Christmas Markets
Visiting Christmas markets in Germany is a delightful way of celebrating the festive season. The heavy scent of sweets, fried sausage and warm wine welcome
December
In December the main focus is on Christmas, and the Germans have many Christmas traditions to celebrate.
Christmas markets are a very big part of these traditions. Meet up with friends at these beautifully decorated markets where you can buy delicious food, glühwein, handmade items and Christmas cards. Some markets are themed, such as the middle-age market in Esslingen or the baroque one in Ludwigsburg. There are also Christmas market tours that you can do.
To avoid crowds, it is best to go during the day, although you will miss out on the cosy nighttime atmosphere enhanced by the countless Christmas lights and decorations.
Christmas Day is usually a quiet day spent with family. Shops are closed as well as most restaurants.
After the quiet celebrations of Christmas Day, comes New Year’s Eve. Here it is celebrated with a bang – literally! Fireworks can be seen everywhere. Just take note that fireworks are legally sold between 28-30 December and you are only able to light them from 31 Dec through 1 Jan.
It is also a bit of a tradition to watch Dinner for One on New Year’s Eve, eat Raclette and wash it down with a good Riesling or Sekt
Plan your month
everything you need to know
Weather
| Season | Autumn / Winter. The astronomical start of winter is between 20 and 23 December. It is based on the changing position of Earth in relation to the sun and the resulting solar events of equinoxes and solstices. Meteorological Winter is defined by climatic conditions and the annual temperature cycle. In most of the Northern Hemisphere, meteorological winter is generally defined as the three months of December, January and February, with the season starting on 1 December. |
| Time | Central European Time (CET), Wintertime– One hour behind South Africa until the last Sunday of March, when Summertime starts. |
| Weather | December is one of the coldest months in Germany,. The temperature can drop well below freezing but can also warm up to above 10 °C.. The weather can be quite unpredictable, depending on your location, expect a lot or rain, ice rain, frost, fog and some snow. The mountainous regions will get more snow than the low-lying areas. Christmas is rarely a postcard image of white snow all over. |
Festivals
Most Christmas markets open at the end of November and stay open until just before Christmas. We have a page dedicated to Christmas markets, with information about the types of food you can expect, and some insider tips from fellow South Africans.
In various cities, you can visit Christmas Gardens, which are a festival of Christmas lights
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Information | States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | |||
| 1st Day of Christmas / 1. Weihnachtsfeiertag | 25.12.2023 | All | |
| 2nd Day of Christmas / 2. Weihnachtsfeiertag | 26.12.2023 | All | |
| Observations | |||
| 1. Advent | 03.12.2023 | All | |
| Saint Nicholas Day / Nikolaus-tag | 06.12.2023 | St Nicholas Day | All |
| 2. Advent | 10.12.2023 | All | |
| 3. Advent | 17.12.2023 | All | |
| Winter Solstice | 21.12.2023 | The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It is the longest night (darkness) in the year. | All |
| 4. Advent | 24.12.2023 | ||
| Christmas Eve /Heiligabend | 24.12.2023 | All | |
| New Year’s Eve / Silvester | 31.12.2023 | New Years in Germany | All |
Events listed on our website
Dada Masilo/The Dance Factory with “Hamlet” in Hamburg
25/09/2024 – 29/09/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Dada Masilo/The Dance Factory with “Hamlet” from 25 to 29 September 2024 in Hamburg!! The South African choreographer and dancer Dada Masilo returns to the Kampnagel stage in Hamburg with ten dancers and her own version of Shakespeare’s most eloquent drama, “Hamlet.” The focus is on the deceptive appearance of what is said and terrible […]
Jeremy Loops Europe Tour 2025
11/02/2025 – 22/02/2025 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – With his dynamic and electrifying live performances and a modern blend of folk and pop, South African artist Jeremy Loops has made a name for himself globally in recent years. Boasting over 300 million streams and having toured with major acts like Twenty-One Pilots and Milky Chance, his success speaks for itself. He’s also collaborated […]
Trots Afrikaans Nederland
19/10/2024 @ 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm – BOK VAN BLERK, RIAAN BENADE, LIANIE MAY, DEWALD WASSERFALL, ‘N SKOFFEL-DANS & MEER! VIR SLEGS EEN AAND IN VEENENDAAL. Tickets on Evenbrite.nl or on the deBAsiliek Venue site Disclaimer The events listed on this website are provided for informational purposes only. We are not the organizers of any events and do not assume responsibility […]
