Brit Reacts to The Don'ts of Visiting Christmas Markets
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- Are these really the things I shouldn't do at a German Christmas Market?
Let me know in the comments section below :)
Original Video: • The Don'ts of Visiting...
Thanks guys,
Dwayne's Lens
Cash is King in Germany .
cash isnt king for the Tories in the UK, but they love it so much that they will do everything to get it...
best without effort to earn it first!
And be aware of pick-pockets
Nur Bares ist Wahres!
"Take the cash, take the C A S H, take the cash and show me the colour of the money! " Wreckless Eric .
So ist es 😂@@kaiglass4347
Don't forget, Cash is Freedom.
As a Yorkshireman living over 30 years in Germany, I can only say:
1. Visiting the Xmas Market is for some people the highlight of the year. Before I retired, we used to knock off work early and the boss took us all over to the local market, then buy us a Glühwein before legging it and leaving us to get jugged up. Lots of firms do the same, so that on some afternoons/evenings things can get very "enjoyable".
2. Normally the Germans are very reserved, but at the Christmas Markets (alcohol!) they are certainly more friendly, especially if they hear you speaking English! One year I hosted some guests from Australia, I accompanied them to the Market and after the first Glühwein, the people at the next table asked where we were from and we weren't allowed to pay for another drink the whole evening. (Unfortunately, that hasn't happened since then, despite me singing Ilkla Moor!)
3.. Avoid the big cities, they are overpriced and, if you visit at the wrong time, full to busting. I find the smaller towns are far more enjoyable, Wolter was in Wernigerode (not so far from us here)
Here in South-East Lower Saxony there are some tremendous underrated Xmas Markets in the middle-sized towns: Goslar, Wolfenbüttel (home of Jägermeister), also Brunswick, Wolfsburg.
3. Yes, cash is still King here at all of the booths.
Enjoying your vids. Sup up!
Cheers from Germany, too ;) Yes, its still a cash only zone, even if the acceptance of cards increased a loooot during covid, even the 60+ Generation is now using the "useless" plastic card from the bank pretty often! But at Christmas Markets, the dealers normaly dont run a direct sale business during the year, so they most likely dont accept cards. And in Germany its still pretty expensive for small businesses to accept cards. May it will get better, we are trying :P
Greetings from another Yorkshireman living in Thuringen 😃
My christmas market (ERFURT) th-cam.com/video/zkDfVrOQzro/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JggxhksptrsDFxKO
@@frankjch5123 Erfurt ist klasse!
Greetings from another Yorkshireman living in Thuringen 😃
My christmas market (ERFURT) th-cam.com/video/zkDfVrOQzro/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JggxhksptrsDFxKO
Still: Only Bares is Wahres.
Cash is still what Germans like.
As a german I enjoy the outside view on my country. It's all those little differences and quirks that make life interesting and I love the way you look at them with love and a smile. That's what we need in the world these days! Happy holidays from Cologne!
Regarding your question: If you come to Germany to check out Christmas markets, you probably want that magical Christmas experience out of a storybook. The markets in the really big, modern cities are NOT that. They might offer big markets with lots of variety, but they lack that magical, quaint and cozy charm and atmosphere. So you better go to one of the smaller and very historic German towns.
The towns in this video, in the Harz region, are already a very good idea (Wernigerode, Quedlinburg...). There are also some really magical ones in Bavaria (Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl...) or in the Black Forest (Gengenbach, Calw...). Last but not least the Moselle and Rhine region (Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues...).
There are many more, but these will do for a start. ;)
I agree. But you forgot the magnificent market in Marburg/Lahn (Hessen) 😉
in Hessen, im schönen Odenwald: Schloss Lichtenberg in Lichtenberg und in Erbach...
About 2 years before Corona, I've been to a Christmas market in Germany. It was a small town in the northern parts. There was this band that played Christmas songs. I was just having some mulled wine in a special version (with added sloe gin - very yummy!) when the band guys also had some during a short break at the same table. We ended up talking a bit, too. The reason: I loved their style! They played those songs in a New Orleans kind of fashion. When I mentioned this, they said it's supposed to sound that way. So I answered that I love this kind of music.
The following year I've been there again and the band was there, too. They did remember me!
In the Bavarian Forest where I live there is a so-called forest Christmas market that takes place right in the forest.
