Augsburg, Nov. 26 to Dec. 24
Baden-Baden, Nov. 26 to Dec. 26
Bad Bergzabern, Dec. 7 to 9
Bad Dürkheim, Nov. 29 to Dec. 23 (Thursdays to Sundays)
Bad Münster/Stein-Ebernburg, Dec. 1 and 2, 8 and 9, 15 and 16
Bad Kreuznach, Nov. 29 to Dec. 9
Baumholder, Dec. 7 and 8
Berlin, at Gedächtniskirche, Nov. 26 to Jan. 1
Bernkastel-Kues/Mosel, Dec. 2 to 20
Bingen, Dec. 14 to 16
Cochem/Mosel, Nov. 25 to Dec. 16
Cochem, Reichsburg Castle, Dec. 15 and 16
Darmstadt, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Deidesheim/German Wine Street, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2; Dec. 7 to 9; Dec. 14 to 16; Dec. 21 to 23
Dresden: Nov. 28 to Dec. 24
Edenkoben/German Wine Street, Nov. 20 to Dec. 2; Dec. 6, 8 and 9
Eisenberg, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2
Frankenthal, Nov. 26 to Dec. 22
Frankfurt, Nov. 26 to Dec. 21
Freinsheim/German Wine Street, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8 and 9; Dec. 15 and 16; Dec. 22 and 23
Grünstadt, Dec. 7, 8 and 9; Dec. 14, 15 and 16
Hassloch, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2; Dec. 7 to 9; Dec. 14 to 16; Dec. 21 to 23
Hauenstein, Dec. 1 and 2
Heidelberg, Nov. 28 to Dec. 22
Idar-Oberstein, Dec. 1 and 2 in Oberstein; Dec. 7 to 9 in Idar
Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 7 to 9
Köln, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Landau, Nov. 29 to Dec. 20
Ludwigshafen, Nov. 23 to Dec. 23
Mainz, Nov. 29 to Dec. 23
Mannheim, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
München, Nov. 30 to Dec. 24
Neunkirchen, Dec. 1 to 15
Neustadt/German Wine Street, Nov. 26 to Dec. 22
Nürnberg, Nov. 30 to Dec. 24
Pirmasens, Nov. 30 to Dec. 22
Regensburg, Nov. 29 to Dec. 23
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nov. 30 to Dec. 23
Rüdesheim, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Saarbrücken, Nov. 22 to Dec. 23
Saarlouis, Nov. 25 to Dec. 23
Speyer, Nov. 26 to Dec. 22
St. Martin/German Wine Street, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8 and 9; Dec. 15 and 16
Stuttgart, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
Trier, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
Völklingen, Dec. 6 to 9
Wiesbaden, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
Worms, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Zweibrücken, Dec. 1 to 16