Christmas In Germany

Many people spend the day with their family.

Christmas in germany. Christmas in germany is a magical time. Situated at altmarkt square in the historical city center it s surrounded by various themed holiday markets that span all the way to the main railway station and the. Many of these customs originated in germany and austria. Christmas day is a public holiday in germany on december 25.

However christmas eve til the day after christmas can be a little quiet as these are family holidays. When christmas eve falls on a working day the shops are open until noon and they are very busy as people buy their last presents or food for the festive meal. For many people 24 december christmas eve is divided into a hectic morning and a festive evening. Without gifts of course but with extremely good food.

Today there are over 2 5000 christmas markets all over germany you can visit all of them characterised by fantastical christmas lights the smell of roasting chestnuts and spicy mulled wine. Large meals with traditional foods are served and christmas decorations are displayed. Dresden boasts the most christmas markets in the eastern region of germany and it also hosts its oldest seasonal event the striezel christmas market which dates back to 1434. With more than 250 twinkling stalls embedded harmoniously in the historic centre leipzig christmas market is not only one of the oldest but also one of the largest christmas markets in germany.

The four weeks leading up to the 25th are filled with weihnachtsmärkte christmas markets glühwein and much nicer than usual germans. After mass families celebrate at home lighting the candles or lights on their. German christmas decorations include nutcrackers christmas pyramids and cribs. Christmas markets originated in germany with the first one thought to have been held in munich in 1310.

Over christmas and the new year in germany and austria the famous ski jumping four hills tournament vierschanzentournee is held it starts in germany with oberstdorf germany on the 29th or 30th december and garmisch partenkirchen germany on new year s day and continues in austria with innsbruck austria on 3rd or 4th of january and bischofshofen austria on the 6th january. The festive christmas celebrations start already in the afternoon when many families with children attend a festive children s mass at their local church. More on the german way photos. Christmas on the 25 th and 26 th in most countries the 25 th of december the birthday of jesus is the highlight of christmas.

On christmas eve often only little food is eaten during the day as this is a fast day. Germany celebrates christmas with two public holidays 25 and 26 december. So where to go to feel that yuletide feeling. Christmas in germany berlin our photographic tour of just a few of berlin s 60.