By Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press
BERLIN (AP) — The enchanting ambiance of traditional Christmas markets is once again gracing Germany, as these beloved events open their doors on Monday. Visitors are drawn in by the aroma of mulled wine and sizzling sausages, alongside the tempting treats of potato pancakes and caramelized apples, all sold from charming wooden stalls.
Amidst the festive cheer, heightened security measures are a stark reminder of the past, as Germany still recalls the somber memories of two tragic attacks that once darkened these joyful gatherings.
In Berlin, the renowned market at the Gedächtniskirche church commenced with a heartfelt public service, marking the beginning of the season. Other notable markets, including those at the Rotes Rathaus city hall, Gendarmenmarkt, and Charlottenburg Palace, also welcomed visitors with open arms.
These markets offer more than just culinary delights. Visitors can browse a variety of handmade crafts, from candles to woolen hats and gloves, as well as vibrant Christmas stars in every conceivable color and shape. For children, the markets are a playground of joy, featuring chain carousels, Ferris wheels, and ice rinks for skating.
These cherished Christmas markets, a tradition rooted in German culture since the Middle Ages, have not only become a staple in Germany but have also been successfully embraced by much of the Western world.
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Visitors walk through the Magdeburg Christmas market, in Magdeburg, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Matthias Bein/dpa via AP)
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Visitors walk through the Magdeburg Christmas market, in Magdeburg, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Matthias Bein/dpa via AP)
Security is an issue at all markets across the county.
Last year, five women and a boy died, and many were injured in a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg on Dec. 20 that lasted just over a minute. The attacker is currently on trial in Magdeburg.
On Dec. 19, 2016, an attacker plowed through a crowd of Christmas market-goers at Gedächtniskirche church in Berlin with a truck, killing 13 people and injuring dozens more in the German capital. The Muslim militant was killed days later in a shootout in Italy.
In the western city of Cologne, the Christmas market in front of the city’s famous double-domed cathedral was packed with big crowds on Saturday.
“We sense a very good atmosphere here, so we feel that in these difficult times we are currently experiencing, we can give visitors a little moment of respite here,” said Birgit Grothues, the spokeswoman for the market. “We see many smiling faces under our illuminated tent.”
Nonetheless, she said that after last year’s attack in Magdeburg, the city created a special security concept for its markets in close cooperation with police. It includes an additional anti-terrorism barrier and private security, she said.
Associated Press writer Daniel Niemann in Cologne, Germany, contributed to this report.
