For folks in the USA, black friday marks the beginning of the holiday season. A day after Thanksgiving, stores are opened early, prices are slashed and people go a-shopping.

In Germany, the festive mood of Christmas begins -- in a more traditional way --- on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent. All over the country, christmas markets (also known as weihnachtsmarkt) are opened to welcome locals and tourists alike.

From big cities to small towns, the smell, sight and sounds of Christmas permeats the air. Stollen, lebkuchen, gluehwein, sausages and roasted sugar almonds will beckon your stomach while you listen to christmas carols and twinkling colored lights guide your way around the old city square.

And there's more than just food. You can buy all kinds of traditional items to give as gifts or to keep as souvenir.

Of all the weihnachtsmarkt, the biggest and most famous is the one in Nuremberg. It's located at the Hauptmarkt. To get there, you must take the underground to the Lorenzkirche stop (U1) or bus 36 to Hauptmarkt. Check out the official site of Nuremberg for more information on Hotel Booking, flights and other packages available.