Germany's many Christmas markets are ideal places to shop for holiday goods. With sometimes hundreds of vendors selling handmade crafts and artisanal gifts, there's a lot to choose from.

In some places, this gift-bringer evolved into a distinct character: a female angel with flowing blond locks. Instead of writing to Santa, Austrian children send their Christmas letters to her ...

The Christ Child - seen here played by Barbara Otto in 2016 - opens Nuremberg's Christmas market The mayor ... teenage girl picked to be a Christmas gift-bringer. A member of Alternative for ...

Senelis in Lithuania or Babbo Natale in Italy, the bearded gift-bringer is modelled on ... has brought Christmas presents in Germany, usually on Christmas Eve, December 24, or a day later, on ...