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The stage of a Christmas market in Cologne with lights hung above.
Image: Andreas Rentz/Getty ImagesImage: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Christmas market

Locals and tourists come to sip mulled wine, eat food and purchase hand-made Christmas presents at Europe's Christmas markets, which are especially popular in Germany. Each year, around 3,000 markets are held in Germany.

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All Content on this topic

A German emergency doctor vehicle

Man killed by ride at Berlin Christmas market

A busy Christmas market in the German capital has been cleared out after a man was crushed by a roller coaster car.
SocietyNovember 24, 2019
Benigna Munsi and Nuremberg Mayor Ulrich Maly

Nuremberg mayor defends 'Christ Child' teen

The mayor has slammed "idiotic comments" targeting the teen picked to take part in the city's famed Christmas market.
SocietyNovember 4, 2019
Benigna Munsi, the Nürnberger Christkind

AfD slammed over Nuremberg 'Christ Child' post

Nuremberg-born Benigna Munsi is riding a wave of support as festive "Christ Child," despite a far-right AfD slur.
PoliticsNovember 1, 2019
Memorial at the Berlin Christmas Market on Breitscheidplatz

Germany: 7 attacks stopped since Christmas market atrocity

An attack like the one that left 12 dead in 2016 would not be possible today, says Germany's top police officer.
Law and JusticeOctober 23, 2019
German SEK special police

Germany: Islamist charged with bomb plot

The planned attack to "kill as many people as possible," was foiled by police in 2016.
TerrorismMarch 5, 2019
Police work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square

Germany cannot find Berlin terror associate

A friend of the Berlin Christmas market attacker is at the center of a probe into security shortcomings.
TerrorismMarch 1, 2019
A woman placing a flower at Breitscheidplatz memrial

'Terrorist accomplice' in Berlin attack deported

German reportedly deported a key suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack before he was questioned.
Law and JusticeFebruary 22, 2019
Soldiers in Strasbourg

Trio charged over Strasbourg market attack

Police say the suspects supplied the gunman with the pistol he used to kill five people in the rampage.
TerrorismFebruary 2, 2019
Elfenbeinküste Weihnachtsmann mit Kind vor dem Präsidentenpalast in Abuja

The 77 Percent - Christmas 2018

What does Christmas mean to you?
SocietyDecember 21, 201819:59 min
Christmas market in Germany - a mug shaped like boots (photo: DW/ H. Rawlinson)

WorldLink: An anthropological look at Christmas markets

DW met up with cultural anthropologist Dagmar Hänel to get some answers why Christmas markets got so popular.
SocietyDecember 21, 201806:16 min
Symbolbilder Weihnachten

Inside Europe: A medieval Christmas market

German towns and cities have for decades competed to put on the best Christmas market. The Christmas markets bring in billions of euros in tourism revenue, which has led many towns to try new and old techniques to attract more visitors. Nik Martin visited one market, which has for many years done away with 21st century comforts like electricity, and is instead lit by candles and oil lamps
PoliticsDecember 21, 201804:41 min
Symbolbild EU-Erweiterung

Inside Europe 20.12.2018

Migration Pact brings down the government of Belgium - Serbia cosies up to China – Abysmal conditions for migrants on Samos – A medieval Christmas market – Looking for answers over Lockerbie – Book tips for Christmas – Revamping Belgium’s colonial past – The Neapolitan Christmas crèche.
PoliticsDecember 21, 201854:59 min
The scene at the Recklinghausen bus stop after the deadly accident took place

Driver plows car into pedestrians at German bus stop

Recklinghausen police have said that several people were injured and one killed in the incident.
Cars and TransportationDecember 20, 2018
A woman lays a flower at a memorial to the victims of the 2016 Christmas market attack in Berlin, Germany

Germany grapples with Berlin terror attack two years on

Many gathered in Berlin to remember the victims, but questions about the attacker remain unanswered two years later.
TerrorismDecember 19, 2018
Andrea Ferreol 1973 La Grande Bouffe

