Preparing for Christmas - From Handicrafts in Thuringia to the famous Christmas Market in Frankfurt

Environmentally Friendly and Made by Hand: German Christmas Toys

Germany is known for its decorative Christmas spirit and for centuries Germany has fostered the art of glass blown Christmas Kugeln (balls) and wood carved toys. These skills have been handed down through the generations and they have been perfected by using environmentally friendly woods and colors. The most famous center of German woodcarving is Seiffen, a small village in the Erzgebirge Mountains southeast of Dresden. Over 100 small workshops work all year round to craft angels, artistic windmill pyramids, decorative Christmas arches and valuable musical boxes. Legions of nutcrackers and smoking men are sent out into the world, with all kinds of aromatic essences rising from their pipes. Throughout the year, workshops are open to the public, so visitors can take a unique look at this century old craft and of course get their own toy for Christmas.

In Central Germany, Thuringia is birthplace to Christmas Traditions

More than 160 years ago, glass blowers in a small Thuringian town close to Bavaria began to make strings of beads and little shapes, such as fruit and cones, for their own Christmas tree. These new glass Christmas tree decorations were exhibited at trade fairs and became soon known worldwide as Christmas Kugeln. The long tradition of glass-blowing is still upheld in Lauscha today. Demonstrations can be seen in glass-blowing workshops and you can find some of the most spectacular examples in the local Glass Craft Museum.

Thuringia hosts some of the most unique Christmas markets from medieval Erfurt to the Castle Wartburg

One of the most famous and probably one of the most picturesque in all of Germany is in Erfurt, Thuringia’s capital and one of the largest untouched medieval cities in Germany. With the large Christmas tree, the nativity scene showing 14 hand-carved, almost life-size wooden figures, a magical fairytale forest and the large Christmas pyramid with its traditional characters, Erfurt’s Christmas Market is one of the loveliest.

Frankfurt Christmas Market - serves up original Christmas Specialties

Frankfurt is known as Germany’s fast paced financial metropolis and flight hub, but during the Christmas season it slows down and transforms into a festive town with local specialities and charm. The Frankfurt Christmas Market, one of the largest and most beautiful in all of Germany, has been attracting visitors to the Main metropolis for many decades. Its trademark is the gigantic Christmas tree situated directly in front of Frankfurt’s historical town hall.

The very first Christmas market was held in Frankfurt am Main as long ago as 1393. Nowadays, with the coming of the Advent season (the four weeks before Christmas), Frankfurt’s picturesque Roemerberg, the old town square, is transformed into one of Germany’s most beautiful and popular Christmas markets. Visitors will find more than 200 lovingly decorated stalls, offering many fine Frankfurt specialities, an imaginative arts and crafts market with unique gift ideas and a festive fringe programme awaiting them. Come and spend a few hours strolling through the market and take in the wonderful Christmas spirit. Enjoy warm beverages such as a Gluehwein (hot spiced wine) and taste traditionally baked delicacies originated in Frankfurt.

On the Christmas Market you can also enjoy two of Frankfurt’s most popular specialities - the Bethmaennchen, a marzipan and almond treat, and the popular Quetschemaennchen, made of dried plums and nuts - look back on over 100 years of culinary tradition. Bethmaennchen were enjoyed by no less than Frankfurt’s favourite son, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Strangely, no one knows precisely how the delicious pastry got its name, but one believes it came from a Frankfurt banker. Originally, Bethmaennchen were covered with four almond halves, each representing one of the four sons of the famous Frankfurt banker, Simon Moritz von Bethmann. After the death of one of his sons in 1845, only three almond halves were used.

The Christmas Market in the Harbor Town of Hamburg

From Nov 23rd through December 31st, discover history, tradition and Hanseatic heritage at Hamburg's several wonderful Christmas markets, which fill many of the city center squares. The prettiest is set up outside the impressive town hall and hosted by Roncalli's Circus, with lovingly decorated stalls that are laden with confectionery, toys, crafts and punch. Old-fashioned carousels bring a gleam to everyone's eyes, not just the children.

Winter Wonderland Stuttgart

For four weeks in the run-up to Christmas Stuttgart is transformed into a magical winter wonderland. More than 250 stallholders offer seasonal wares, while concerts in the courtyard of the Old Palace set the festive tone. The superbly decorated roofs of the traditional wooden booths add to the overall charm. Amid the enchanting ambience of Stuttgart's Christmas market people from all over the world enjoy the city's famous Black Forest fruit loaf washed down with a mug of warming mulled wine.

Heidelberg's Christmas Market Sparks the Holiday

The Christmas season in romantic-baroque Heidelberg is characterized by pulsating activity and a blaze of lights. The famous Christmas Market takes place in seven different locations, each with its own individual flair. A stroll around the circa 140 booths reveals picturesque and unforeseen aspects of the Neckar city so steeped in history.