Have you ever experience the German Christmas markets? A Christmas market, or as you may know it “Weihnachtsmarkt”, is an essential attribute of the pre-Christmas period in many European cities, especially in Germany.

Christmas markets were originally held when the weather got colder, so that the townspeople could buy the necessary goods for the winter. Over time the winter markets have become an obligatory Christmas custom, and have spread to other countries. Christmas markets are open until Christmas Day, and are often closed on Christmas Eve. The oldest and the most famous one is the Striezelmarkt in Dresden, first opened in 1434. But there are many others around that attract many tourists from all around the world.

A Christmas market is usually a number of stalls set up in the streets and squares of the city centre. It sells all kinds of traditional Christmas food like pastries, gingerbread, pancakes, stollen, various sweets, chocolate figurines, plum men, candyfloss, roasted almonds and chestnuts, as well as hot snacks. Mulled wine and punch are a refuge from the cold at Christmas markets. Christmas markets necessarily have stalls offering traditional Christmas goods: Christmas tree decorations, local handicrafts such as Christmas cakes, traditional Christmas arch candelabras, Christmas pyramids and Christmas smoke men.

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 reasons, the Bavarian government decided not to open Christmas markets again this year . But that doesn’t mean a fan of Christmas can’t enjoy markets this year. So here we go - most famous and beautiful Hamburg Christmas markets.

The biggest and most famous one is situated, of course, on the main square. In the afternoon children are enjoying sweets, riding the merry-go-round and taking pictures with decorated Christmas trees. As soon as it gets darker all the lights are turned on, the candles light up, the music starts and the whole place turns into a fairy tale. In the evening, there are more and more people, Christmas songs are playing, everyone is happy and there is finally a New Year atmosphere.

There are many small houses where you can buy food, drinks and different winter-related stuff. Most of the things are home-made which makes them so unique and nice. There are many German food specialities, tasty desserts and hot flavourful gluhwein.

German Christmas markets are obviously a must-visit. Even if it is not that cold outside, you still feel this Christmas atmosphere. It’s a nice place to spend time with friends, family or simply enjoy one's surroundings with a cup of hot (which, incidentally, you can take away with you afterwards, as they are different at each fair every year, so you can build up a whole collection) of mulled wine.

Maria Kharlamova (or as everyone calls her simply Masha) is an International Management student in her 3rd semester. She recently moved from noisy and restless Moscow to small and cosy Deggendorf but never gave up on her ambitious and continues to explore new things now in Germany.