GERMANY used to be divided into two after World War II. But over time in a span of two decades, the eastern part of what used to be the divided nation is slowly catching up – even Christmas celebrations. Germany is a relatively Christian country and lots of folks here celebrate Christmas. On the other hand, there are also lots of Jews here and so they celebrate Hanukah the same time we celebrate Christmas – in the middle of winter. Winters here in Germany tend to be very cold. And so there are numerous wintry sports here such as ice skiing, sled racing and even horseback riding and hiking in the snow-covered mountains.

This is really an adventurer’s haven all the more enjoying because of the very cold climate with temperatures at times dropping below -8 degrees Celsius. That’s how harsh a German winter climate can be but the Germans have an easy compensation – simply drink beer and the warmth will flow naturally in your body. No wonder beer is an expertise something that Germans have. They want to do anything which will keep them warm in the middle of winter. Also, if you travel to Germany during this season, you need to bring along with you lots of clothing to protect yourself from cold. Once here, all your current outerwear will become part of your underwear or innerwear.

Just make sure you don’t bring any cottony fiber with you because cotton tends to absorb moisture. But these tips are only for the thrifty. For those who can afford it, indulge in shopping. Shopping here in Germany is the same way it is done all over the Western world although you may be awkward at first because everywhere you look, you will always see and hear everything in German. Don’t be too surprised that not every member of the populace speaks English; some speak halting English, others never at all. The European Union has mandated every of its member nation to make it mandatory for its high school students to learn a second language.

But being here in Germany during Christmas really beats being in Japan. First of all, the Japanese are not Christians and they do not use the Roman alphabet so it would be very ridiculous for you to try understanding Japanese characters etched in the middle of Tokyo which is said to be the New York City in Asia. There are lots of cities in Germany you can explore throughout the season. Let’s start off with Berlin. Berlin was once upon a time torn into two – the eastern part belongs to East Germany and the western part belongs to West Germany of course. Now Berlin is a perfect example of how a typical urbane city in Europe looks like. It is complete with almost everything that it is currently classified as a second-class global city. Despite that, there are still towering architectures of old in such old glories as Cologne. You will see distinctively-shaped cathedrals in that city and other snippets from the Gothic era.