Christmastime: Gorging to the max

Cultural anthropologist Gunther Hirschfelder talks about the most seductive of sins at Christmas: gluttony.
LifestyleDecember 18, 2018
Policemen patrol in the center of Strasbourg

'Accomplices' arrested and charged over Strasbourg attack

Two people have been arrested for supplying weapons to the Strasbourg Christmas market shooter.
Law and JusticeDecember 17, 2018
Deutschland Christkindlesmarkt Nürnberg

An American's first Christkindlesmarkt

DW's Hallie Rawlinson reports on her first visit to the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg.
TravelDecember 17, 2018
Candles and flowers at a memorial in Strasbourg

Polish man dies after Strasbourg attack

Barto Orent-Niedzielski is the fifth fatality from last week's mass shooting at a Christmas market in Strasbourg.
TerrorismDecember 16, 2018
A person places a candle in front flowers at a memorial at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market

Anis Amri was 'part of a terror cell' - reports

The information from the Italian police was apparently released just two weeks after the terror attack.
CrimeDecember 15, 2018
04.2016 Check-in (Sendungslogo)

A Trip from Aachen to Maastricht

From Aachen Cathedral to a birthplace of the European Union.
CultureDecember 15, 201826:03 min
Police officers stroll past a Christmas market stall

Strasbourg Christmas market reopens after attack

Meanwhile, another victim of the shooting passed away, raising the death toll to four.
TerrorismDecember 14, 2018
A memorial for the victims of the Berlin Christmas market attack

Berlin Christmas market attack victims get more compensation

Nearly €4 million have been distributed to family of victims and those injured in the Breitscheidplatz terrorist attack.
TerrorismDecember 14, 2018

Strasbourg reopens Christmas market

A relieved Strasbourg prepared to reopen its Christmas market on Friday after French police shot dead the gunman.
TravelDecember 14, 2018
BG Weihnachtsmärkte in Europa | Wien

Europe's most beautiful Christmas markets

Traditional Christmas markets all over Europe carry on to invite visitors for a stroll.
TravelDecember 14, 201811 images
Check-in vom 15.12.2018

From Aachen to Maastricht

A journey from the former imperial city of Aachen to Maastricht, a birthplace of the European Union.
TravelDecember 14, 201809:28 min
DW's Kate Ferguson

Christmas: Germany's top export

Forget hygge. Germany has been commodifying coziness for centuries, says DW's Kate Ferguson.
BusinessDecember 14, 2018
Polizisten patrouillieren im Zentrum von Straßburg, Frankreich

International search for Strasbourg shooter

Police are searching for a 29-year-old man after a fatal shooting at the city's famed Christmas market.
CrimeDecember 12, 2018
DW Euromaxx - Extratour Weihnachtliches Potsdam

A visit to festive Potsdam

During the holidays, this little city near Berlin gets decked out in modern and traditional decor.
TravelDecember 10, 201804:20 min
DW euromaxx 03.12.2016 Serie Bratwurst

Rothenburg's Christmas Market

Franconian grilled sausages are a traditional favorite at the Christmas market in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
CultureDecember 1, 201804:24 min
Deutschland Christkindlesmarkt Nürnberg 2015

10 reasons to visit the Christkindlesmarkt, Nuremberg's Christmas market

Get into the festive spirit at the Christkindlesmarkt traditional Christmas market in Nuremberg.
TravelNovember 30, 201810 images
DW euromaxx 06.12.2017 Stollen in Dresden

The taste of Christmas!