I think a lot of us don’t travel around on the hunt for the „best Christmas market“. Maybe you go to the next bigger town once a year to see the more fancy crafts they sell. But the best one is always the local one where you meet your friends in the evenings or go with your colleagues for lunch 😊🎄
Our Christmas market kind of sucks, it's neither very big, nor does it have very much of that fairy tale magic. So if we want a "real" Christmas market experience, we'll either drive to the next bigger city, or to a lovely smaller town that has historic houses from medieval times in the pedestrian zone. Our Christmas market more seems to be for people who want to have a mulled wine after work.
I think the Christmas markets in the ore mountains are along the very best in Germany. Here they are called Weihnachtsmarkt.
Right where all the beautiful wooden Christmas Dekoration is is made, all the lights in the windows of every house. And the Bergparade is the highlight. Miners, who the ore mountain region (Erzgebirge) is famous, where the hart and soul in this area for centuries. Now they march in their traditional miner uniforms with brass bands in memory of these times. Each weekend on an other christmasmarket in the Erzgebirge. The last and biggest one is in Annaberg-Buchholz shortly before Christmas with around 1000 participating. These Bergparaden are part of the UNESCO Heritage and even the Steigerlied, a traditional song of the miners is part of it and very touching on this parades
I`d always recommend a x-mas market in a small medieval town, the whole athmosphere makes it special. Im from Marburg in Hessen, thats a small market but very nice in the medieval surrounding.
Fellow Marburgian here, I absolutely agree!
At the Christmas market in Frankfurt, mulled wine is currently only available for cash. Cash is the most common means of payment in Germany despite coronavirus.
In Germany we say "Nur Bares ist wahres." which means "Only cash is real money." You can pay with a credit card if you are in a bigger store or a supermarket or something like that but at christmas markets or in smaller shops in most cases they will only accept cash.
I live in Bremerhaven and the Christmas market there is probably not even in the top 100 in Germany. Nevertheless, it's fantastic for me.
The funny thing is: even smaller and inconspicuous Christmas markets are great. I've never been to a really bad Christmas market in Germany.
This one is in my city of Bremerhaven: th-cam.com/video/loYT3kt_3Ik/w-d-xo.html
And...Of course 🙂 If I'm standing at a table like that drinking eggnog or something, then come along and let's have fun and chat. I'll buy you a drink.
We Germans are nowhere near as stiff and bad-tempered as is often said.
Cheers 🥳
My favorite Christmas market is in Siegburg and on the smaller side. It's medivial themed with dressed up merchants, bonfires, candles, a smithy, hot honey wine... Electricity is either not used or very well hidden. It has a very special atmosphere. 🥰
Please check out Christmas market in ESSLINGEN
Christmas markets can be from mid November until end of December. You should always check first the cities where you want to go.
The earliest I know was in Oberhausen, starting 17.November this year. And the latest Düsseldorf until 30.December.
Some cities /villages have their Christmas market only on one Weekend.
Weihnachtsmarkt auf der Festung Königstein!
Important about the deposit:
A deposit is NOT a purchase price. You don't buy the mug with it. It is illegal to simply take the mug with you and theoretically you could be reported and sued. Police and security personnel will also speak to you if you want to leave the market area with a mug.
But you can ask at the stands. Somtimes you can keep it. And some even sell the mugs. Usually slightly more expensive than the deposit, but in return you usually get a clean and unused cup.
The best Christmasmarket is the market in Dresden. Especially the medieval one.
Cash is trash is a quite ignorant slogan. "Cash is Freedom" and that's why governments and the EU are so against it.
The best christmas markets are in small towns, here in southern bavaria there are some that are in the forest, when the snow is on the trees there is nothing better.
I lived in Hamburg for 10 years and I never ever had found a Christmas market after Christmas. It's not like selling Christmas stuff in a store, there you can find stuff for a cheaper price.
The big ginger breads are actually not made for eating. With the slogans on them, they are made to show someone your love or to decorate your home.
If i have to give up my cash i might aswell give up my life.
(German here)
The kid‘s version of Glühwein is mulled hot fruit juice (mostly apple, but also mixed fruits). Also good for the designated driver…
The best in the smaltown category is in Fulda. The Market has even a Part with an middelagetheme.😊
Nice cup to have at home for milk or gravy. Or just to serve tea or coffee.
I would recommend Aachen and/or Muenster for 'bigger' ones.
Cash is definitely recommended. I guess that the people in the smaller booths also just don't want to invest efforts into turning their mini businesses to cashless.
