Mulled wine, gingerbread and handicrafts: DW takes you on a tour of one of Germany's most beloved Christmas markets.
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00:00Dear Santa, I've been a very good employee this year.
00:05For Christmas, I'd like to report at a Christmas market in Germany.
00:13Who said that?
00:16What's happening?
00:19Oh my God, it's a Christmas miracle!
00:22I'm here at the Christmas market at the Cologne Cathedral.
00:26This is the city's most famous Christmas market.
00:29It's also considered to be one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany.
00:34This year, it has 140 stands.
00:37That brings me to one common mistake.
00:39Not dressing warm enough.
00:41There is so much to see, you don't want to have to cut your visit short.
00:45And by the way, this market has the Rhineland's largest Christmas tree,
00:49a Nordmann fir, 23 meters high.
00:54As I'm walking around here, there are so many incredible smells in the air.
00:58They have candied nuts, grilled meats, and that brings me to our next topic.
01:03Food!
01:04Germany is known for its wide range of Christmas market food.
01:08And there's so much to try.
01:13Like Kartoffelpuffer, fried potato pancakes.
01:16In Cologne, you'll find a special version called Reibekuchen,
01:19served with sour cream or applesauce.
01:24It has a sweet, savory thing going on.
01:27Raclette.
01:28You can smell the pungent Swiss cheese halfway across the market.
01:32Tastes better than it smells.
01:36And a classic, sausage, which comes in many varieties depending on the region.
01:40I try Mettwurst and kale.
01:43Don't make the mistake of bringing only credit card.
01:47At Christmas markets, a lot of vendors will accept cash only.
01:52Authentic Christmas markets typically have live music,
01:56and this one is no exception.
01:58But now it's time to try one of my favorite Christmas market classics.
02:02Mulled wine or Glühwein.
02:06Typically, it's red wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, lemon, and a bit of anise.
02:12Don't make the mistake of drinking too much too quickly.
02:15It's so sugary, it goes straight to your head.
02:18And there are non-alcoholic versions too.
02:21The cost of the drink also includes a deposit for the cup,
02:24which you get back when you return it.
02:29Now it's time for our second Christmas market,
02:31the Market of Angels, set to be the city's oldest.
02:34Let's talk about gifts.
02:36This market has only 70 stands,
02:39so that still gives us plenty to check out.
02:41Christmas markets offer many chances to support local artisans
02:45These pyramids are from the Ur Mountains in East Germany,
02:49and I really, really love this.
02:51This is a great example of typical kind of wood and handicrafts
02:55that you find in Germany at Christmas markets.
02:57When you light these candles,
02:59the heat from the candles actually makes the little propeller spin,
03:03and these little figures here spin around.
03:06So cute.
03:08These are the typical nutcrackers,
03:10which are also from the Ur Mountains,
03:12These are the typical nutcrackers,
03:14which are also from the Ur Mountains,
03:16they date back to the late 17th century.
03:24Is it just me, or is it time for some sugar?
03:30The number of sweet treats you can find at German Christmas markets
03:33is pretty mind-blowing.
03:35Here we have a couple of typical ones.
03:37These are candied nuts, all different kinds of varieties,
03:40and these Lebkuchenherzen, or gingerbread hearts.
03:45Speaking of Lebkuchen, Germany's gingerbread,
03:47there's a special kind at this market called Plinten.
03:51It comes in many varieties.
03:53Is that who I think it is?
03:56It's Santa's helper, the Christmas angel.
03:59Hello.
04:00Sarah.
04:01Hello.
04:02Thank you for your letter.
04:03This is your big wish,
04:05the Christmas market in Cologne.
04:07It's for you.
04:08Thank you so much for making my Christmas wishes come true.
04:12Well, I think we've seen all the Christmas market essentials.
04:16We've had delicious food,
04:18mulled wine,
04:19entertainment,
04:20sweets,
04:21and, of course, a great atmosphere.