Christmas in Bavaria - Christmas Markets and Delicious Traditions!

With the tempurature dropping and the decorations going up, you cant help but get excited for Christmas. Of course things are done a little differently in here in Bavaria, and there is so much to do, December seems too short. It being our first time in Germany over the holidays, I spent quite a bit of time searching the depths of the internet for things to do, traditions, food to look for, decorations to pick up.

The one thing Bavaria is most famous for by far, is its Christmas Markets! Running through the advent season (typically the last week in November through December 20th) markets pop up all over the country-side in almost every village and city. The most famous and most visited is Nurembergs "Christkindlesmarkt" has over a million attendees every year and the festivities run late into the night. One thing to make sure to look for is the Glüwein (Hot Mulled Wine) that tastes like hot apple cider if you replaced the apple juice with wine, Nuremberger Sausages, and their decorated Gingerbread Hearts. Christmas carols can be heard as you walk through the decorated wooden huts, adorned with nutcrackers, candles, hats, wood carvings, and incredible food. (Not really sure where the tradition comes from but a few stalls were selling "Plum People" that were made out of walnut shells and prunes.)