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Some villages in the KMC already rang in the Christmas season with their Christmas markets last weekend. Some towns started theirs Monday. But the majority of towns and cities will open the doors to their Christmas markets this weekend.
The history of Christmas markets dates 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.
Today, most Christmas market-goers just want to enjoy the atmosphere and taste the typical goodies such as roasted chestnuts,
cinnamon waffles, potato pancakes and Thüringer bratwurst.
They also get lured by the smell of “Glühwein,” which sometimes is needed to warm up. Glühwein is a heated red wine, spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks.
Those who are interested in buying some unique Christmas decorations find vendors selling a variety of candles, angels, Advent wreaths, Christmas pyramids and nutcrackers.
Other shoppers need special Christmas gifts such as handmade pottery, handcrafted leather items, glass products, jewelry, wooden toys and puppets.
Besides food and merchandise, Christmas markets feature daily activities, musical entertainment, merry-go-rounds, appearances by Santa Claus and, in some towns, there are set-ups of living nativity scenes.
Christmas markets in the KMC and close by:
• Alsenborn, Nov. 29 and 30
• Alsenz, Dec. 6 and 7
• Bann, Dec. 13 and 14
• Bruchmühlbach, Dec. 7
• Enkenbach, Dec. 6 and 7
• Erzenhausen, Nov. 30
• Eulenbis, Dec. 7
• Frankelbach, Nov. 30
• Frankenstein, Nov. 29 and 30
• Glan-Münchweiler, Dec. 6
• Hauptstuhl, Dec. 13 and 14
• Hirschhorn, Nov. 29
• Hochspeyer, Dec. 6 and 7
• Homburg, Nov. 28 to Dec. 7
• Hütschenhausen, Dec. 7
• Kaiserslautern,
Nov. 24 to Dec. 22
• Katzweiler, Dec. 13
• Kindsbach, Dec. 7
• Kirchheimbolanden,
Dec. 5 to 7
• Kollweiler, Dec. 13
• Kottweiler-Schwanden,
Nov. 29 and 30
• Kusel, Dec. 2
• Kusel, Lichtenberg Castle,
Nov. 29 and 30
• Landstuhl, Nov. 29 and 30;
Dec. 12 to 15
• Mackenbach, Nov. 29
• Mehlbach, Nov. 30
• Mehlingen, Nov. 29 and 30
• Miesau, Dec. 6
• Mittelbrunn, Dec. 13
• Nanzdietschweiler, Nov. 29
• Neuhemsbach, Dec. 6 and 7
• Neunkirchen/Potzberg, Nov. 29
• Niederkirchen, Dec. 6
• Obermoschel, Nov. 29 and 30
• Otterbach, Nov. 29 and 30
• Otterberg, Nov. 29,
Dec. 6, 13 and 20
• Ramstein-Miesenbach,
Dec. 6 and 7
• Reichenbach-Steegen,
Dec. 6 and 7
• Rockenhausen, Nov. 28 to 30
• Rodalben, Nov. 29 and 30
• Rodenbach, Nov. 29
• Schneckenhausen,
Nov. 29 and 30
• Schönenberg-Kübelberg,
Dec. 14
• Schwedelbach, Dec. 6 and 7
• Stelzenberg, Nov. 29
• Sulzbachtal, Nov. 30
• Trippstadt, Klug’sche Mühle,
Nov. 30
• Waldfischbach-Burgalben,
Nov. 29 and 30
• Waldleiningen, Dec. 13 and 14
• Weilerbach, Nov. 29 and 30
• Winnweiler, Nov. 30
Other markets in Germany:
• Alzey, Nov. 24 to Dec. 24
• Annweiler, Nov. 29 and 30
• Augsburg, Nov. 24 to Dec. 24
• Baden-Baden, Nov. 24 to Dec. 28
• Bad Dürkheim, Nov. 27 to
Dec. 21 (Thursdays to Sundays)
• Bad Münster/Stein-Ebernburg,
Nov. 29 and 30; Dec. 6 and 7,
Dec. 13 and 14
• Bad Kreuznach, Nov. 27 to Dec. 7
• Baumholder, Dec. 5 and 6
• Berlin, at Gedächntiskirche,
Nov. 24 to Jan. 1
• Bernkastel-Kues/Mosel,
Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
• Cochem/Mosel, Nov. 27 to Dec. 21
• Cochem, Reichsburg Castle,
Dec. 13 and 14
• Darmstadt, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
• Deidesheim/German Wine
Street, Nov. 28 to 30; Dec. 5 to 7;
Dec. 12 to 14; Dec. 19 to 21
• Dresden: Nov. 27 to Dec. 24
• Edenkoben/German Wine
Street, Nov. 2 to 30; Dec. 6 and 7
• Frankenthal, Nov. 24 to Dec. 22
• Frankfurt, Nov. 26 to Dec. 21
• Freinsheim/German Wine Street,
Nov. 29 and 30; Dec. 6 and 7;
Dec. 13 and 14; Dec. 20 and 21
• Grünstadt, Dec. 5 to 14
• Heidelberg, Nov. 26 to Dec. 26
• Idar-Oberstein, Nov. 29 and 30 in
Oberstein; Dec. 8 to 10 in Idar
• Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 5 to 7
• Köln, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
• Landau, Nov. 27 to Dec. 21
• Ludwigshafen, Nov. 21 to Dec. 21
• Mainz, Nov. 27 to Dec. 27
• Mannheim, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
• München, Nov. 28 to Dec. 24
• Neuleiningen, Nov. 29 and 30;
Dec. 6 and 7
• Neunkirchen, Dec. 6 to 21
• Neustadt/German Wine Street,
Nov. 24 to Dec. 21
• Nürnberg, Nov. 28 to Dec. 24
• Pirmasens, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
• Regensburg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
• Rüdesheim, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
• Saarbrücken, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
• Saarlouis, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
• Speyer, Nov. 24 to Jan. 6
• St. Martin/German Wine Street,
Nov. 29 and 30; Dec. 6 and 7;
Dec. 13 and 14
• Stuttgart, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
• St. Ingbert, Dec. 4 to 7
• St. Wendel, Dec. 6 to 14
• Strasbourg, France,
Nov. 26 to Dec. 31
• Trier, Nov. 24 to Dec. 22
• Völklingen, Dec. 4 to 7
• Wiesbaden, Nov. 25 to Dec. 23
• Worms, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
• Zweibrücken, Nov. 29 to Dec. 14
