A German Way Photo Gallery

Christmas in Germany – A Photographic Tour – Part 1

Christmas in Berlin, Bonn, and Cologne (Köln)
The Christmas season in Germany, Austria and Switzerland starts with Advent around the first day in December. That’s when Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) spring up in every city of any size. The photos in this gallery will take you on a visual tour of the wonderful Christmas markets in Berlin, Bonn, and Cologne. Not all the usual Christmas markets across Germany were open in 2021, but many were. We want to thank our friend Chris Hinz McGinnis, who kindly has allowed The German Way to display her photos of the pandemic Christmas market season of 2021, taken during a quick holiday visit from her home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Thank you, Chris!

GW PHOTO GALLERY > Christmas in Germany Photos (2021)

Also see our feature Christmas Customs in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and our Berlin City Guide.

Click on any photo for a larger view.

Berlin Christmas Photo 1

Berlin | Christmas at the Brandenburg Gate 2021. A menorah and a tannenbaum radiate the spirit of the season at Berlin’s most famous landmark. PHOTO: Chris Hinz McGinnis

Berlin Christmas Photo 2

Berlin | The Christmas market at Alexanderplatz in former East Berlin displays a giant Christmas pyramid – with the Berlin TV tower in the background. PHOTO: Chris Hinz McGinnis

Berlin Christmas Photo 3

Berlin | The famous KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) department store all decked out for Christmas 2021. PHOTO: Chris Hinz McGinnis

Berlin Christmas Photo 4

Berlin | Berlin’s U-Bahn (metro) didn’t forget season’s greetings and artwork. PHOTO: Chris Hinz McGinnis

Berlin Christmas Photo 5

Berlin | The Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall), along with a Ferris wheel (Riesenrad). PHOTO: Chris Hinz McGinnis

Christmas Photo 6

Köln (Cologne) | Cologne’s best-known Christmas market sits at the foot of the city’s Gothic cathedral (Kölner Dom). PHOTO: Chris Hinz McGinnis

Christmas Photo 7

Bonn | A Christmas market in the former capital city of West Germany. Bonn is also the birthplace of Ludwig Beethoven. PHOTO: Chris Hinz McGinnis

More Berlin and German Christmas photos in Part 2

Learn more about Christmas Customs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Next | Part 2 – Christmas in Berlin
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Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Christmas from A to Z – German Christmas traditions and terms
• Christmas Markets in Germany and Europe – An overview of the top Weihnachtsmärkte in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
• Advent and Christmas – The “arrival”
• A German Advent Calendar – Daily Christmas facts starting on Dec. 1 (in season)
• German Christmas Carols – Lyrics in German and English
• Christmas in the USA and Germany – A comparison chart
• Barbarazweig – The legend and the Christmas custom
• Epiphany and the Sternsinger – January 6 in the Germanic Christmas tradition
• Erntedank (“harvest thanksgiving”) or Erntedankfest in Germany and Austria is different from the American Thanksgiving tradition.
  
• St. Nicholas – The many German St. Nicks
• Thomas Nast created the modern Santa image.
• The Christmas Pickle Ornament – Is it really a German Christmas tradition?
• Glass Ornaments – a history
• Silent Night (Stille Nacht) – Our “Silent Night” page has the true story and related links.
• Holidays and Celebrations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland

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