Chances are you can’t make it to Germany every holiday season. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still experience the yuletide joy of a German Christmas market at home.
True, there’s no better place to experience holiday magic than in Germany, a collection of real-life Christmas villages.
We’re talking fairytale architecture, stupid delicious food and hot drinks, twinkling lights a-plenty, and a goat demon from Hell swooping in to snatch up your children. Ah yes, good tidings of comfort and joy.
So if you’ve decided your backyard needs a little Berlin this season, that your kitchen need some Köln, or that your driveway needs a little Dresden, use these 5 festive steps to recreate a German Christmas market at home.
Recreating a German Christmas Market at home
There are so many great reasons for recreating a German Christmas Market at home. For instance, you can:
- Upgrade your annual holiday party with a German Christmas market theme
- Use these ideas to bring a little Bavaria to your otherwise average holiday decorations
- Use your German Christmas market at home as an excuse to eat obscene amounts of sugar and sausages on your back porch
- Invite friends over to reminisce of the wonderful times you’ve had spent browsing holiday trinkets under twinkling snowfall, or
- Just sit alone weeping under your 1,000 LED bulbs chugging glühwein while clutching your dusty passport. The at-home German Christmas market is a judgment-free and booze-laden zone.
How to recreate a German Christmas Market at Home
Turning your house into a German Christmas market isn’t all that difficult, expensive, or time-consuming. But it is tasty as hell. Just follow these five simple steps to Bavarian holiday bliss.
1. Go crazy with decorations
Lights
When you want to recreate a German Christmas market at home, you better be ready to LED like you’ve never LED’d before.
For your at-home Weihnachtsmarkt you’ll want lights, baby, lights! String lights and icicle lights and candles!
Lights on the ceiling, lights around the perimeter, lights on the tables and chairs and windows. The better to see how much rum you’re pouring into your mulled wine, my dear.
For my recreation I used:
- A couple sets of these LED string lights in “warm white”
- This set of icicle string lights in “warm white”
- Standard tea light candles in birch bark log candle holders
I hung the icicle lights around the perimeter of the room I was using, draped one set of string lights back and forth across the ceiling, and used the other set around the tree and along the garland on the windows. These sets are really long and offer great coverage.
I opted for “warmer” tones of lights for that glow-y holiday feel (not the hyper-blue/white, “inside of an industrial freezer” shade of traditional LED bulbs).
These lights were easy to hang and don’t get insanely tangled up like the versions of yore. I used my staple gun to hang them and it was exhilarating. (There was such a clatter.) I highly recommend picking one up if you don’t already have one.
Décor
For décor you’ll want to go just as chocolate-covered bananas. A Christmas tree is mandatory, along with:
- Pine garland – this is the kind I used and I love it. Super long, doesn’t shed, easy to hang.
- Red bows
- Faux poinsettias
- Gold hanging star lamps (lots of different varieties in that link!)
- Nutcrackers, like this beer- and pretzel-yielding version
- Santa figurines
- Incense smokers
- Traditional wooden ornaments or these adorable lebkuchen ornaments
- Whatever else you use to spruce up your home for the holidays. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.
You may recognize my gold stars from my at-home Oktoberfest party. And yes, you can reuse many of the same things here! I also reused my gold tablecloth.
If you set up your shindig outside like I did, you’ll also want to have cozy blankets on hand.
Fun fact: Nutcrackers originated in Germany in the 1600s.
Make it German
To make my at-home Christmas market a little more German, I:
- hand-painted some imitation half-timbered façades to help set the scene (well, did my best at least). I used a basic display board (remember middle school science projects?) and acrylic paint
- Cut out and painted some gold Christmas stars
- Display a German Christmas pyramid
- Baked and hung some lebkuchenherzen (more on that in a minute)
- Used some of the miscellaneous trinkets I’ve picked up in Germany
- Decorated with small German and Bavarian flags (I get all my miniature flags from a store called miniatureflagshop.com. They have everything and the flags are great quality and super cheap.)
2. Set up your space outside
For optimal holiday effect, set up your mock Christmas market outside your home. If you’ve got a large front or back porch, screened-in porch, deck, garage, driveway, carport, or anything, that makes the perfect spot for your German Christmas market at home.
