Dutch Diary wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas, with lots of good food, many wonderful gifts and fabulous time with your families.

We are spending Christmas in neighbouring Germany, and below is a picture of the nativity scene, handcrafted by an artisan at the Christmas market.

Christmas Markets are a favourite part of Christmas for me. And nowhere does it get any better than in Germany.

For the uninitiated, Christmas markets here start from the First Advent (the first Sunday after Nov 26) and last till Dec 23. If you thought consumerism was a new addition to Christmas, you would be surprised to find that Christmas markets date back to the 15th century. The first Christmas market was in Dresden in 1434, where they started with selling Striezel (now known as Stollen), a kind of fruitcake. Then it grew to accommodate villagers who found it a good way to sell their Christmas wares. Soon, artisans and craftsmen joined in the Christmas market frenzy and they are all now are an integral part of the markets. Over the centuries, this tradition has survived as it brings together people in a joyous celebration and adds colour and warmth to the dreary winter nights.

Christmas markets in Germany have an indescribable charm of their own. Standing under the starlight, munching on Cinnamon stars and watching the artisans work, you might be forgiven for wondering if you have timetravelled to medieval times. Christmas markets don’t just amaze you with the beautiful sights, but the wonderful smells can blow your “nose” away - the warm smell of baked gingerbread (Magenbrot and Lebkuchen) and the traditional Chrisstollen (the cake that started it all), the aroma of freshly fried nuts of varied kinds, and the unmistakable faint fruity scent of the slowly mulled Glühwein all add to a glorious olfactory experience. Throw in some festive music and the occasional marching bands of Santa Claus, and you have an exhilarating all-round Christmas experience, not to be missed.