Christmas in eastern Germany is both a traditional and an illuminating experience ... Decorative Christmas arches and candle-lit pyramids light up the yuletide evenings, while decorative nutcrackers and incense burners bear testament to the skill of the Erzgebirge woodcarvers. Similarly astounding are the works of art made by the glassblowers, from baubles and pine cones to bells and angels. Traditional parades also have a big part to play in the festive season here. You won't see the miners' and miners' band parades, plus the now famous Christstollen cake parade, anywhere else in Germany. The first cut into the giant stollen traditionally marks the opening of many of the region's Christmas markets. Festive and romantic – in historical settings, UNESCO World Heritage sites and even sleepy farmyards – these are the hallmarks of the Christmas markets in eastern Germany.
