Ladies and Gentlemen, the countdown begins, Christmas is just around the corner and the Christmas Markets will soon be open! Not sure where to go? No worries, here are a few personal recommendations for you from me.  I hope that my list will help you organize your limited holiday time! In case this is your first Christmas here in Germany, let me introduce you to what a Christmas Market is, if you're already a pro, you can skip straight down to my list!

Christmas Markets: This centuries-old tradition reaches way back to a time where regular seasonal Markets took place throughout the year. The winter markets were a welcome and joyful occasion that added a bit of light to the cold, dark, winter nights. Throughout the years Christmas Markets have evolved, grown, and become less functional and more of a holiday tradition. Usually each village will have  a small Christmas Market, lasting anywhere from a few days to a week, whereas the bigger cities will have both Christmas and New Year’s Markets lasting two to five, sometimes even six weeks. They are places full of cheer, with lovely Christmas lights, delicious Christmas treats, and warm Christmas drinks. From roasted chestnuts, to hot mulled wine AKA Glühwein,or warm “Kinder-Punsch,” the Christmas Markets here are something you do not want to miss. It's also a great place to buy homemade crafts, winter apparel, Christmas gifts or holiday souvenirs; you can find nutcrackers, wooden figurines, traditional German ornaments, incense smokers, baking tins, toys, hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, table cloths,  tea, chocolate, dried meats—the list goes on and on. The markets are also often home to rides, live entertainment, games, and nativity scenes (some with live animals), and be sure to keep an eye out for Santa and his Reindeer (no, really). So, without further ado, here are some of the Christmas Markets I think you'll definitely want to visit this year:

It won’t take long to realize that the Esslingen market is different from other markets you may visit in Europe.  Visiting the Esslingen Christmas market is like stepping back into the medieval ages.  The market is surrounded by half-timbered wooden houses dating back from the 13^th to 16^th centuries that will surprise and delight you, and costumed performers stroll the streets alongside of period-dressed vendors. Aside from the many visitors, over 1 million people visited last year, you get a feeling of traveling back to the Middle Ages.

Lentil salad with root vegetables. Apple, walnuts, smoked trout filet from the Black Forest and chips from the Allgaeu mountain cheese

Medallion of venison “Baden-Baden” with spaetzle and red cabbage

Small, fried apple ring cakes with apple syrup and cinnamon parfait

For a stress-free cooking day for the Christmas menu, I recommend to prepare the red cabbage, the cinnamon parfait as well as the sauce for the medallion of venison one day before the actual preparation. It makes it much easier to work with the actual menu!

One of the most anticipated Christmas traditions every year has to be the Adventskalender or Advent-Calendar. Choosing just the right one, is of the most important things for children as it marks the beginning of the Christmas season for them. We have all heard at least one horror story from our families, of having to run out to get another Advent Calendar at the last minute because one of the youngsters decided to plunder it early, eating it all at once and stores are virtually sold out everywhere after the first of Advent (the fourth Sunday before Christmas).

Christmas markets are one of the most popular attractions during the winter month in Germany. Every larger city has one and everyone has their own little perks. One of the most charming markets has to be the medieval Christmas market in Esslingen. The market is located right in the old center of town and surrounded by medieval half-timbered houses built anywhere from the 13th to the 16th century. The stream that heads through the town with is little bridges just adds to the feeling. Actors and performers are dressed in the era appropriate garb, making the illusion nearly perfect. The market was visited by over one million eager time travelers last year, why not join them?

The official start to the Christmas season here in Germany has to be the lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath, which is usually also the time that most of the big Christmas markets open up. The Christmas markets have to be one of the most anticipated attractions for tourists during the season and there are just so many of them. With there being only 4 weekends to hit the further out markets and evenings to visit the markets close by, it is useful to have a battle plan, so you can hit as many markets as possible. In our Christmas markets recommendations, you can find some of the most popular markets in Germany and some great tips and tricks.

During the 4 weeks of Advent (roughly four weeks prior to Christmas) the Christmas Markets – Weihnachtsmärkte - open their doors.

They originated in German-speaking part of Europe & in the Eastern regions of France in the Late Middle Ages.

I have been getting a lot of requests over Facebook, of where to take the family out to dinner for those special holidays coming up…or at any time really. So, I decided to stop by the Maredo Steakhouse in the center of Stuttgart, on the Lange Street cornering Kronprinzstreet. I sat down to talk with the Manager Mr. Uwe Mack and enquired about their opening hours during the Christmas and New Year’s season. He replied that they only really close the place up for Christmas Eve to make sure the employees get to spend the 24^th of December with their families. December 25^th (Christmas Day) and the 26^th (Boxing Day) they are open. That goes for New Year’s as well.  Many of the family-owned businesses are usually closed over the holidays.