Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Dec 30th - January 1st including NYE

New Year's Eve (Silvester)

They call it Silvester and it is the craziest night of the year. If this is your first NYE in Berlin, this is what to expect: 

• Everyone can buy tons of fireworks
• Consequently, explosions everywhere
• Plus parties and lots of alcohol

And if this does not sound like your kind of fun, especially with a baby/toddler or book somewhere as rural as possible (as this noise will be in all major cities). 

There are of course so many options of things to do in Berlin itself: 

• From 6pm : NYE for the whole family in the Spandau Citadel, with fireworks at the end 

Fireworks in the Spandau Citadel

• Several good parties for the clubbers in you, e.g. in Kino International or the Alte Muenze , at https://www.silvester-party-berlin.de/

Hanukkah

In general

• Candles and menorah can be bought in Judaica stores (e.g. Levy's in Hackescher Hoefe), or home-made, free ones (albeit pretty simple) are given by Chabad

• Sufganyot can be of course purchased as Pfannkuchen in every bakery, but for home-made upgraded ones, Yuval Belans offers a variety of interesting combinations (details)

Yuval Balens' Sufganyot

Seventh Candle, December 30th 

• Menorah lighting at the Oranienburger Str Synagogue at 3:30 pm 
• The "Rainbow Jews Chavurah" will light a GLBT and children friendly Menorah at 5pm, with crafts and food (details :  jonathan.rafael.balling@gmx.de )

Furthermore

• NYE fun runs: In the Grunewald (details); in the Plaenterwald on the 31st (details)

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Dec 23rd - 26th and all the way to the 29th, including Hanukkah

Christmas Markets during and after the Holiday

• Until January 1st: Winter World in Potsdamer Platz

• Alexanderplatz: On the 24th till 4pm 

• Breitscheidplatz (Europa Centre): Until January 1st On the 24th till 2pm, on the 25th/26th from 1 till 9 pm 

• Charlottenburg Palace : 12 to 8pm on the 25th/26th (closed on the 24th, the 26th is the last day)

• Opernpalais: Until January1st, on the 25th/26th 11.30 - 9pm, closed on the 24th 

Other Christmas-Related Events

• Every year, fans of Berlin's football (soccer) club FC Union are joining together to sing hymns and spread happiness. A very impressive event, Friday 23rd, at 5pm, in the Stadion Alte Foersterei (details)

• Another tradition, this time highly commercialised, is the Coca Cola Christmas Truck. They come on the 23rd, from 2pm, to the Brandenburg Gate and

Hanukkah

In general

• Candles and menorah can be bought in Judaica stores (e.g. Levy's in Hackescher Hoefe), or home-made, free ones (albeit pretty simple) are given by Chabad

• Sufganyot can be of course purchased as Pfannkuchen in every bakery, but for home-made upgraded ones, Yuval Belans offers a variety of interesting combinations (details)

Yuval Balens' Sufganyot

First Candle, December 24th

• Lighting in Pestalozzistrasse, from 4pm 
• Lighting the candles, singing and eating at the Fraenkelufer Synagogue, from 4:30pm 
• Lighting in Bleibergs, from 6pm (details)
• Party (as in clubbing) at midnight and onwards: Knusperhouse in Ritter Butzke (details) 

Second Candle, December 25th 

• Menorah lighting in Alexanderplatz (near Galeria Kaufhof, between the department store and the 200 bus station) , 6pm 

Third Candle, December 26th

• A guided tour for children in German: "Plätzchen, Latkes, Kerzenschein", about the two holidays. Organised by Stattreisen (not sure how it is) 2pm near the Bode (details)

• Chanukkah on Ice - at the Ice Stadium in Wilmersdorf , from 6:30 pm

Fourth Candle, December 27th 

• The annual tradition: the big Menorah lighting in Brandenburg Gate , starting at 6:30 pm

