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LIFESTYLES: Christmas markets offer holiday shopping, entertainment, traditions
Posted 11/27/2010 Updated 11/27/2010
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by Petra Lessoing
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
11/27/2010 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- In Germany, Christmas markets are one of thespecial events taking place during the pre-Christmas time, also known as Advent.
The Christmas market season just started. The majority of towns and cities will open the doors to their Christmas markets following Thanksgiving.
The history of Christmas markets dates back to the 14th century. After farmers had sold their crop, they paid their workers. After attending worship services during Advent, those workers spent their money right away at little markets set up around the church. Most common items offered were sweets and toys. There were also craftsmen selling baskets, pottery, spices, clothes and Christmas tree ornaments.
Today, most Christmas market- goers just want to enjoy the atmosphere and taste the typical goodies such as roasted chestnuts, cinnamon waffles, potato pancakes and Thüringer bratwurst. They also get lured by the smell of "Glühwein," which sometimes is needed to warm up. Glühwein is a heated mostly red wine spiced with cloves and cinnamon sticks.
Those who are interested in buying some unique Christmas decorations fi nd vendors selling a variety of candles, angels, Advent wreaths, Christmas pyramids and nutcrackers.
Other shoppers needing special Christmas gifts can choose from handmade pottery, handcrafted leather items, glass products, jewelry, wooden toys and puppets. Besides food and merchandise, Christmas markets feature daily activities, musical entertainment, merry-go-rounds, appearances by Santa Claus, and in some towns there are set-ups of living nativity scenes.
Christmas markets in the KMC and close vicinity:
Alsenborn, Dec. 4 and 5
Alsenz, Dec. 4 and 5
Bann, Dec. 11 and 12
Bruchmühlbach, Dec. 5
Eisenberg, Nov. 26 to 28
Enkenbach, Nov. 27 and 28
Erzenhausen, Nov. 28
Eulenbis, Dec. 4
Falkenstein Castle (north of Winnweiler), Dec. 11 and 12
Frankenstein, Nov. 27 and 28
Glan-Münchweiler, Dec. 4
Hauptstuhl, Dec. 11
Heiligenmoschel, Dec. 4
Hirschhorn, Nov. 27
Hochspeyer, Dec. 4 and 5
Homburg, Nov. 26 to Dec. 5
Hütschenhausen, Dec. 7
Kaiserslautern, Monday to Dec. 23; and Dec. 27 to Dec. 30
Katzweiler, Dec. 4
Kindsbach, Dec. 4 and 5
Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 3 to 5
Krickenbach, Dec. 4
Kottweiler-Schwanden, Nov. 27 and 28
Kusel, Dec. 10 to 12
Kusel, Lichtenberg Castle, Nov. 27 and 28
Landstuhl, Nov. 27 and 28; Dec. 10 to 13
Mackenbach, Nov. 27
Matzenbach, Dec. 12
Mehlbach, Nov. 28
Mehlingen, Nov. 27 and 28
Miesau, Dec. 4
Mittelbrunn, Dec. 11
Nanzdietschweiler, Nov. 27
Neuhemsbach, Nov. 27 and 28
Neunkirchen/Potzberg, Nov. 27
Neuleiningen, Nov. 27 and 28; Dec 4 and 5
Niederkirchen, Dec. 4
Obermoschel, Nov. 27 and 28
Otterbach, Nov. 27 and 28
Otterberg, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18
Ramsen, Dec. 4 and 5
Ramstein-Miesenbach, Dec. 4 and 5
Reichenbach-Steegen, Dec. 4 and 5
Rockenhausen, Nov. 26 to 28
Rodalben, Nov. 27 and 28
Rodenbach, Nov. 27
Schallodenbach, Dec. 4 and 5
Schönenberg-Kübelberg, Dec. 12
Schopp, Nov. 27 and 28
Schwedelbach, Dec. 4 and 5
Stelzenberg, Nov. 27
Sulzbachtal, Nov. 28
Trippstadt, House of Sustainability,Johanniskreuzer Str. 1, Romantic Forest Christmas,
Vogelbach, Dec. 4
Waldfi schbach-Burgalben, Nov. 26 to 28
Waldleiningen, Dec. 11 and 12
Waldmohr, Dec. 4 and 5
Weilerbach, Nov. 27 and 28
Winnweiler, Nov. 27 and 28
Other markets in Germany:
Alzey, Monday to Dec. 22
Annweiler, Nov. 27
Ansbach, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Aschaffenburg, Thursday to Dec. 22
Augsburg, Monday to Dec. 24
Baden-Baden, Tuesday to Dec. 26
Bad Münster/Stein-Ebernburg, Nov. 27 and 28; Dec. 4 and 5; Dec. 11 and 12; Dec. 18 and 19
Bad Kreuznach, Thursday to Dec. 5
Bamberg, Thursday to Dec. 23
Baumholder, Dec. 3 and 4
Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, Monday to Dec. 31
Bernkastel-Kues/Mosel, Saturday to Dec. 19
Bingen, Dec. 10 to 12
Birkenfeld, Dec. 5 to 7
Bitburg, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Cochem/Mosel, Thursday to Dec. 19
Cochem, Reichsburg Castle, Dec. 11 and 12
Darmstadt, Monday to Dec. 23
Deidesheim/German Wine Street, Nov. 26 to 28; Dec. 3 to 5; Dec. 10 to 12; Dec. 17 to 19
Dresden: Thursday to Dec. 24
Edenkoben/German Wine Street, Nov. 27 and 28; Dec. 3 to 6
Frankenthal, Monday to Dec. 22
Frankfurt, Wednesday to Dec. 22
Freinsheim/German Wine Street, Nov. 27 and 28; Dec. 4 and 5; Dec. 11 and 12; Dec. 18 and 19
Garmisch, Dec. 4 to 24
Grünstadt, Dec. 3 to 15; Dec. 10 to 12
Hauenstein, Nov. 27 and 28; Dec. 4 and 5
Heidelberg, Wednesday to Dec. 22
Idar-Oberstein, Nov. 27 and 28 in Oberstein (Schloss); Dec. 3 to 5 in Idar
Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 3 to 5
Koblenz, today to Dec. 22
Köln, Monday to Dec. 23
Landau, Thursday to Dec. 19
Ludwigshafen, today to Dec. 22
Mainz, Thursday to Dec. 23
Mannheim, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Michelstadt, No. 26 to Dec. 29
München, Nov. 26 to Dec. 24
Neuleiningen, Nov. 29 and 30; Dec. 6 and 7
Neustadt/German Wine Street, Monday to Dec. 21
Nürnberg, Nov. 26 to Dec. 24
Pirmasens, Nov. 26 to Dec. 19
Regensburg, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Rüdesheim, Monday to Dec. 23
Saarbrücken, Thursday to Dec. 23
Saarlouis, Nov. 26 to Dec. 23
Speyer, Monday to Jan. 6
St. Martin/German Wine Street, Nov. 27 and 28; Dec. 4 and 5; Dec. 11 and 12
Stuttgart, Wednesday to Dec. 23
St. Wendel, Dec. 4 to 12
Trier, Monday to Dec. 22
Wachenheim, Dec. 4 and 5; Dec. 11 and 12
Wiesbaden, Monday to Dec. 23
Worms, Tuesday to Dec. 23
Zweibrücken, Nov. 27 to Dec. 12
Markets in France:
Colmar, Monday to Dec. 31
Metz, Saturday to Dec. 29
Strasbourg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 31
Wissembourg, Thursday to Jan. 6 |
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