Christmas in Germany
Each year Christmas Markets spring up around Germany in the weeks before the Christmas holidays, signalling the beginning of Advent.
The centuries-old tradition reaches back to a time when regular seasonal markets took place throughout the year. Christmas Markets were a welcome occurrence during cold-weather months. They were joyful occasions for weary villagers and added a bit of light to long winter nights.
The first Christmas Markets were little more than winter markets that lasted a couple of days. Instead of the cosy stands that line Christmas Market alleys today, traders in some cities laid their goods out in the streets.
Through the years, each Christmas Market has stayed true to its own particularities, with each specializing on local delicacies and traditional products. In the past, only local tradesmen were allowed to sell their wares at the city’s market, which led to the distinctive regional character of today’s markets.
Today, German Christmas Markets serve much the same function that they have for centuries — as a festive meeting place for locals and a market for homemade Christmas ornaments and decorations.
Some of the most traditional German handicrafts can be found here in the weeks before Christmas — from nutcrackers, wooden figurines, straw stars and smokers, to cookie tins, glass balls, toys, and tin tree ornaments.
Despite the widespread belief that Christmas has only recently developed into a feast of commercialism, it may be shocking to find out that, as early as the 17th century, gift-buying at Christmas Markets had already become a main pre-holiday activity.
Usually, the Christmas Markets were held around the city’s main church to attract church-goers. But they were so enticing that a priest in Nürnberg in 1616 complained that he could not hold the 
afternoon service on Christmas Eve because no one attended.
It is likely that the Christmas Markets drew more visitors when religious reformer Martin Luther instituted new customs for Christmas. Before Luther, the exchanging of presents took place on the saint days of St. Nicholas, December 6, or of St. Martin, on November 11.
It was Luther who suggested that children receive presents from “the Christ child,” hence the name “Christkindlsmarkt,” a popular name for many Christmas Markets especially in the south of Germany.
Advent marks the beginning of the build-up to Christmas, starting on the Sunday after 26th of November. It begins with quiet contemplative days in November, but excitement and activity increase as Christmas approaches, accompanied by the usual shopping, preparation of special food and Advent celebrations. The Advent Wreath (Adventskranz) is a very popular decoration in German homes. It consists of a circular wreath of pine-branches with four candles on it. On the first Sunday in Advent, the first candle on the wreath is lit, two candles are lit on the second, three on the third and all four on the fourth Sunday, immediately prior to Christmas.
For children the highlight of Advent is St. Nicholas’ Day (Nikolaustag) on 6th of December. Originally children left hay and straw for St. Nicholas’ horses but now they simply put a shoe or boot outside their bedroom door, window or by the fireplace on the evening of 5th of December, hoping to find it full of sweets, biscuits, nuts and fruit the next morning.
Christmas Eve (der Heilige Abend, literally means the "Holy Evening") is the most important day of Christmas in Germany. 
December 25th is known as the "First Day of Christmas" (der erste Weihnachtstag) and, in comparison with the 24th of December, it is a quiet day, often spent either visiting relatives or else being visited by them. 
