I loved the variety! There is a small one just outside the main train station, but don't spend all your time there! So much more awaits further into the middle of the city. They have a Christmas Triangle, Renaissance Faire and Pirate themed market, Finnish themed market, and a pop-up forest. Head to the Pirate market for mead--a different kind of alcohol made similarly to wine, but with fermented honey. Don't worry, it's not too sweet! But it's a nice change from regular gluhwein. read more

The Hannover Christmas Market rules! (I mean the one around the Market Church -- I think Hannover has more than one.) There are tons of booths where you can buy handcrafted toys and Christmas decorations. Clothing. Blankets. Leather wallets ...things you would never normally buy on a whim. They are also all kinds of traditional German candies, desserts and festival foods to eat and make you chubby. (TINA, YOU FAT LARD, come get some HAM.) And, of course, there's hot mulled wine (Glühwein) to help get your swerve on. But oh my God is Glühwein SWEET! It's like drinking liquid sugar. I overdid it my first year, so now just the smell alone gives me a stomach ache. That's why every good German knows to bring a flask of hooch to spike it with. Not only does it save you the euro or two you'd pay to add a half ounce of liquor to your Glühwein, but it really takes the edge off the sugar. Just trust me on this one. Bring a flask. Also, my wife and I love the medieval part of the Christmas Market. (It's behind the Historical Museum, next to the river and across from the Nanas.) This year I did the crossbow booth AND the axe-throwing booth. So awesome! The axe booth has a wooden target with the outline of a bear drawn on it, and my first throw nailed him right in his stupid grizzly heart. And my second throw? Right in the plumbs. I kid you not. My wife recorded it with her iPhone. It was epic. Anyway, you gotta check out the Hannover Weihnachtsmarkt. Just be ready for massive crowds, bright lights, loud music and lots of crazy smells... like being assaulted through every orifice of your body. Everyone should experience it at least once. -- Oh God, My Wife Is German. http://ohgodmywifeisgerman.com/ read more