As Christmas is fast approaching, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite German Weihnachten traditions:
1) ChocolART: If you are in Baden-Württemberg right now you must visit the chocolate festival in Tübingen. For six days and nights, my little town is transformed into a wondrous world of chocolate. From cocoa massages to bittersweet wurst, there is sure to be some form of chocolate you've never seen before.
2) Christmas Markets: Germans certainly know how to celebrate the advent season with a slurry of Christmas markets. Here you can find all sorts of homemade gifts for your loved ones, including famous German candles. Wherever you are in Germany, it is impossible not to find a local Weihnachtsmarkt.
3) Glühwein: This mulled wine is the perfect treat for those chilling German nights. Spiced with cinnamon sticks, clove, star aniseed, citrus, sugar, and at times vanilla pods, this drink is certainly festive. Give it a bit more of a kick by adding rum, and you're certain to have a festive evening!
4) Spekulatius: Perhaps one of the most addictive Christmas cookies humanity has ever eaten, these delicious morsels tell the story of St. Nicklaus, whose aliases include Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and Santa Claus. These cookies remind me most of gingerbread with a kick, as brought about by the pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg used to spice them. So go out and pick up a box or three and don’t forget to leave a few out for Santa!
5) Decorations: Walking down the streets of any German town begins to feel more like a visit to the North Pole when December 1st rolls around. Families, storeowners, and even street vendors decorate their residencies to the nines, and some even play Christmas music from their windows. Add in a snowfall or two from Mother Nature, and you’ll be walking in a winter Wunderland!