Almonds, raisins and marzipan give the Stollen fruitcakes from Dresden their unique flavor.
CultureNovember 29, 201804:54 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo)

Curly kale for Christmas

Curly kale is in hot demand at the Bremen Christmas market.
CultureNovember 28, 201804:54 min
Köln Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom

An Indian's first German Christmas market

Christmas markets in Germany attract millions of people - including DW’s Eesha Kheny who visited Cologne's festivities.
TravelNovember 28, 2018
Bildergalerie Weihnachten in Sachsen

Bollards protect German Christmas Markets

Dresden's Striezelmarkt opens this Wednesday (Nov, 28) for the 584th time. Here, too, security is a permanent fixture.
TravelNovember 28, 2018
DW Sendung Euromaxx Heidelberg Glühwein

Mulled wine and Christmas lights

Mulled wine, gingerbread and bright lights await visitors at Christmas market in Heidelberg.
CultureNovember 27, 201803:35 min
DW euromaxx 04.12.2017 Serie Lichterglanz und Leckereien - Printen in Aachen

German Christmas treat

The taste of Christmas - Printen gingerbread is a specialty from Aachen with a long tradition.
LifestyleNovember 27, 201803:52 min
Workers install a barricade around Breitscheidplatz

New security measures at Berlin Christmas market

Christmas markets are a highlight of the holidays for Germans, but attempts to keep them safe could disrupt the magic.
SocietyNovember 23, 2018
Truck used by Amri surrounded by a crowd after the 2016 attack

Police hunt Berlin truck attack accomplice

Amri messaged the man from the stolen truck while heading to the site of the Christmas market terror strike in Berlin.
TerrorismJuly 6, 2018
Berlin terrorist attack 2016

German govt blocking Amri investigation: MPs

German MPs investigating the case of Anis Amri have decided to go to court to get access to intelligence documents.
PoliticsJune 11, 2018
Flowers and candles at the site of the attack in Berlin's Breitscheidplatz

Germany to boost aid for terror victims, commissioner says

Grieving families accused the government of not doing enough in the wake of 2016's attack on a Berlin Christmas market.
PoliticsApril 30, 2018
Italian police hold a press conference after the arrested of a suspected "Islamic State" supporter planning a terror attack.

Italy arrests 5 Tunisians in anti-terror raids

One of the suspects is believed to have planned to provide false documents to the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attacker.
TerrorismMarch 29, 2018
Christmas market in Berlin, 2016

Germany re-examines Christmas market attack

Germany's parliament has launched a new investigation into why the country's security forces failed to stop Anis Amri.
CrimeMarch 1, 2018
Tamsin Walker in front of a Christmas tree (photo: DW/T. Walker)

WorldLink: Merry Christmas from Berlin

WorldLink columnist Tamsin Walker pricked up her ears to bring you the Noel lowdown from the German capital.
SocietyDecember 22, 201704:55 min
Symbolbild - Weihnachtsbaum

The Christmas quiz

Germany is known the world over for its Christmas traditions. How well do you know them? Test your knowledge!
TravelDecember 21, 2017
Breitscheidplatz Berlin Jahrestag Anschlag

Berlin to close Christmas market due to attack anniversary

To mark the first anniversary of the December 19 event, the Christmas market will be closed the whole day.
TravelDecember 19, 2017
Breitscheidplatz Berlin Jahrestag Anschlag

Berlin attack: 'We weren't prepared'

One year after the Berlin Christmas market attack, German politicians have said more support is needed for victims.
TerrorismDecember 19, 2017
Angela Merkel visits Breitscheidplatz

Merkel meets with Christmas market victims after criticism

Chancellor Merkel was slammed by survivors and relatives for not reaching out to them nearly a year after the attack.
TerrorismDecember 18, 2017
Guns

How dangerous are 'dangerous' German Islamists?

German police are applying more sophisticated criteria in their assessment of what they call Islamist "endangerers."
Law and JusticeDecember 18, 2017
A police officer and a photo of Anis Amri

Christmas market terrorist Amri a 'lure'?

According to data obtained by Welt newspaper, German authorities knew in 2015 that Anis Amri presented a clear danger.
PoliticsDecember 17, 2017
Berlin Breitscheidplatz Wiedereröffnung Weihnachtsmarkt

Germany: Disappointed terror victims

After the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin in December 2016, many victims feel abandoned by the state.
SocietyDecember 14, 201704:44 min