Christmas markets open in some German cities, others cancelled

With about a month to go before the holidays, traditional Christmas markets are due to open in Germany on Monday.

But some organizers have decided to cancel due to the pandemic.

The Christmas markets in Nuremberg, Dresden and Munich are among those not opening on Monday.

Despite rising tension due to a fast-increasing number of infections, large Christmas markets in Berlin, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Kiel, Luebeck and at Cologne Cathedral are expected to open as planned.

Depending on what state they are located and how the markets are set up, differing sets of rules will apply, from 3G (visitors must be vaccinated, recovered or tested) to 2G (only visitors who are vaccinated or have recovered are allowed).

Large Christmas markets are already running in cities like Essen, Duisburg, Dortmund, Dusseldorf and Freiburg.