Scatterlings of Africa in Concert Sat, 21 Sept -1173 Montherod Switzerland
21/09/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – This event will be the highlight of the tour featuring our three artists! Refentse Morake | Julani J | Anne-Marie van Eeden You will be welcomed at the venue with a glass of South African wine and light snacks from 17:30 – 18:00, included in the ticket price. After the concert, there will be […]
Bok van Blerk & Riaan Benade 17.10
17/10/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Welcome, music lovers, to an evening dedicated to the unforgettable sounds of Riaan Benade and Bok van Blerk. From the vast plains of South Africa, these two extraordinary artists come together to enchant us with their unique voices and enchanting melodies. These artists enjoy world fame in their home country, so prepare yourself for an […]
Schalk Bezuidenhout keeping up – Berlin 25.09
25/09/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Newly married, Schalk feels older, wiser and much more mature (possibly), but all he wants is to stay “hip with the youth”. Can he do it? Can he Keep Up? As seen on Netflix and Comedy Central and fresh from supporting Trevor Noah on his arena tour. This is an external event, we are not […]
SA Connections: Monthly Virtual Meetup for South Africans in Germany – October Edition
10/10/2024 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Join us for this month’s virtual meet-up, where we’ll be switching things up a bit! 🌟 We’ll kick off with a short 15-minute talk on “Getting Through the Winter Months in Germany”, offering helpful tips on staying positive, keeping warm, and making the most of the colder season. 🧣❄️ Afterwards, we’ll have a 10-minute Q&A […]
Market Monday – South Africans in Germany page
09/12/2024 @ All Day – To keep things fair and add benefits to our members, here are the current rules: By placing an advertisement on our Facebook page, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions: You will post only once a month on the Monday specified by the Admin team. Notice hereto will be given in advance. For the […]
Market Monday – South Africans in Germany page
11/11/2024 @ All Day – To keep things fair and add benefits to our members, here are the current rules: By placing an advertisement on our Facebook page, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions: You will post only once a month on the Monday specified by the Admin team. Notice hereto will be given in advance. For the […]
Market Monday – South Africans in Germany page
14/10/2024 @ All Day – To keep things fair and add benefits to our members, here are the current rules: By placing an advertisement on our Facebook page, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions: You will post only once a month on the Monday specified by the Admin team. Notice hereto will be given in advance. For the […]
Some foods and drinks to try
01.
Glühwein
Hot mulled wine to warm you up at the Christmas markets. The alcohol free version is called Kinderpunch
02.
Feuerzangenbowle
a traditional German alcoholic drink for which a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips into mulled wine
03.
Stollen
The best you can buy is Dresden Stollen, which is more expensive but excellent quality
04.
Cookies
Try Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Elisen (also gingerbread but with more nuts inside), Zimtsterne (star-shaped cookies), Pfeffernüsse (iced gingerbread), Vanillekipferln (vanilla cookies shaped like a moon) or Springerle (anise flavoured hard cookie)
05.
Raclette
The ultimate cheese fest! You can find more info on our Raclette page
Fruit and Veggies in Season
Holiday Greetings
| Ich wünsche euch allen einen wunderschönen geruhsamen 1.Advent | I wish you all a wonderful peaceful 1st Advent |
| Frohe Weihnachten! | Merry Christmas! |
| Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr! | Merry Christmas and a happy new year! |
| Herzliche Weihnachtsgrüße! | Merry Christmas! |
| Ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und alles Gute zum neuen Jahr! | Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! |
| Alles Gute zum neuen Jahr! | Happy new year! |
| Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! | Happy New Year! |
| Zum neuen Jahr Gesundheit, Glück und viel Erfolg! | Happy New Year! health, happiness and much success! |
Sources
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Christmas Markets
Visiting Christmas markets in Germany is a delightful way of celebrating the festive season. The heavy scent of sweets, fried sausage and warm wine welcome
Raclette
The summer months are gone, and for most of us, it is too cold to have a braai with our friends. A great alternative is
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