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In Germany, Christmas markets are one of the special events taking place during the pre-Christmas time, also known as Advent.
The first Christmas market in the KMC will be the one in Queidersbach today and Saturday.
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, a typical German Christmas market consists of little wooden booths and houses decorated with traditional ornaments, fir tree garlands and light bulbs. Shoppers find a variety of candles, angels, Advent wreaths, Christmas pyramids and nutcrackers. Vendors also present ideas for Christmas gifts such as handmade pottery, handcrafted leather items, glass products, jewelry, wooden toys and puppets.
Christmas markets feature daily activities, musical entertainments, merry-go-rounds, appearances by Santa Claus, and in some towns there are set-ups of are living nativity scenes with real animals.
Christmas markets in the KMC and close vicinity as well as some farther away and well-known are listed below:
Christmas markets in the KMC and close vicinity:
• Alsenborn, Dec. 5 and 6
• Alsenz, Dec. 5 and 6
• Bann, Dec. 12 and 13
• Bruchmühlbach, Dec. 5
• Eisenberg, Nov. 27 to 29
• Enkenbach, Nov. 28 and 29
• Erzenhausen, Nov. 29
• Eulenbis, Dec. 5
• Falkenstein Castle (north of Winnweiler), Dec. 12 and 13
• Frankelbach, Nov. 29
• Frankenstein, Nov. 28 and 29
• Glan-Münchweiler, Dec. 5
• Grünstadt, Dec. 4 to 6; Dec. 11 to 13
• Hauptstuhl, Dec. 12
• Heiligenmoschel, Dec. 5
• Hirschhorn, Nov. 28
• Hochspeyer, Dec. 5 and 6
• Homburg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 6
• Hütschenhausen, Dec. 6
• Kaiserslautern, Monday to Dec. 22
• Katzweiler, Dec. 5
• Kindsbach, Dec. 5 and 6
• Kirchheimbolanden, Dec. 4 to 6
• Kollweiler, Dec. 12
• Kottweiler-Schwanden, Nov. 28 and 29
• Krickenbach, Dec. 5
• Kusel, Dec. 11 to 13
• Kusel, Lichtenberg Castle, Nov. 28 and 29
• Landstuhl, Nov. 28 and 29; and Dec. 11 to 14
• Linden, Dec. 4
• Mackenbach, Nov. 28
• Matzenbach, Dec. 13
• Mehlbach, Nov. 29
• Mehlingen, Nov. 28 and 29
• Mittelbrunn, Dec. 12
• Nanzdietschweiler, Nov. 28
• Neuhemsbach, Nov. 28 and 29
• Neuleiningen, Nov. 28 and 29; Dec. 5 and 6
• Neunkirchen/Potzberg, Nov. 28
• Obermoschel, Nov. 28 and 29
• Otterbach, Nov. 28 and 29
• Otterberg, Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12 and 19
• Queidersbach, Today and 21
• Ramstein-Miesenbach, Dec. 4 to 6
• Ramsen, Dec. 5 and 6
• Reichenbach-Steegen, Dec. 12 and 13
• Rockenhausen, Nov. 27 to 29
• Rodalben, Nov. 28 and 29
• Schallodenbach, Dec. 5 and 6
• Schneckenhausen, Nov. 28 and 29
• Schönenberg-Kübelberg, Dec. 12 and 13
• Schopp, Nov. 28 and 29
• Schwedelbach, Dec. 5 and 6
• Stelzenberg, Nov. 28
• Trippstadt, House of Sustainability, Johanniskreuzer Strasse 1, Romantic Forest Christmas, Dec. 12 and 13
• Waldfischbach-Burgalben, Nov. 28 and 29
• Waldmohr, Dec. 4 and 5
• Weilerbach, Nov. 28 and 29
• Winnweiler, Nov. 29
Other markets in Germany:
• Alzey, Tuesday to Dec. 24
• Annweiler, Nov. 28 and 29
• Augsburg, Monday to Dec. 24
• Baden-Baden, Thursday to Dec. 27
• Bad Dürkheim, Thursday to 29; Dec. 3 to 6; Dec. 10 to 13; Dec. 17 to 20
• Bad Münster/Stein-Ebernburg, Nov. 28 and 29; Dec. 5 and 6; Dec. 12 and 13; Dec 19 and 20
• Bad Kreuznach, Thursday to Dec. 6
• Baumholder, Dec. 4 and 5
• Berlin, at Gedächntiskirche, Monday to Jan. 3
• Bernkastel-Kues/Mosel, Monday to Dec. 20
• Cochem/Mosel, Nov. 27 to Dec. 20
• Cochem, Reichsburg Castle, Dec. 12 and 13
• Darmstadt, Monday to Dec. 23
• Deidesheim/German Wine Street, Nov. 27 to 29; Dec. 4 to 6; Dec. 11 to 13; Dec. 18 to 20
• Dresden: Thursday to Dec. 24
• Edenkoben/German Wine Street, Nov. 28 to 29; Dec. 5 and 6
• Frankenthal, Monday to Dec. 22
• Frankfurt, Wednesday to Dec. 22
• Freiburg, Monday to Dec. 23
• Freinsheim/German Wine Street, Nov. 28 and 29; Dec. 5 and 6; Dec. 12 and 13; Dec. 19 and 20
• Garmisch, Dec. 4 to 23
• Hauenstein, Nov. 28 and 29; Dec. 5 and 6
• Heidelberg, Wednesday to Dec. 26
• Idar-Oberstein, Nov. 27 to 29 in Oberstein; Dec. 8 to 10 in Idar
• Karlsruhe, Thursday to Dec. 23
• Köln, Monday to Dec. 23
• Landau, Thursday to Dec. 20
• Ludwigshafen, Nov. 28 to Dec. 31
• Mainz, Thursday to Dec. 23
• Mannheim, Wednesday to Dec. 24
• München, Thursday to Dec. 23
• Neustadt/German Wine Street, Monday to Dec. 21
• Nürnberg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 24
• Pirmasens, Nov. 27 to Dec. 19
• Regensburg, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nov. 27 to Dec. 23
• Rüdesheim, Tuesday to Dec. 23
• Saarbrücken, Nov. 28 to Dec. 23
• Speyer, Monday to Jan. 6
• St. Martin/German Wine Street, Nov. 28 and 29; Dec. 5 and 6; Dec. 12 and 13
• Stuttgart, Wednesday to Dec. 23
• Strasbourg, France, Nov. 28 to Dec. 31
• Trier, Monday to Dec. 22
• Wiesbaden, Tuesday to Dec. 23
• Worms, Monday to Dec. 23
• Zweibrücken, Nov. 28 to Dec. 13
