SPIEGEL ONLINE
- January 13, 2012
For many German zoos, a high point of the animal year is the arrival of discarded Christmas trees. Thousands are fed to elephants, camels, polar bears and a variety of other animals. The trees are rich in Vitamin C and other healthy properties. However, the tradition is threatened at some zoos because of the use of chemicals to make trees last longer. By Alex Macbeth in Berlin more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 20, 2011
In its efforts to increase tourism, the city of Nuremberg, home to the world-famous Christkindlesmarkt, is seeking to attract more visitors from China. But a recent visit by Chinese guests to the market demonstrated how challenging it can be to pitch the holiday to guests from Shanghai or Beijing. By Nora Gantenbrink more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 14, 2011
With a man dressed as Santa still wreaking havoc in Berlin's Christmas markets, where he has been handing out spiked drinks, police are ramping up their search with a composite sketch of the suspect. They are also warning visitors and residents alike not to accept drinks from strangers. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 12, 2011
Christmas markets in Berlin receive millions of visitors every year and provide a window into German festive culture. But a middle-aged man serving vodka-schnapps spiked with what may be a date-rape drug is spreading fear in the nation's capital, with eight victims in the past week. Your Glühwein is safe, but beware of free drinks from strangers, police warn. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 06, 2011
Jesus may have millions of followers worldwide, but Joseph of Nazareth isn't doing too poorly himself -- on Twitter at least. An anonymous poster in Germany is taking a new look at the Nativity, and is micro-blogging it from the perspective of Mary's man. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- November 23, 2011
Germany's world-famous Christmas markets have begun opening, offering residents some much-anticipated sparkle and cheer for the chilly winter. SPIEGEL ONLINE gets in a festive mood with the highlights so far. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 24, 2010
Santa Claus can do it all: deliver presents, climb down chimneys, fly through the Christmas sky in his sleigh. And, as it happens, he can also make arrests. On Thursday, he busted a suspected member of the Sicilian mafia. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 22, 2010
Christmas-related tourism is big business in Germany. The country's Christmas markets are famous throughout the world, and every December thousands of visitors head to towns where traditional baubles and decorations are made. But the old-fashioned image of Advent tourism may be about to change. By Cathrin Schaer in Lauscha, Thuringia more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 22, 2010
Local people risk their health and often their lives for a pittance every year in the mountains of Georgia so that families in Germany and other European countries can celebrate Christmas under sweet-smelling fir trees. Now a Danish organization is trying to make the business safer for workers. By Matthias Schepp more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- December 16, 2010
German children have been sending letters to Santa Claus for several decades now. Volunteers at special Christmas post offices write back to tens of thousands of kids each year. But, unlike in the US or France, Father Christmas in Germany won't be going online any time soon. By Simon Book more...
