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Also in the Mitte district you’ll find the WeihnachtsZau- Music, handicrafts, food and drink are everywhere.
ber market. While in English we might say the magic At Marienplatz a giant Christmas tree lights up the
of Christmas, the literal translation is Christmas Magic. square and Saint Nicholas might just make an ap-
This is one of the busiest Berlin Christmas markets with pearance. Local tradition says that Saint Nicholas has
more than half a million visitors each year. a scary assistant known as the Krampus, whose job
it is to frighten naughty children into mending their
The Lucia Christmas market is a Scandinavian themed ways. Twice during the season a Krampus Run fea-
market complete with historical merry-go-rounds and tures elaborately costumed two horned, hairy runners
more than 60 stalls featuring food, drink and handi- going through the square.
crafts. Live entertainment is featured every night.
From late November until Christmas, no matter where
DRESDEN in Germany you find yourself you can’t help but expe-
Germany’s oldest and largest Christmas market is the rience that feeling called gemutlichkeit at a Christmas
Striezelmarkt in Dresden. It has run since the 15th cen- market nearby.
tury. The market is named after a traditional Dresden
Christmas stollen, a cake that is now enjoyed around For more information go to
Germany and all over the world. http://www.germany.travel

Striezelmarkt is home to the world’s largest Christmas
pyramid, standing 14 meters tall. Turning on the pyra-
mid officially opens the market.

Throughout the season a series of festivals give you rea-
son to return to Striezelmarkt over and over. The stollen
festival, pyramid festival and gingerbread festival each
take their turn and through the entire time there is mu-
sic and dancing, theatre, and of course numerous stalls
selling Christmas treats, handicrafts, and gluhwein.

MUNICH
Major city squares throughout Munich host a wide variety of
Christmas markets, from a medieval market at Wittelbacher-
platz, an LGBTQ market on Stepnansplatz, an artisan mar-
ket in Munich’s Schwabing district, to the traditional market
on Marienplatz in the shadow of the historic town hall.
Krampus – Munich 14