This way, you’ll get all the cool temperatures, fresh air, light snow, night sky, and wintery smells that you would strolling the markets in Germany. And, if your version is anything like mine, you’ll also be visited by a family of deer. (I couldn’t have planned that any better.)
I’m lucky to have a large screened-in porch and deck behind my house and it was so much more fun and “authentic” than partying in my kitchen. Plus, the deer would’ve made a huge mess.
If you don’t have the option of recreating a European Christmas market outdoors, do so inside but turn off the heat and open the windows.
Tear open the shutters and throw up the sash! If “OMG I’m fuh-reezing!” doesn’t leak from your lips at least once, you’re doing it wrong. Winter is the star here, don’t forget the most important part!
Related: For when you’re ready to make your shopping list and check it twice, check out my post on perfect Oktoberfest gift ideas! This post has 32+ awesome gift ideas for Oktoberfest lovers. From clothing to home décor, to art and pets, to food and fun and so. much. more.
3. Prepare all the iconic foods & drinks
Besides inviting Jack Frost, the most important part of recreating a German Christmas market at home is serving all the iconic food and drinks. Check out my full post on German Christmas market foods you can enjoy at home (w/ recipes).
Glühwein
For starters, glühwein is mandatory. Glühwein, or mulled wine, is a hot, spiced wine that combines red wine, run or brandy, oranges and orange juice, and a collection of spices.
Glühwein is served hot in adorable Christmas mugs and will keep you warm and jolly all night.
Brewing it will fill your house with the most amazing holiday smells and send you right back to Berlin, or Stuttgart, or Rothenburg, or [insert fave German Christmas city here].
Check out my foods post for a great glühwein recipe and pick up your very own MWL glühwein mug here!
Pro Tip: thrift stores are great places to find cheap, cute Christmas mugs.
Christmas market foods
For food, be sure to whip up some (or all) of the following Christmas market foods:
- Candied roasted almonds
- Potato pancakes (kartoffelpuffer)
- Flammkuchen
- Mushrooms with garlic sauce
- Currywurst + fries
- Schneeballen (sugary snowballs from Rothenburg ob der Tauber)
- Waffles with Nutella
- Stollen (German Christmas cake)
- And many, many more.
Like I said above, I’ve got a full post on German Christmas market foods that are easy to make at home and I’ve included recipes for them all. Check it out!
Lebkuchenherzen
Also on the list of must-have foods for your at-home German Christmas market is lebkuchenherzen, but you might know them as the decorated gingerbread heart cookies.
These gingerbread cookies aren’t just for Oktoberfest—gingerbread cookies being a super Christmas-y thing and all. I love making these for my German-themed parties at home and, though they are a bit of work, they are so worth it! Fill them with holiday images and phrases and hang them around your house.
Not only are these cookies delicious and fun to make, they also make great holiday decorations. I use them as part of my German Christmas market décor then send them home with my friends.
You can get the cookie and icing recipes in my foods post above.
4. Dress the part
Whether you’re having your German Christmas market at home inside or outside, dressing the part is important. Your get-together won’t have the same festive feeling if you simply come downstairs in your pajamas to get blitzen-ed on rum-spiked wine. (But no judgment – you do you!)
When recreating a German Christmas market at home, be sure to break out the puffy coats and winter hats. Pull on the mittens and the earmuffs. Step into your boots and wrap yourself in a cozy scarf. Ma’s already in her kerchief. (Check out the Wanderlusty Holiday shop here for cute German Christmas shirts!)
Looking for another excuse to don a dirndl? Do it! You can winterize it with a long-sleeved blouse, some leggings, and a cute sweater. Afraid to look too Oktoberfest-y? Check out the Everyday Dirndl from Rare Dirndl.
This simple dirndl was designed to wear any damn day. I personally have the gray one and it’s my absolute favorite. (Plus, it looks totally winter. And by that I mean I’m told I give off serious Arendelle vibes when I wear it.)
While you’re over at Rare Dirndl, also pick up one of her Krampus infinity scarves. Each year Erika creates a new Krampus scarf for the holiday season. They’re creepy, hella weird, and an absolute must-have.
Promo Code: Use the code: MYWANDERLUSTYLIFE at raredirndl.com to save 10%.
