An Easter Bunny protests against Christmas. This grumpy creature has climbed up the tower of the Nikolai Church in Roemer Square, Frankfurt.
Erotic models dressed like Christmas angels slide down a small hill made of artificial snow at the so-called "Horny Christmas Market" at the famous red light district "Reeperbahn" in Hamburg.
Handicrafts are a traditional part of Christmas markets. Hand-made old-fashioned houses are on sale at a stall in Erfurt's Christmas market. There is also a fairy tale forest, a backer's shop and a candlemaker's workshop.
Lübeck's Christmas market glimmers with fairy lights. The birthplace of Thomas Mann, the medieval city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Eva Sattler, dressed as Christkindl (Christ Child), recites the traditional prologue for the opening ceremony of Germany's oldest Christkindlesmarkt. The first official record of the market dates from 1628.
Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher and his wife Cora attended the opening of the Christmas market in Gut Aiderbichl near Salzburg, Austria. They were snapped in front of the donkey in the nativity crib.
There's a lot of window shopping at the Christmas markets. Here visitors to one of Berlin's markets check out one of the many stalls.
People look at Christmas tree decorations, during the traditional opening of the world-famous Christmas market in Nuremburg's historic center on Friday, Dec. 1.
A brightly-colored Giant Wheel is part of the Christmas market next to Berlin's Cathedral.
Spoilt for choice: Visitors to Munich's Christmas market try to decide which of the thousands of decorations are just right for their Christmas tree.
Stalls reflected in a Christmas tree bauble at the Memorial Church in Berlin. The market is extending its strech to New Year's Eve for the first time this year.
Cologne's historic cathedral forms the backdrop for its traditional yuletide market.
A seagull manages to pick up a treat at Hamburg's Christmas market.
Huge Lebküchen fascinate this Christmas shopper at Stuttgart's Christmas market. The market is one of the biggest in Germany
Marching to their doom: Julia Klingehoff herds her flock of geese from a meadow. The poultry are fattened in the fresh air before getting the Christmas chop.