Since COVID you have a few more places to pay without cash. But to be honest, we love our cash. To look in the wallet and see what you have is such a German thing. We like to say "Okay. I will only take 50€ and when there gone, that's it". For the most people it is easier to hold your money together this way. Also we have a lack of good internet in Germany. So at some Christmas markets even if you could pay with plastic card, it might not work. And I personally prefer cash, especially at Christmas markets, because if my wallet is stolen or lost, the cash is simply gone. My plastic cards and all the other things are kept at home. Only my ID gets lost, but that's not a big problem.
Christmas markets the best from the northwest of Germany, where “Cash is still the King”! Here are the cities in no logical order: Oldenburg, Diepholz, Münster, Osnabrück, Bentheim, Papenburg, Emden, Lingen, Wilhelmshaven and Aurich/Leer.
Best place in South-Western Germany: the medieval market in Esslingen! If you're in the neighbourhood you can also visit a few of the bigguns: Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg or Ulm. But almost every little town has a small market. However, not all are of good quality. Booths and Wares.
On the cash thing: You need WiFi for these things. You still have a lot of cash-only, even in Germany. Although the card pay increases, even these day, you should bring cash!
You also should know, that almost every town and small village will have their own christmas market, but the smaller the town maybe the market is also smaller. And in smaller towns they have the christmas market not for the whole advent time, but mostly only for one weekend from friday to sunday.
I can highly recommend the Christmas markets in Cologne, 5 very close together and the one at the cathedral has the biggest Christmas tree of the federal state northrine-westfalia
4:48 Yes thats right but some People over here collect mugs from christmas markets like Cups with cool designs from Football stadiums, like i did. Like Football cups with a cool design and thats worth the 1,50-2€ Pfand
I think the best German Xmas market is at Rothenburg ob der Tauber (above the River Tauber). A very beautiful medieval town. But a lot of tourists.
Christmas markets are called Christmas markets because they sell items related to Christmas. That's why they take place before Christmas, in Advent.
Because Advent in earlier times used to last 6 weeks and actually began on November 12th, Christmas markets start in November.
Christmas itself begins at sunset on December 24th. and lasts until February 2nd. There would be nothing wrong with letting the markets run for so long today. However, they then compete with the winter sports season and the carnival season. And no one wants to buy Christmas items anymore.
But there are some Christmas markets in Germany that run until New Year's Eve or Epiphany (January 6th).
Yes, it's still a thing to pay cash at the Food and Drink stations at the market.
there are several people that really collect the mugs from the christmas market, that is one of the reasons they raised the Pfand to something really high, so the mug would be paid if they are not given back :)
And no, you don't count calories on a christmas market 😂 you just Donut diet on a christmas market day 😉
Regarding english: more and more people learn english, they even teach it now in elementary school, people might be out of training, but with some english, some german hands and feet, you normally can have nice conversations.
if you ever visit Germany, you have to know, that the most bigger citys have a big christmas markets, that are oben for 3 or 4 weeks.. smaller towns or villages mostly have little markets, that are often only on one day, or on one weekend in december. Like the village i grew up in, we always had one weekend a christmas market, but there were more little dealers from the village with special stuff, you get nowhere else - most famous dealers is a group of older people, they use old coats that are given to them for free and they cut them up and make house shoes out of them. i think just last year they managed to make about 400 pairs of really warm shoes and the money is always given to a local charity project..
and yes about the cash on the christmas markets... more dealers do accept cards since covid, but not all of them. So I always have cash with me on a christmas market.
I live in the Ruhrgebiet in NRW an I think the most beautiful Christmas-Markets are in the smaller citys or the castles
1 Schloss Moyland, 2.Schloss Burg, 3.Soest, 4. Hattingen, 5.Bad Münsterreifel, 6. Monschau, 7. westf. Freilichtmuseeum Hagen, 8. Waldweihnachtsmarkt, 9. Schloss Bensberg, 10. Freilichtmuseum Kommern
But I also like the great Markets in the Big citys Essen, Aachen, Köln, Dortmund or the Middel Age Christmas Market like Dortmund Fredenbaum
When it comes to cash, there is a fee to pay to transfer the digital money. So either the seller has to pay for it or the buyer what would make the price more expensive. That's why we still use cash when it comes to small prices. It get's better because of COVID, but not everywhere.
My favourite christmas markets are nuremberg and palace guteneck
Even after Covid, many Christmas Market stalls don't accept cards. As Wolter said, the stalls are often staffed by local small shops or even private people who just earn a small coin with a stall, and they won't have the money to pay for a card machine (and the fees that come with payments by card for the vendor).
