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Germany will ring in the holiday season with Christmas markets starting next week.
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.
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.
Christmas markets also feature daily activities, musical entertainments, merry-go-rounds, and appearances by Santa Claus.
Generally, most Christmas markets in bigger towns open at 10 or 11 a.m. and close between 7 and 10 p.m. depending on the day of week. The markets in little villages usually don’t start until the early afternoon.
Christmas markets in the KMC
and close vicinity:
Alsenborn, Dec. 9 and 10
Alsenz, Dec. 9 and 10
Alzey, Nov. 27 to Dec. 24; and Dec. 27 to 31
Bann, Dec. 16 and 17
Bechhofen, Dec. 2 and 3
Bruchmuehlbach, Nov. 30
Eisenberg, Dec. 1 to 3
Erzenhausen, Dec. 3
Eulenbis, Dec. 17
Falkenstein Castle (north of Winnweiler), Dec. 16 and 17
Fockenberg-Limbach, Dec. 2 and 3
Glan-Münchweiler, Dec. 2
Hauptstuhl, Dec. 16
Heltersberg (Im Lindenpark), Dec. 3
Hirschhorn, Dec. 2
Hochspeyer, Dec. 9 and 10
Homburg, Dec. 10 to 30 (closed Dec. 25 and 26)
Kaiserslautern, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23; and Dec. 27 to Dec. 30
Katzweiler, Dec. 9
Kindsbach, Dec. 9 and 10
Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 8 to 10
Kreimbach-Kaulbach, Dec. 10
Krickenbach, Dec. 9
Kusel, Dec. 15 to 17
TKusel, Lichtenberg Castle (medieval Christmas market), Dec. 2 and 3
Landstuhl, Dec. 2 and 3; Dec. 15 to 18
Linden, Dec. 9
Mackenbach, Dec. 16
Mehlingen, Dec. 12
Nanzdietschweiler, Nov. 25
Neuhemsbach, Schlossberg: Dec. 2 and 3
Neuleiningen, Dec. 2 and 3; Dec. 9 and 10
Niederkirchen, Dec. 9
Obermoschel, Dec. 2 and 3
Obernheim-Kirchenarnbach, Dec. 9 and 10
Olsbrücken, gluehwein fest, Nov. 25
Otterbach, (Im Kumb — in the forest) Dec. 17
Otterberg, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 17 (children’s market), and Dec. 23
Queidersbach, Dec. 1 and 2
Ramsen, Dec. 9 and 10
Ramstein-Miesenbach, Dec. 8 to 10
Reichenbach-Steegen, Dec. 9 and 10
Rieschweiler-Muehlbach, Dec. 16 and 17
Rockenhausen, Dec. 1 to 3
Rodalben, Dec. 2 and 3
Rodenbach, Dec. 1 and 2
Schallodenbach, Dec. 9 and 10
Schneckenhausen, Dec. 2 and 3
Schopp, Dec. 2 and 3
Schwedelbach, Dec. 9 and 10
Steinalben, Dec. 2
Stelzenberg, Dec. 2
Sulzbachtal, Dec. 10
Trippstadt, House of Sustainability, Johanniskreuzer Strasse 1, Romantic Forest Christmas, Dec. 16 and 17
Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Dec. 3
Waldleiningen, Dec. 16
Waldmohr, Dec. 2 and 3
Weilerbach, Dec. 2 to 10
Winnweiler, Dec. 2 and 3
Other markets in Germany:
Ansbach, Nov. 30 to Dec. 24
Aschaffenburg, Nov. 30 to Dec. 22
Augsburg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 24
Baden-Baden, Nov. 27 to Dec. 30
Bad Bergzabern, Dec. 1 to 3; Dec. 8 to 10
Bad Münster/Stein-Ebernburg, Dec. 1 to 3; Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15 to 17; Dec. 22 and 23
Bad Kreuznach, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
Bamberg, Nov. 30 to Dec. 23
Baumholder, Dec. 8 and 9
Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, Nov. 27 to Dec. 31
Berlin, near Gedaechtniskirche, Nov. 27 to Jan. 7
Bernkastel-Kues/Mosel, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
Bingen, Dec. 15 to 17
Bitburg, Dec. 6 to 17
Cochem/Mosel, Nov. 24 to Dec. 17
Cochem, Reichsburg Castle, Dec. 9 and 10
Darmstadt, Nov. 20 to Dec. 23
Deidesheim/German Wine Street, Dec. 1 to 3; Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15 to 17; Dec. 22 and 23
Dresden, Nov. 29 to Dec. 24
Edenkoben, Dec. 2 and 3
Frankfurt, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
Freiburg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
Freinsheim/German Wine Street, Dec. 1 to 2; Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15 to 17; Dec. 22 and 23
Garmisch, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Grünstadt, Dec. 1 and 2; Dec. 8 to 10; Dec. 15 to 17
Hauenstein, Dec. 1 to 3
Heidelberg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
Idar-Oberstein, Dec. 1 and 2 in Oberstein (Schloss); Dec. 8 to 10 in Idar
Karlsruhe, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 8 to 10
Koblenz, Nov. 24 to Dec. 22
Köln (near cathedral), Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
Konstanz, Nov. 30 to Dec. 22
Landau, Nov. 30 to Dec. 21
Leipzig, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
Ludwigshafen, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
Mainz, Nov. 30 to Dec. 23
Mannheim (near water tower),
Nov. 29 to Dec. 23
Merzalben, Dec. 9
Mettlach, medieval Christmas market, Nov. 25 to 27
Michelstadt, Dec. 1 to Dec. 23
München (Marienplatz), Nov. 27 to Dec. 24
Neunkirchen, Dec. 2 and 3
Neustadt/German Wine Street, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
Nürnberg, Dec. 1 to 24
Pirmasens, Nov. 24 to Dec. 23
Potsdam, Nov. 27 to Dec. 28 (closed Dec. 24)
Regensburg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dec. 1 to 23
Rüdesheim, Nov. 23 to Dec. 23
Saarbrücken, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
Saarlouis, Dec. 1 to 23
Sankt Martin/German Wine Street, Dec. 2 and 3; Dec. 9 and 10; Dec. 16 and 17
Sankt Ingbert, Dec. 15 to 17
Sankt Wendel, medieval Christmas market, Dec. 9 to 17
Speyer, Nov. 27 to Jan. 7 (closed Dec. 25 and 26)
Stuttgart, Nov. 29 to Dec. 23
Traben-Trarbach (underground market), Nov. 24 to Jan. 1 (closed Nov. 26, Dec. 24 and 25)
Trier, Nov. 27 to Dec. 22
Wachenheim/German Wine Street, Dec. 9 and 10; Dec. 16 and 17
Wiesbaden, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
Worms, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
Würzburg, Dec. 1 to 23
Zweibrücken, Dec. 6, Dec. 8 to 10;
Dec. 15 to 17
Markets in France:
Colmar, Nov. 24 Dec. 30
Metz, Nov. 18 to Dec. 28
Strasbourg, Nov. 25 to Dec. 31
Wissembourg, Dec. 9 and 10; Dec. 16 and 17
