Just recently, the general mood towards the Christmas market was different. Many cities, organizers and also voices from politics clearly spoke out in favor of a Christmas market in 2020. But the current infection numbers are causing a rethink. With over 7,000 new infections per day (as of October 21, 2020), Germany is heading for a record high in terms of Corona. And of course this changes a lot. Will the Christmas markets 2020 now officially take place?
Christmas markets 2020: all facts at a glance
- Christmas market in Leipzig without mulled wine
- Hamburg: Winter garden instead of Santa Pauli
- Frankfurt is planning with more space
- Confirmation for the Christmas market in Essen
- Heidelberg Christmas market in several locations
- Nuremberg Christmas market is to take place
- Christmas markets in NRW officially approved
- Christmas market in Dortmund: Group visits only with registration
- Christmas market bustle in Saxony is also possible without a mask
- Bavaria: Markus Söder for Christmas markets
Leipzig Christmas market 2020 without mulled wine
Saxony, one of the federal states with once very few new infections, also has to rethink due to the current infection numbers. After very loose corona measures were originally planned, including no mask requirement, a different orientation now applies to Leipzig’s Christmas market. As the MDR reports, the Leipzig Christmas market should be much smaller this year. There should be stalls with Christmas decorations, lights and of course the traditional Christmas tree on the market square in Leipzig this year too. However: the serving of mulled wine and other gastronomic sales offers should be avoided.
Hamburg is planning a winter garden instead of Santa Pauli
Hamburg’s “hottest Christmas market” will not take place as usual this year. The operators announced this to the press. From November 6th, instead of the Christmas market, a kind of “winter garden” will take place on Spielbudenplatz. Of course, the required hygiene measures and the financial situation are decisive for this decision. Mulled wine and live music should still be available. However, those who come must leave their contact details there.
Frankfurt am Main presents hygiene concept and announces planning
The city of Frankfurt am Main has also announced its plans to prepare for the Christmas market. This year’s Christmas market 2020 is to take place in a straightened manner and on a larger area. The Opernplatz will also be used as a Christmas market this year. Gastronomic stands and stalls should set up a consumption area that complies with hygiene standards. The Frankfurt Christmas market, one of the largest in Hessen, is to take place from November 23rd to December 22nd.
Christmas market 2020: City of Essen confirms
As the WDR reports, the city of Essen confirmed on Monday for the planned Christmas market in 2020. The market is to be built in the city center under strict hygiene requirements. With some changes compared to the previous year. The gastronomy is to be separated from the other sales booths in the Corona year. The mulled wine is served at a total of 14 locations in downtown Essen in order to avoid long lines and crowds. Overall, the stands should have a significantly greater distance from one another. The Christmas market is scheduled from November 13th to December 23rd.
Heidelberg Christmas Market will take place in several locations in 2020
Other cities are trying to solve the hygiene measures with a different concept. The 2020 Christmas market will also take place in Heidelberg – but in several places. “For many people, especially families with children, the Christmas market is a highlight at the end of the year,” said Heidelberg’s Mayor Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner to the press. The city’s hygiene concept includes a fenced-in area in the old town, which can be reached via central entrances and exits, there should also be one-way street systems and hand disinfection dispensers should be set up. In addition, a mask requirement applies.
Confirmed: Nuremberg Christmas Market will take place in 2020
There was never an official cancellation. Now the confirmation came: the Nuremberg Christmas market is taking place. This year, however, under stricter corona regulations. The current hygiene concept includes a one-way street regulation and a general mask requirement. A crowd of people should be avoided. Nuremberg economics officer Michael Fraas told the press: “The 2020 Christmas market will be more decentralized.”
Christmas markets officially allowed throughout NRW despite Corona
Many have wished that Christmas fans in North Rhine-Westphalia can actually breathe a sigh of relief. As North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Health Karl-Josef Laumann announced, Christmas markets are now officially allowed throughout North Rhine-Westphalia this year as well. However: You have to adhere to the new corona protection regulation. This includes, among other things, a strict hygiene concept, lists of names for mulled wine stands and the guarantee of separate access control.