Germans are usually pretty sociable, as long as it's in their spare time. Business is business, that's time for professionalism and distance. But hanging out on a Christmas Market? As long as there's something to talk about (shitty weather, for example), of course. Just don't expect that we call you "friend" lightly. Places on the next chair are easy, earning a place in our hearts is difficult.
Best Market(s) in DRESDEN, the Christmas Capital of Germany, Striezelmarkt, Stallhof, Neumarkt, Augustusmarkt, Prager Str., Hüttenzauber,.........
Close to Cologne in the City of Siegburg is a beautyfull medieval Christmas Market. No electrcal items icluding light are allowe, only tourches and oil lamps. Only hand crafted goods and all people working on the market are dressed in medival cloth. Realy nice but relativ small.
In Sweden we often pay whit card or swish, seldom whit cash 😂
The most known markets are the Striezelmarkt in Dresden or the Christkindlesmarkt in Nürnberg. These two are on my bucketlist, although i'm not into christmas markets (I don't like standing in the cold or crowds of people)
Brit logic: Oh I have covid....best time to get a Glühwein at the christmas market.
Glühwein means literally glow(ing) wine. It makes you glow. 😁
My top 10 go- to Christmas markets:
1. Märchenmarkt Gera (Thuringia): a Christmas market with the additional theme of the fairytales of the brothers Grimm
2. Rostock (Mecklenburg- Vorpommern at the Baltic Sea)
3. Burgk Castle (Thuringia): small but definitely has a great flair with all the historic surroundings
4. Ranis Castle (Thuringia): another small local Christmas market on a 1000+ years old castle, which only takes place on the 2nd advent weekend
5. Erfurt (Thuringia)
6. Schiller's Weihnacht (Rudolstadt, Thuringia)
7. Dresden Striezelmarkt (Saxonia)
8. Bamberg (Bavaria): it's also a nice city to visit, which is called "little Venice" (Klein- Venedig)
9. Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (Bavaria)
10. Jena (Thuringia)
In my City "Dortmund" the christmas market is pretty big (9th biggest city of gerrmany) and it's beautiful, it's not a market... it's so big we changed the name few years ago to "christmas village" AND we have the biggest christmas tree WORLDWIDE every year... it's 45 meters (147.64 ft) high, 40 tons of weights and it's a little cheat, it's a little cheater because it is a scaffold with over 1000 spruces but it's really really beautiful ❤
my favorite christmasmarket is in Lüneburg, that is in Niedersachsen
Lübeck,Rostock,Hamburg, Nürnberg Ach es gibt so viele schöne Weihnachtsmärkte
Schwerin und Lüneburg sind auch sehr schön.🎄
I wish you a merry christmas
Don't be shy to talk to us Germans, you will be surprised how many of us don't just speak a little English, understand in any case and most of us make an effort to answer you understandably, even if we use hands and feet to help 😂😂 And cash definitely helps, many are not equipped for cashless
I feel sorry, if the markets close at christmas. Many peoples don´t work betwen christmas and new year. So it will a nice place to meet friends.
Any kind of those market type things and smaller businesses like bakeries and some Restaurants still only accept cash.
I'm living in Aachen and we have many tourists from UK every year to vistit our Christmas market. The city is located at the three country point of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium so the travel distance is not too long. The setting between the 1500y old Cathedral and the 1200y old townhall is beautiful. And at least the city is known for "Printen" a noble kind of gingerbread and for the LINDT manufactury and it's huge factory sale.
Quedlinburg ist eine wundervolle kleine Stadt und die Weihnachtshöfe sollen sehr schön sein. Ich werde sie morgen besuchen. Ich komme aus Göttingen und unser Weihnachtsmarkt ist auch ganz nett.
It's still cash only where I was this year
Best : Hamburg 🙂 Wish you and your lovedones a nice christmestime! And: Cash is freedom.
The christmas market in Bremen (were I live) is very very nice and one of the best in Germany. BUT: there are to many tourists.
Even the small towns have beautiful Christmas markets. Sometimes just on a weekend. You have to ask the tourist information office.
Even today you still need cash at the Christmas market. Many sellers there only do this once a year.
"Weihnachtsmärkte" (Christmas markets) are usually open after "Totensonntag" (Sunday before first Advent Sunday).
If you really want to go to Germany to see Christmas markets, then you shouldn't miss "Santa Pauli" in Hamburg. This is not the normal one at the Rathausmarkt, but the other one on the Reeperbahn. Might be a bit naughty..
the most famous Xmas Market is in Nürnberg
keeping the mugs is technically thievery. ;) just saying.
