Christmas in Germany: Traditions, Advent and Christmas Markets
Find your route
3 quick steps
Christmas in Germany, or Weihnachten, begins long before 24 December. For locals, it is not just a festive dinner and presents, but also four weeks of Advent, Nikolaustag, home baking, a Christmas tree, family visits and Christmas markets. If you have recently moved to Germany or are visiting as a tourist in winter, this calendar helps explain why December works the way it does here.
How Christmas is celebrated in Germany
The main evening of German Christmas is 24 December, Heiligabend, or Christmas Eve. On this day, shops and offices usually close earlier than usual, and the evening is quiet: at home, with family, a tree, dinner and presents.
25 and 26 December are public holidays. They are called Erster Weihnachtstag and Zweiter Weihnachtstag, the first and second days of Christmas. On these days, many people visit relatives, have long lunches or simply rest after a busy Christmas Eve.
Weihnachtsbaum: the Christmas tree
The symbol of the holiday is the Weihnachtsbaum, or Christmas tree. Traditionally, it was put up and decorated on 24 December, but many families now do this earlier so they can enjoy the tree throughout Advent or at least during the final week before Christmas.
A real German Christmas tree
German Christmas trees often look understated: single-colour baubles, wooden decorations, white lights and sometimes straw stars. Real candles are still part of the tradition too, but they are used cautiously at home and not by every family.
The tree is usually kept until early January. In many cities, there are specific Christmas tree collection dates after the holidays: the tree is placed by the pavement without decorations, tinsel or a stand. The rules vary by municipality, so it is best to check the collection date on the city or local utility website. General sorting principles are useful in other everyday situations too: separating waste in Germany.
Gifts, Christkind and Weihnachtsmann
In Germany, presents are usually opened on the evening of 24 December. Depending on the region and family tradition, they are brought by Christkind or Weihnachtsmann. Christkind is more commonly associated with southern and Catholic regions, while Weihnachtsmann is a more modern, pan-European image of the Christmas gift-giver.
Before or after presents, families may sing Christmas songs. The best-known are O Tannenbaum, Stille Nacht and Kling Glöckchen. In real life, this tradition depends on the family: some sing every year, while others only play music in the background.
What people eat at Christmas
A German Christmas dinner does not always look like a grand banquet. On Heiligabend, many people choose simple food: potato salad with sausages, fish, fondue or raclette. More festive dishes, such as duck or goose, are often saved for 25 or 26 December, when the family gathers around a large table.
Homemade German Christmas goose
Advent in Germany
Adventszeit is the four Sundays before Christmas. During this period, cities are decorated with lights, markets open, homes smell of biscuits, and children count down the days until 24 December.
Adventskranz
An Adventskranz is an Advent wreath with four candles. One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, two on the second, three on the third and all four on the fourth. It is a simple tradition, but it captures the German rhythm of December: the holiday does not arrive all at once; people approach it gradually, week by week.
A modern German Adventskranz
Adventskalender
An Adventskalender is a calendar with 24 small windows, bags or boxes. One door is opened every day from 1 to 24 December. Inside there may be chocolate, tea, cosmetics, a small toy, a note or an activity for a child.
The classic calendar was made of cardboard, but today there are dozens of options, from a simple chocolate calendar to a homemade one with small gifts. For children, it is one of the clearest ways to feel Weihnachten approaching.
Plätzchen, Stollen and Lebkuchen
During Advent, people often bake Plätzchen, homemade Christmas biscuits. They are made in advance, stored in tins and served with coffee or tea. Two other traditional flavours of the season are Stollen, a dense Christmas cake with dried fruit, and Lebkuchen, spiced gingerbread with honey.
Nußknacker, wooden nutcrackers, Weihnachtspyramiden, Christmas pyramids with candles, and other wooden decorations also appear in homes. Many of these items are sold at markets.
Nikolaustag: 6 December
Nikolaustag is celebrated on 6 December. On the evening of 5 December, children clean their shoes or boots and place them by the door. In the morning, they find sweets, mandarins, nuts or small presents inside. It is not a replacement for Christmas, but a separate children’s tradition at the beginning of Advent.
Some families remember Knecht Ruprecht, the folkloric companion of Saint Nicholas. In old stories, he punished disobedient children, but today this part of the tradition is more often seen as folklore than as a real threat.
Christmas markets in Germany
A Weihnachtsmarkt is one of Germany’s most visible Christmas traditions. Markets open in large cities, small towns, castles and historic centres. They usually sell Glühwein, hot children’s punch, roasted almonds, Bratwurst, Reibekuchen, Christmas decorations, candles and handmade gifts.
A group performs Christmas songs at a German Christmas market
When markets are open
Most Christmas markets open in late November and operate until 23 or 24 December. Some remain open until the end of December or the first days of January, but this depends on the city and the specific venue. Before travelling, it is best to check the market’s official website: dates, opening hours, admission and safety rules change from season to season.
Well-known markets
There is no single objectively “best” Christmas market in Germany. Each has its own character: some have a stronger historic atmosphere, others more beautiful lighting, and others better craft stalls. Among the best-known destinations are:
- Christkindlmarkt in Munich;
- Weihnachtsmarkt am Dom in Cologne;
- Striezelmarkt in Dresden;
- Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg;
- Reiterlesmarkt in Rothenburg ob der Tauber;
- Weihnachtsmarkt at the Römerberg in Frankfurt;
- seasonal markets at castles, such as Burg Satzvey.
A Christmas market in Cologne
City markets are usually free. Smaller themed markets at castles, estates or private parks may charge admission, especially if they include a programme, craft workshops or historical re-enactments.
A Christmas market at Burg Satzvey
What to try at a Weihnachtsmarkt
- Glühwein - hot spiced wine, often with a deposit for the mug (Pfand).
- Kinderpunsch - a non-alcoholic hot drink.
- Gebrannte Mandeln - sugar-roasted almonds.
- Bratwurst - German sausage in a roll.
- Reibekuchen or Kartoffelpuffer - potato fritters.
- Stollen, Lebkuchen and other Christmas sweets.
If you drink Glühwein, remember that it is sweet and hot, so the alcohol may feel milder than it really is. At popular markets, it is also wise to agree on a meeting point in advance: they can become very crowded in the evenings and at weekends.
A short German Christmas calendar
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| Late November - December | Christmas markets open, and the season of decorations and gifts begins. |
| The four Sundays before Christmas | Candles are lit on the Adventskranz. |
| 1-24 December | An Adventskalender door is opened each day. |
| 6 December | Children celebrate Nikolaustag and look for sweets in their shoes. |
| 24 December | Heiligabend: tree, dinner and presents. |
| 25-26 December | Public holidays and family visits. |
| Early January | Christmas trees are collected in many cities. |
Conclusion
Christmas in Germany is best understood as an entire season, not a single evening. Advent creates anticipation, Nikolaustag adds a children’s tradition, markets turn town centres into winter meeting places, and Heiligabend remains the main family moment. Even if you do not celebrate Christmas religiously, December in Germany is worth experiencing for its atmosphere, food, lights and local customs alone.