Which brings me to…
5. Add Krampus to the mix
So you’re worried you’re going way too heavy on the ho-ho-holidays? A wee bit too much Hark! The herald angels sing? Add a little Krampus to the mix.
Whilst Saint Nicholas rewards the well-behaved children with presents, his associate Krampus punishes the bad ones.
If you’re not familiar, Krampus is a half-goat, half-demon who serves as the anti-Santa during the holidays in Austria, southern Germany, and surrounding areas.
He’s covered in hair, and has fangs, a long forked tongue, horns, and hooves. He carries birch branches to swat at children and a basket in which to snatch up naughty kids (to drown, eat, or cart off to Hell).
You. Cannot. Make. This. Stuff. Up. (Krampus is actually my favorite part of incorporating German traditions into my holiday celebrations.)
At the Munich Christmas market in early December, you can witness the 500-year-strong Krampus Run during which 300 Krampuses scare the sh*t out of people and whip their children with branches. Such a beautiful holiday tradition.
Krampusnacht
If you ever thought your Christmas season needed a little more Nightmare on Elm Street, you’re in luck! Krampus actually has his own German Christmas holiday known as Krampusnacht.
While the feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6th, the night before is all for Krampus. Mwahaha!
On Krampus Night (December 5th), Krampus visits homes to pass out coal and sticks and hopefully not swipe your spawn. People dressed at Krampus take to the streets to frighten children into not being little jerks, if only for a time.
Invite Krampus to your party
To add a little bit of Bavaria to your German Christmas market at home, make sure Krampus makes an appearance.
You can pick up this too-perfect Krampus mask (or this too terrifying version). Good lord there are actually a ton of horrifying Krampus masks on Amazon.
You can also hit up your local Spirit Halloween store during October for some good stuff. (Like the “Voodoo” mask I used this year.) The fur coat, leather pants, and black lipstick I already owned. It’s like I was born to play this role.
You can also:
- fly one of these Krampus flags
- hang these Krampus ornaments from your tree
- watch this Krampus holiday horror/comedy
- hang this Krampus sign prominently in your lovely home
- decorate with these Krampus pillows
- make some Krampus cookies
- wear anything from Rare Dirndl’s Krampus collection
Remember, he sees you when you’re sleeping. Have a great time!
Supplies for a German Christmas Market at Home
There are a few key items that take your at-home holiday party from mundane to German Christmas market. Pick up these items for authenticity's sake.
Adorable Christmas mugs for glühwein
Don't put glühwein in just any ol' coffee mug. Make it Christmas-y and make it cute. This 3-piece set is perfect for your party.
Paper food cones for nuts
These paper food cones (bamboo actually) are ideal for serving your candied roasted almonds, roasted chestnuts, or just any kind of nuts in general.
Paper food boats
These paper food boats are perfect for serving everything at your German Christmas market at home. Currywurst? Perfect! Mushrooms? Perfect! Waffles? PERFECT!
Eco-friendly compostable paper plates
If boats aren't your thing, these sturdy and eco-friendly paper plates are a great way to sustainably stay on-theme.
Bamboo currywurst forks
My theme parties stop at nothing in the name of authenticity. Pick up some of these currywurst toothpick forks for a culinary experience close to the real thing.
32-Piece Cake Decorating Supplies Kit
Decorating the lebkuchenherzen is so fun! I've done it four times already this year. Pick up this simple set of icing tips and supplies to decorate your own gingerbread heart cookies. (Can also be used for gingerbread houses!)
Presto Ceramic Belgian Waffle Maker
Look, if you don't have a waffle maker by now, I highly recommend it. For Christmas parties, for lazy Sunday mornings, all of it.
Happy German Christmas market at home to all and to all a good night!
What’s your favorite German Christmas market?
Let me know below!
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13 German Christmas Market Foods You Can Enjoy At Home (w/ Recipes!)
I love everything about this post! We had a wonderful opportunity to make it to Austria in 2021 to go to the Christmas markets and I have missed the atmosphere and festivities ever since! We got to see Krampus (scared the poo out of the kids, but they were the best behaved after and even talk about him coming for them this day – we make an offering of a new ‘bad kid basket’ every year to placate him). I have wanted to host a Christmasmarkt party for a long time, mostly for an excuse to consume copious amounts of glühwein, but also because it feels so cozy and inviting. With your recommendations I think I’m going to finally pull the trigger?!?