Fifth Candle, December 28th

• At 6:30 pm: a special Hanukkah concert with rabbi Walter Rothchild and the Minyan Boys, at the Mendelssohn Remise (details)

Sixth Candle, December 29th

• Bubales are back with the Hanukkah puppet theatre! With a Hanukkah party at the Rykestr Synagogue, from 4 pm (please register in advance) 

Seventh Candle, December 30th 

While officially in the next week, it has been already announced that there will be a lighting at the Oranienburger Str Synagogue at 3:30 pm 

Furthermore

• The Peter Pan children opera, Komische Oper, Monday 26th , 4pm 

• On the 26th, at 10:00, a fun run through Grunewald, costumes preferred! (details)

• Every day - Christmas circus in two versions: by Roncalli in the Tempodrom, and the "Berlin Christmas Circus" in the Olympic Stadium (details)

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in

Activities in Berlin for the whole family, December 4-6, including Hanukkah Events

Hanukkah in Berlin

Sunday is the "First Candle" for Eight Crazy Nights here in Berlin. And there are events almost all eight-candles-long! 

First of all, if you need a Menorah (Chanukiah), Chabad usually give one, but there must be ones also in the new kosher supermarket at Wilmersdorfer Strasse 70; the kosher store at Brunnenstr 31 and Joshua also added that Literaturhandlung, at Joachimstaler Strasse 13 (near S-Zoo/U-K'damm) also sells chanukiahs and candles.

First Night, Sunday December 6th

• The day starts at 11:00 at Bambinim West (Brandenburgische Str) with kids activities together with Hashomer Hatzair and lighting the first candle. Registration in advance recommended, further details in the Bambinim Website

• An activity day at the Jewish Museum, including reading "Ein Pferd zu Chanukka" (2 pm), a guided tour for families and at 4 pm a concert and First Candle. Further Information 

Eight Crazy Nights in Berlin

• Cdrafts activities to make your own Menorah at 3pm, followed by candle lighting at 5 pm on Sunday in the Fraenfelufer Synagogue. Pre-registration required (details). 

• Chabad will light the traditional public Menorah in Brandenburg Gate at 6:30 pm 

Second Night, Monday December 7th

• If you know about events, please let me know

Third Night, Tuesday, December 8th

• If you missed "Ein Pferd zu Chanukka" at the Jewish Museum, you can join a reading at the Buchlounge in Zehlendorf, Tuesday at 4:30 pm, Clayallee 343, 14169 Berlin Zehlendorf 

Fourth Night, Wednesday December 9th

• A musical Hanukkah Shacharit in the Rykestrasse Synagogue, at 9:00 am 

• Also in the morning: A special holiday baby brunch at Bambinim West at 11:00 

Fifth Night, Thursday December 10th

• Celebrate Hanukkah with the wonderful Bubales! The puppets are back with their Hanukkah show, in the Fraenkelufer Synagogue, at 5:30 pm (Facebook Event)

Shlomo and the Bubales

• Lighting at the Rykestrasse Synagogue, at 6 pm 

• Lighting at the Central Synagogue (Joachimstaler Str 13) at 6 pm, with a programme for the whole family

• There is also a Klezmer band at the Bleiberg Cafe, with candles etc. at 6:30 pm 

Sixth Night, Friday December 11th

• A big Hanukkah Party in Bambinim East (Fuerstenwalder), starting at 4 pm, and of course with lighting the Menorah. 

• A Hanukkah concert in the Lichtburgforum in Gesundbrunnen, at 5:30 pm (further details) 

Seventh Night, Saturday December 12th

• Chabad are lighting their Menorah in Alexanderplatz near Galeria Kaufhof, Saturday at 8 pm

• There is also a "Weihnukkah" party at the Kibbutz (Ebertystraße 31, 10249 Berlin), from 7 pm Further Information

Eighth and Last Night, Sunday December 13th

• Big Hanukkah Party in Bambinim West, starting at 3 pm 

• Salam-Schalom are lighting a Menorah in Neukoelln (Emser Str. 117, 12051 Berlin), at 6 pm (Further Information) 

• Also at 6 pm: Menorah Lighting in the Feinberg Restaurant

Christmas Market

Almost forgot - It's also Second Advent... 

