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Christmas market in Frankfurt am Main
Photo: Hannes P. Albert / dpa
Mulled wine, almonds, handicrafts: The Monday after the Sunday of the Dead is the traditional opening day of Christmas markets in Germany.
But this year this is only the case in parts of the republic.
The country is divided: Famous markets such as Nuremberg, Dresden and Munich were canceled due to high corona numbers, in some cases at the last minute.
In some cities such as Essen, Duisburg, Dortmund, Düsseldorf or Freiburg, as well as parts of Berlin and Hamburg, some markets have long been running.
On this Monday, there will be some large and well-known markets - including the Christmas markets in Berlin at the Gedächtniskirche, the Rotes Rathaus and the Gendarmenmarkt as well as markets in Frankfurt am Main, Kiel, Lübeck, Karlsruhe and Cologne Cathedral.
2G or 3G
Depending on the federal state and the structure of the markets, some of which are fenced, strict rules apply - from 3G (visitors must be vaccinated, recovered or tested) to 2G (only vaccinated or recovered).
In Hamburg, for example, the historic Roncalli Christmas market will open again on the Rathausmarkt on Monday after a corona-related compulsory break last year.
The Christmas market also starts at Gänsemarkt, in Eppendorf and in HafenCity.
In addition, the gay and lesbian Christmas market "Winter Pride" starts in St. Georg.
In Potsdam, people can drink their mulled wine on Luisenplatz and Bassinplatz under the 2G rule.
On the other hand, people in Frankfurt (Oder) can prepare for a Christmas market under 3G conditions.
There are two entrances and a mask requirement applies to the entire square, the city informed.
As a precautionary measure, there are fewer stands in Bremen and Hanover than usual, they are spread over a larger area.
Strolling through the markets should be possible without restriction.
However, the 3G rule applies to stands with catering in Bremen.
In Hanover, the regulation is stricter: only those who have been vaccinated or recovered (2G) are catered for.
wit / dpa