Have a great christmas! greetings from Bremen, Germany,
If there is one thing on this video you can take as a reminder: germans love there cash and be afraid of other payments then pure cash.
Yes, covid started a bit of a change in mind, but its still the king everywhere in germany.
I would say, that germans love their cash as much as americans love their checks ;)
Cash is still king here in Germany! 😱
I don't know why but we Germans love cash. I always pay by card when possible. But many small shops, especially in markets like this, don't offer this. probably because of the fees the business has to pay to the card companies
Cash is still king in Germany and not just at a Christmas market.
My personal favorite is Augsburg, then Nürnberg. I wasn't to many different, yet, but I don't like the Munich one much
Cash is still the king yea 👌🏼
Dresden
Greetings from the Duisburger Weihnachtsmarkt 🎅🎄
And PLEASE pay attention about your cash!!! There are criminal gangs of other countries all over the Weihnachtsmarkt who try to steel all your money on a very professional way 😤
i think the little shops are just for ambiance, most people dont buy anything, i dont even know why they are called markets "glühwein fairs" would be much more accurate.
Cash is still King here. You just can't trust this little plastic cards 😉
I'm not a tourist. I don't go around collecting Christmas markets. I usually go to the local one (less often since I no longer regularly pass it every day - some years I've missed it completely), there's this one row that has stuff I like to eat (and some of which has barely any carbs, important for a diabetic) - and that's it. I'm sure I have seen others, but I don't remember any so can't comment.
But I can say that here in Münster/Westfalen, the Christmas market closes on the 23rd. You should go on the 22nd at the latest.
In general, I think the Christmas markets would have been better named Advent markets.
Cash in the Bag, or i start to brag!!!😁😁😁
The cash thing is not covid related...
On my trips through Europe I gathered that Netherlands and Sweden were mostly cashless. In the Netherlands they have a designed Sticker for Shops which only accepts Cashless (Hier alleen PIN). UK, Norway and Germany aren‘t really cashless, but Germany maybe the worst… 😂
In Norway and UK is Cash needed if you wanna pay in more rural areas in small shops or Camp sites.
Realy important: Cash is esential in germany. In stores you can mostly by with visa or other cards. But on markets or other events like streetfood festivals or so, you realy need cash!
The cardmashines are very expensive for the sellers (monthly costs). Next Problem is with the "Pfand" - you'll get this back in cash too. Cash is trash - an we germans love trash 😉
Well i live since i was born in germany and mostly still everywhere is only,cash
Cash!
nur bares is wahres😅
If you want to keep the mug, ask for a clean one, so your pocket or bag doesn't get sticky.
Didn't hear exactly what she said but it was something like: in a funny way saying: i am going to disturb you . Something something...and Merry Christmas Ihnen auch (this is the Sie Form..if you talk to a Stranger..Adult older or same age.) It is a Way of adressing someone..i guess she didn't get what he said cause she is not speaking english. But perfect Timing. Lol. All Cash ! All ! Do Mo expect Credit Cards. These are small Business owners. That's why you got to go to the ATMs and take care cause of Thiefs..pickpockets. wear your pure close to you..than you are fine. Cause they use the trouble to steal..too many ppl at these Markets.
lol "only cash is true" that german mentality^^
its a guide for americans he absolutly needs to say "dont buy everything you see" :P
Ok 5€ per cup is very expensive. If someone do that to you than say "Thank you but no thank you" and run as far as you can get becous eaven you get the Money Back you be ripped off
Heidelberg and Potsdam are small towns? His definition of a small town is different than the German one. Those are middle sized cities imo. A small town would have a few hundred to a few thousand citizens 😅 And especially very small towns in rural areas sometimes have very nice markets in town or in a forest.
Best christmas markets are in the erzgebirge
Nürnberger Christkindel Markt
Nürnberg defintly
to explain Pfand to an American is hard like try to explain to him/her how health care in Europe works...
But they sell Christmas Stuff very early..and i am thinking...wtf...it is Oktober or November...are they mad? This Year..right after Halloween or even before...everything full of Christmas Bubbles. I thought i am in the wrong Movie.
Bares ist Wahres.
Nooo! There is nowhere a christmas market past the 23rd of december! 24., 25. And 26. Are bank holidays! only restaurants are open
In my town the christmas market is close for christmas and after open again till new jear
I don't know which markets are tourist attractions, but I would avoid these markets.