That’s so awesome, Stella! I definitely think you should do this!
Do you have any suggestions for German Christmas market music??
Surprisingly no, I do not have a complete German Christmas market playlist. Yet…
So recreating a German Christmas means dressing up as Satan complete with the devil horns sipping hot chocolate while by the Christmas tree! I didn’t know Satan even celebrated Christmas but I guess we learn something new everyday eh?
Not Satan… Krampus. But yes, that’s mostly correct.
I stumbled on this post while searching for which of the Christmas market is still open in Germany. I am in Germany right now and due to this situation of the pandemic, I was not really sure if could travel somewhere coming Christmas. This post really made me smile. You have gone all out and have given some really good advice here. Kudos
Thank you! I hope you get to experience from Christmas market magic this year – whether at home or in town. 🙂
Love your posts about recreating a festival or event at home. Great way to still experience German Christmas markets at home, while we all have to miss them this year.
Thanks Cosette!
This post is just too stinkin’ cute and clever. Your porch looks absolutely amazing and I love that you just went all in on vicarious travel. I’ll definitely be incorporating some of the ideas into this year’s Christmas celebrations. I’d rather be making some German treats than just crying over my dusty passport!
Thank you Ada! My porch is a little holiday haven lol. These treats are so easy to make too!
This sounds like so much fun. My children have been to Germany with a German exchange student program. They would love a party like this. Thanks for the ideas!
Awesome, thank you!
I love this! You got the German Christmas market foods spot on! I am a German in central Germany and even we won’t make it to the Christmas markets this year because they are all getting cancelled and we are currently in an open ended lockdown… I have a ton of these little smokers and I might just get my fake tree out a bit early and do the same as you. I can make the mulled wine a ton stronger too because I can roll right into bed after my German Weihnachtsmarkt at home, perfect
Thank you! I love my little Smokey Haha, and yes on the glühwein! Too perfect!
Oh my this is awesome! We live in Germany and we just found out this week that this year´s Xmas market is cancelled in our town – it´s really one of the few things I like in Germany haha, but I might use some of your ideas and recreate one at home. Thanks for this!
Thanks Katja! It’ll be super easy for you to recreate this! You have access to all the best goodies and foods 🙂
I love this so much! What a fun idea to bring the market home. I love that you went all-in, with decorations and clothes and everything!
Thanks so much Megan! Go big or go home, I always say. Even if I don’t even leave my home
Thank you so much for this! I’m a German girl living abroad and I love to spend the Christmas time in Germany. However, I don’t want to get sick so I decided not to go there this year. I’ll definitely remember this list so I can bring a little bit of Germany to my home abroad 🙂
I think most of the Christmas markets in Germany are canceled for this year anyway. I hope you’re able to recreate at least a little bit wherever you are! 🙂
I love this article! What a great idea. I usually travel to Europe to experience the Christmas markets every year and I’m sad I’m not going this year. I will definitely use this guide to recreate the German markets at home this year. 🙂 Love your decorations and I also have a Rare Dirndl!
Thanks Taylor! Everyone’s sad about this year. And Rare Dirndl is the best!
This is just in time! I was supposed to spend several weeks in Germany next month, and had to cancel my trip today due to the new lockdown measures. I’ll be celebrating Germany style at home, and a get together is in order to watch the Krampus movie!
Thank you for all the wonderful ideas!!! My wife and I are planning on introducing a small group of friends to Feuerzangenbowle on our front porch this winter. We typically buy a large Christmas tree for our front porch anyway (except for last year when we were in Munich just before Christmas enjoying all the markets), and this year we’re inviting friends over to celebrate the season outside. We do live in Indiana, so a portable fire pit and patio heater along with blankets will be utilized. We’re also going to talk to a local German sausage-maker to see if he will make Fränkische Feuerwurst for us. Nothing says Christmas like a half-meter long hot dog.
Yeah!! That all sounds amazing! I love the half-meter wieners LOL. We had friends over for our party last week (early, yes, but that way I could get this post out) and had so much fun. We’re in Massachusetts and got TONS of snow last week anyway so it definitely felt like Christmas. Have a great time!