Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose… there’s plenty of Christmas spirit to be found at Berlin's Christmas markets. In Berlin, a Christmas-loving town, people start preparing for Christmas early in the year and the result is that at the beginning of Advent the people forget their usually hectic lives and the town is filled with good cheer and the Christmas spirit. Nearly every district of Berlin proudly hosts its own Christmas market and each has its own unique tradition and flair. The scent of Lebkuchen gingerbread cookies, Maroni (roasted chestnuts), and Glühwein (mulled wine) in the air signals that this is no ordinary time of year. Imagine actually wanting to stand around outside for hours in the bitterly cold winter, but a little snow won’t hold back the hardy Berlin folk. A cup of that Gluhwein will take the bite right out of your chill, especially coupled with a "Schuss" shot of rum for good measure. If you’re feeling more daring (or extremely cold) you should try the Feuerzangenbowle, a hot bowl of high-proof rum served with flaming sugar cubes.
You can stuff yourself and complete your Christmas shopping all in one fell swoop. From exquisite handcrafted Christmas ornaments of wood, blown glass and ceramics crafted from traditional and modern designs to kitchen utensils, pottery and candles, it should be no problem to find something unique for that hard-to-shop-for relative.