Christmas Market Munich, Germany is a wonderful annual event of culture, good food, drinks and holiday fun.

The Christmas Market, or Christkindlmarkt is one of the oldest held in all of Europe. The origins of the market can be traced back to the Nicholas Market, which started in 1310. Official records first make mention of it in 1642.

And today you can find some of the items originally available 400 years ago such as gingerbread, cotton children’s clothes and manger figurines.

Now the festival spreads across the vast Town Hall square, Marienplatz and offer the visitor holiday favorites such as warm spiced wine, hot cinnamon chestnuts, traditional Alpine and holiday music and every imaginable Christmas ornament and trinket to make decorating a special event.

There’s a long tradition in Munich, where everyone gathers around the Marienplatz, in the heart of the city, to listen to the Lord Mayor solemnly open the Christmas Market at 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent.

When the approximately 30-meter high Christmas tree sparkles in all its holiday glory as 2,500 traditional candles are lit, the aroma of Gluehwein (hot spiced wine) fills the air and angel hair glistens everywhere, then the Bavarian capital finally comes alive with the true magic of Christmas.

A stroll among the gaily decorated stalls is sure to get you into the holiday spirit. The sparkling festive ornaments, from traditional to modern, from miniature to bombastic, made of straw or pewter, are a delight for young and old. Many a guardian angel with gold-leaf wings will take flight as a special souvenir. The more than 140 stalls offer a wonderful array of toys and handicrafts, candles, ceramics and woodwork.

Nothing says traditional Christmas, better than the various Christmas markets and festivals held in Germany each year.  For many years, the biggest and best is held in Munich.

There are numerous street performers to enjoy, in addition to enjoying the Munich festival’s very own Christmas market, which is used by the event’s organisers to promote the benefits of environmentally-friendly products, as well as to sell more traditional gifts.

Food lovers can also experience a wide range of local German plus other cuisines from around the world. This diversity makes the Munich market a festival a highly cosmopolitan event.

Christmas markets, or Christkindlmärkte, as they’re called in German, are open from around December 1st to Christmas Eve. This event is truly a festive occasion, celebrating all the best of Christmas.

There are at least ten different markets scattered around Munich. The biggest and most famous is the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz.

There are small Christmas markets all over the city, but the one at Marienplatz is the biggest and most popular. It is always very crowded. Not quite sure what the appeal is because it’s always brass monkey weather and there’s never anything going on which is really *that* exciting.

They are collections of little wooden stalls which sell various items such as sweets, Christmas decorations, and various other arts and crafts.

Perhaps the biggest attraction is the famous mulled wine (in German: Glühwein). This warm wine drink is perfect for the chilly, winter German nights.