Sunday shopping before Christmas in NRW approved due to Corona
Also the popular one Christmas shopping in the run-up to Christmas should be made possible – and even on a larger scale. In NRW, for example, during Advent, shops are also allowed to open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday shopping is normally reserved for specific, specified days. This should avoid a strong influx and crush in the shopping areas in the run-up to Christmas.
Christmas market in Dortmund 2020: Group visits only with registration
Also this year there should be a Christmas market in Dortmund, including the largest Christmas tree in the world, as the WDR reports. There will be stalls on Hansaplatz and the old market, the press said. According to the WDR, due to the corona pandemic, a fence is to be built around the Christmas market around Hansaplatz to ensure admission controls and a targeted flow of visitors. If you want to come as a larger group, you have to register your visit online beforehand. It is planned to set up time slots for which you can register online.
No mask requirement at Christmas markets in Saxony
While in all other federal states the regulations have been tightened due to Corona and a strict hygiene concept for the Christmas markets is being worked on, in Saxony the tightened measures are still being refrained from. The government announced that a mask requirement on Christmas markets in the Free State was not mandatory.
The hygiene concept for Christmas markets provides, among other things, that the A minimum distance of 1.5 meters must be guaranteed and the tracking of contacts in the dining area will be made possible.
Markus Söder for opening the Christmas markets
Christmas market yes or no? Many municipalities, cities, organizers and politicians are currently concerned with this question. The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder spoke to the media for the opening of the Christmas markets in 2020. To the “Welt am Sonntag” he explained: “You have to come up with clever concepts for the Christmas night markets.”
In addition, Söder pleads for one Mask compulsory at the Christmas markets and for reduced alcohol consumption. Under these conditions, the Bavarian Prime Minister could imagine a Christmas market.
And the Association of Towns and Municipalities has also changed pronounced against itTo cancel Christmas markets due to Corona at this point in time. “During the pandemic, we learned that flexible reactions and taking local situations into account are the right approach,” said Gerd Landsberg, General Manager of the Association of Towns and Municipalities, to the Funke media group. “Cities and regions will also be included in winter Then you can also have Christmas markets with the appropriate protection concepts, “says Landsberg.
Christmas market 2020: debate about major events continues
Reiner Haseloff, Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, like Markus Söder, spoke out in favor of opening the Christmas markets at an early stage. Operation should be made possible, “As long as the pandemic situation does not necessarily prevent this.”
Christmas market 2020 despite Corona: these cities are planning
In contrast to City of Cologne, which, despite official government approval, canceled all Christmas markets in advance, these cities are working at least on a “kind” Christmas market that can be carried out as part of Corona.
Christmas market dates 2020 in Germany
- Heidelberg: 23.11.-22.12.
- Essen: 13.11.2020-23.12.
- Dortmund: 19.11.-30.12.
- Berlin: Breitscheidplatz 23.11.-03.01./Gendarmenmarkt: 23.11.-31.12./Alexanderplatz: 23.11.-27.12./Schloss Charlottenburg: 23.11.-26.12.
- Nuremberg: Christmas market: November 27th – December 24th / Market of the twin cities: November 27th – December 23rd / Gingerbread market: November 27th – December 23rd
- Dresden: Striezelmarkt: 27.11.-24.12./Frauenkirche: 26.11.-24.12./Neumarkt: 28.11.-23.12.
- Munich: Christmas market: November 23rd – December 24th / Christmas village Munich residence: November 19th – December 22nd
- Saarbrücken Christmas market: 28./29. November; Probably in the Franco-German garden (more information will follow)
- Magdeburg Christmas Market: From November 19th
- Christmas market in Lübeck’s Heiligen-Geist-Hospital: canceled
- Christmas markets in Kiel: From November 23rd to December 23rd; take place (more information will be announced)
annotation: Due to the constantly changing infection rate, this information is of course subject to change. We try to inform you as early as possible about possible changes and cancellations of the Christmas markets 2020 despite Corona.
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Sources:
Christmas markets 2020, in urlaubstracker.de
Cities against early Christmas market cancellation, in: tagesschau.de
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