We traditionally welcome travellers in the run-up to Christmas with our sparkling "Alstertanne". Anyone arriving in Hamburg by train will recognise it immediately: Every year it shines in the middle of the Inner Alster lake. For over 20 years, this Christmas tree has stood in the centre of the festively decorated city and shows its most beautiful side during a walk or a boat trip around the Alster. Right next door is the "White Magic" Christmas market on Jungfernstieg.

This Christmas, the choreography of the fairytale ballet "The Nutcracker" by the world-famous ballet director John Neumeier can once again be experienced at the Hamburg State Opera. The production is a Christmas classic. The music by Peter Tchaikovsky and especially the famous "Nutcracker Suite" evoke childhood memories and Christmas feelings - an extraordinary and festive experience in the pre-Christmas season. Performances: 14, 17, 20, 28, 30 December 2023 and 01 January 2024.

In the coming winter season, the Loki Schmidt Garden will be transformed into a fairytale-like and luminous landscape for the first time. With breathtaking light shows, artfully designed architecture and imaginative illuminated figures, the Christmas Garden will be created here - an idyllic, Christmas open-air oasis. Numerous luminous highlights have been created exclusively for the Christmas Garden Hamburg 2023, which can be experienced exclusively on site.

The Christmas Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most popular classical works during Christmas time. In the run-up to Christmas, the oratorio is also performed in the magnificent baroque church of St. Michaelis. Two concerts will take place here on the weekend before Christmas - on 16 and 17 December 2023, the choir of St. Michael's Church and the Orchestra of St. Michael's, with members of the Philharmonic State Orchestra and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, among others, will present the complete oratorio in two parts.

For many families in northern Germany, attending the children's musical "The Christmas Bakery" has already become an annual Christmas tradition. It tells the adventurous story of three siblings and their dog who have to overcome quite a few challenges together during the Christmas season. 20 of Rolf Zuckowski's most magical winter and Christmas songs are also part of the experience, including of course the familiar title song.

"Little Red Riding Hood" is probably one of the best-known fairy tales performed by the Brothers Grimm in their collection. From 1 to 30 December 2023, the creators Alexandra Kurzeja and Torben Padanyi will take their family theatre (for children aged 4 and over) to the Winterhuder Fährhaus, where they will turn this enchanting fairytale world upside down: A trendy grandmother, a fearful huntsman and a joyful reunion with numerous familiar characters from past Christmas fairy tales of the renowned boulevard theatre guarantee unforeseen twists and turns. The fairytale entertainment is enhanced by the rocking music of Arne Gedigk and Mats Sharma of RADAU! ("Aschen Puttel", "Das Hamburger Dschungelbuch") to a musical delight.

Peter Beauvais' production of Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel" celebrated its premiere on St. Nicholas Day in 1971, making it the oldest production in the opera repertoire of the Hamburg State Opera. Generations now associate it with their first visit to the opera and so it is a tradition for many families. The opera fairy tale still enchants young people from the age of 8 and awakens memories in opera lovers. Performances: 16, 18, 19 and 26 December 2023.

Stroll through the Hanseatic city's most beautiful Christmas markets with mulled wine in one hand and roasted almonds in the other! The historic Christmas market between the town hall and the Alster lake offers a very special experience: here you will find a variety of handmade gift ideas, delicious gingerbread as well as  wood-carved figures. Let yourself be enchanted by the festive and cosy Christmas atmosphere – and best of all – Santa flies over the town hall market in his sleigh.

"Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia," sings the Lucia Choir in the main church of St. Peter's, ushering in the Christmas season with their singing on 12 December 2023. It is said that the candlelight streams through the house and drives out the darkness. And so the Queen of Lights Lucia enters the church together with the choir and floods the room with light and festive spirit. For many Hamburg residents and visitors, the Swedish Lucia concert full of joy and brightness in December is a firm tradition at the beginning of the dark season.

Es hat bereits Tradition, dass Ervis Gega, Künstlerische Leiterin der Klassischen Philharmonie Bonn, und ihr Konzert-Tournee-Orchester einladen, musikalisch Weihnachten zu feiern. Am 5. Dezember 2023 präsentieren sie in der Laeiszhalle, dem traditionsreichen Konzerthaus am Johannes-Brahms-Platz, ein Programm zwischen Barock und Romantik. Musikalische Weihnachtstimmung kommt auf bei u. a. Manfredinis „Weihnachtskonzert“ sowie Vivaldis äußerst virtuoses Violinkonzert, bekannt als „Grosso Mogul“ sowie bei Stücken der Barockmeister Marcello und Händel. Den krönenden Abschluss bilden Kompositionen von Edward Elgar, Franz Schubert und Fritz Kreisler ­– die zu den unbestrittenen Favoriten des Publikums zählen.