German Christmas traditions, 21st century thinking

The history of German Christmas markets goes back to the late Middle Ages and Christmas trees and Christmas markets are among Germany’s oldest and most famous traditions.

There are thousands of Christmas markets in Germany and Berlin alone has 60; in Frankfurt and Munich there are ‘pink’ Christmas markets favoured by LGBT visitors, plus Frankfurt offers accessible guided Christmas market tours for the blind and visually impaired. There is a vegan Christmas market in Hanover, an organic, eco-friendly market in Berlin and a ‘maritime’ Christmas market in Emden (East Frisian coastal region) with decorated ships; the pretty town of Goslar offers a dense, aromatic Christmas forest full of twinkling lights. The Old Town of Münster transforms into a wintery fairytale paradise. Dresden has the oldest Christmas market,which was established in 1434 and the tallest Christmas tree in Germany can be seen in Dortmund.