We do not know how the people in Europe, especially German, celebrate Christmas. As we will be visiting Germany in december, shall we leave before Christmay day-----the whole city/town might be empty cause people might stay at home to celebrate-----or shall we stay till Christmas to experience the true winter Christmas? But what can we do then? <BR>Also, I got a choice to stay in Prague or Berlin for Christmas, which city will you guys suggest? <BR> <BR>Many thanks and regards, <BR> <BR>mast

Hi Mast, <BR>if you`re able to make friends or already have friends I would stay, if not-I don`t know... <BR>On the 24th. shops are open, but in the evening everybody who`s got family stays at home. That`s the most important day of the holidays. In bigger cities you`ll find more people hanging out in pubs and some people go to a bar after the family party is over. On the 25th. all shops are closed. People are going to church and are visiting family. The same on the 26th. <BR>So decide for yourself. If you decide to stay, I would make reservations for restaurants. Not all are open, but those who are, will be filled up with families. At that time a lot of restaurants offer special Christmas menues. <BR> <BR>Miriam

The best way to experience a German Christmas is in a family setting. Then, as Miriam says, Christmas Eve is the time to be there. Otherwise, you can get a good feel for the spirit of the German Christmas by being there in the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day ('Advent'), because of the traditional events occurring during that period. A visit to a church service on one of the Advent Sundays would be an illuminating experience for you.

<BR>how about spending our christmas day in smaller town like hameln? is it a better idea so as to have a 'warmer' feeling? <BR> <BR>mast

Well, I agree with the other writers that Christmas is really a family holiday for Germans, but we spent one of the most special holidays ever in Rothenburg... we went a few days before Christmas, attended a candlelight concert in St. Jakobs Kirche (medieval music played on medieval instruments and they lowered huge greenery wreaths from the ceiling to light the candles, then raised them back up.. big trees on either side of the church, also with candles), made the rounds with the night watchman one night, listened to some men from the town sing carols on the steps of the rathaus one night. The bright yellow, horsedrawn bundespost coach rattles along the cobblestone streets during the holidays with packages and a tree on top. The best part? The town clears out the day before Christmas eve (they have a big Christmas market mid-month) and only the true residents are left within the walls of hte old town. After hiking around the town walls, we came back to our room at Reichs Kuchenmeister (a hotel just off the town square dating from the 1300-1400's) and found little trays outside our doors with a bottle of local wine, fresh fruit and nuts, lebkuchen, and a Christmas card from the family that runs the hotel. That night, the restaurant was closed to everyone except family and the very few guests left and we had a traditional German Christmas dinner of goose, dumplings and red cabbage. It was wonderful and peaceful and totally relaxing. In the morning, we woke to find it had snowed during the night and the town was blanketed under quiet, fresh white. Do go. Just pick where you go and where you stay carefully, and you'll get the real German Christmas.

<BR>Thanks Ann. <BR> <BR>May I know is the candlelight concert a one night only performance or is it a regular performance during Christmas season?Where can I get more informations? <BR> <BR>regards, <BR> <BR>mast

Mast, Rothenburg used to put out a Christmas program that listed all the activities day-by-day, and there's something going on all the time from about the 7th-8th onward, including various concerts. St. Jakobs-Kirche also put out a concert calendar brochure and there were organ concerts on the 6th, the 13th, and the 31st of December that year, as well as the special Christmas concert on Sunday evening the 21st. You might try writing the tourist office in Rothenburg to see if they still publish this type of calendar (probably) or just check their website to see if they post the info. Like all European websites, it's just the name of the town and dot country abbreviation, or in this case, rothenburg.de. Good luck.

I think of a better setting for getting the spirit of Christmas thhan in Germany during Christkindle Market. My favorites were Rothenberg and Nurenberg. I can taste the Gluewein and Wursts now!! ummmm!

<BR>Thanks everybody! now I am counting down to Christmas! <BR> <BR>cheers, <BR> <BR>mast