Another Year of Cancelled Christmas Markets?

I think we all feel that way...

Oh no! We just scheduled a Thanksgiving trip to Germany for me to show my family all around where I lived as a teenager. I specifically wanted to show them the opening of the Christmas markets! Your note prompted me to look further into this. Looks like the timing is bad for several reasons.

I scheduled a water cruise thru ama sailing from amsterdam to Basel . All stops at Christmas markets . Leaving this December . So far ok . No mention of problems.

Great. We are going to Oktoberfest prior to our RS trip. I cannot imagine the Germans going 3 years without the Christmas markets or Oktoberfest. I'll be keeping an eye out on this one. Thx for the heads up.

Not sure if that quality paper is a reliable source about German Christmas markets.

CNBC reports nat gas in Germany costs 10 times what it does in the northeastern US. If I recall the report correctly the current stockpile in Germany is ~65% of what it would normally be at this time of year.
I would expect there will be some serious conservation measures implemented.

What segments of the economy will be deemed essential and get power ( or be able to afford it) will almost certainly disrupt some parts of the economy.

Even heard there is consideration of reactivating coal fired power plants.

The Washington Post reported that some coal plants are being reactivated and that there is consideration to keeping the nuclear power plants active beyond the planned closure dates. We made reservations in the spring and now I fear that we will be part of the problem. I suppose Germany will tell us all if they feel it is necessary to cut back the tourist industry.

"The Mirror" did not cite any official source.

Not sure if that quality paper is a reliable source about German Christmas markets.

Not sure if that quality paper is a reliable source about ANYTHING!

Planning a Christmas Market trip for December and completely did not take into consideration the energy issue for Europe and especially Germany.

We are hopeful they will happen - we go over every year and have had a Xmas Market River Cruise cancel for the past 2 years due to Covid. We were all set to go last year and the Markets closed TWO DAYS before they were set to open - the vendors were there and ready to open. I certainly hope we get to go this year, but who knows!!??

That paper in the OP reference is a British Tabloid full of sleazy articles if you dig a little deeper. I don't trust it.

If you are concerned about German Christmas Markets, the Markets in Budapest happened last year and I am certain will happen this year. They open 18 November.

I am scheduled on a Rhine Christmas Market Cruise in late November. One stop is Cologne, nothing about cancellations on their official website:

https://www.cologne-tourism.com/see-experience/christmas/

Nothing about Munich either...

https://www.muenchen.de/veranstaltungen/event/15626.html

Fingers crossed!

@Scudder Ditto about the Mirror. That paper is a total rag. If reputable news outlets start talking about the cancellation of Christmas markets due to the energy situation in Germany, then I'll pay attention.

"The Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid-sized newspaper that is considered to be engaged in tabloid-style journalism.[2] "

Good lucks with your travels!

Also see articles on Reuters and NYT….unfortunately the gas crisis in Germany and other parts of Europe is real. If you get in bed with a Scorpion you will get stung…Europe needs to find alternative natural gas sources other than Russia.

"Europe needs to find alternative natural gas sources other than Russia"

Not easily done in an economically efficient manner. Hungary has already said they won't be turning off Russian gas.

I would be shocked if they cancelled the markets, the anger the vendors would have would make this just politically so risky after the last minute cancellations last year. However there's already lots of discussion of less lights and other measures to save energy.

Unfortunately Germany has a overblown fear of Nuclear energy and that kicked into high gear after Fukushima (Germans apparently didn't realize they're seismically stable and not prone to tsunamis...) I hope this crisis will make the younger generations more willing to consider Nuclear like their neighbor France does quite well.