It has not been a good year for the Christmas markets in Germany. With so much damp and wet weather, many people have been staying away from them. After all, it is not much fun drinking Glühwein in the rain.

It has only been the last weekend in December when the temperature sank below zero – actually it sank a long way below zero – and there was some snow on the ground.

So rather than the planned series of podcasts from local Christmas markets, here is a summary of our attempts to visit them during the past weeks:

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With only one week to go until Christmas, Maria and Graham discuss how they celebrate with elements of different cultures and how much they stay with German traditions.

When do you celebrate on the 24th and when on the 25th of December? Who brings the presents – the Christkind, Weihnachtsmann or Santa Claus?

Listen to the podcast to find out:

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The Monday Podcast will return in the New Year.