Only at this weekend

• Sunday, in the old engine hall of the Park Suedgelaende

In the Suedgelaende Engine Hall (Source: YITTI)

• Sat/Sun in Frohnau, near the station. 

• "Fairy Tales" market in the Jagdschloss Grunewald

Jagdschloss Grunewald: Fairy Tales Market

• The Rixdorf Market in Richardplatz, with different social organisations selling crafts to fund welfare activities (Fri/Sat/Sun). 

• Designer Rodeo market, Postbahnhof Sat/Sun

Designer Rodeo, Postbahnhof

• Medieval Market in Karlshorst (Sat/Sun) 

• Doggy Christmas at Forsthaus Paulsborn (Hüttenweg 90, 14193 Berlin) 

• At the Karl-Marx-Buchhandlung on Karl Marx Allee , Saturday 

Naschmarkt - In Markthalle IX

• A Christmas edition of the Naschmarkt, in Markthalle IX on Sunday

British Christmas

• A "British Christmas Fair" on Saturday, from 2:30 till 8, in the Anglican Church, Preussenallee 17-19 

• Urban Spree with an artsy fair, Sat from 12:00 (further info)

• A Japenese Market in Arena, Treptow, Sat/Sun from 12:00 

• A Christmas Market in Kladow, Sat/Sun from 12:00 

• Himbeer pop-up store, on Auguststr. 91 (Mitte), Sat/Sun from 11:00 (details)

Open Beyond this weekend

• Saturday and Sunday until December 13th: Market of the Continents in the Dahlem Museums

• Until Dec 20th : "Designer Market" between Hauptbahnhof and the Kanzleramt , daily 

• Until Dec 20th, Domaene Dahlem Advent Market (Sat/Sun only) 

• Until Dec 20th,, in Klunkerkranich, Sat/Sun only 

• Until Dec 20th, An "Eco" Market on Sophienstrasse, Sat/Sun only 

• Until Dec 20th, "Traditional" Market in Winterfeldplatz, Sun only 

• Until Dec 20th, Ecological market in Kollwitzplatz, Sundays only 

• Until Dec 20th, The Luciamarkt in the Kulturbrauerei, daily 

• Until Dec 23rd, in the Old City of Spandau, daily 

• Until Dec 23rd, Winterdorf, in Arena Treptow, Thu through Sun 

• Until Dec 26th (closed on the 24th), Rotes Rathaus, with an ice skating rink, daily 

• Until Dec 26th (closed on the 24th), Charlottenburg Palace , daily 

• Until Dec 27th (closed on the 24th), behind the Staatsoper on Unter den Linden, daily 

• Until Dec 27th (closed on the 24th), near the Spandau City Hall , daily 

• Until Dec 30h, near Zehlendorf City Hall, daily 

• Until Dec 31st, even on the 24th and 31st, "Christmas Magic" in Gendarmenmarkt (admission fees) 

• Until January 3rd, Breitscheidplatz (Memorial Church), daily 

• Until January 3rd, Winterworld Potsdamer Platz, daily

Winterworld Potsdamer Platz

And Even More Events...

• About Pregnancy and Having a Baby in Berlin: A meeting with Lorna Ather, Maternity Concierge and Baby Planner, on Friday, 6 pm, in Raum und Bewegung on Pflügerstraße 78b, 12047 Berlin, Germany (further info) 

Meanwhile in Brandenburg...

The Klaistow Farm has a straw labyrinth. Daily until December 20th.

Spargelhof Klaistow, Glindower Straße 28 14547 Beelitz GT Klaistow, Take Regional RE7 to Beelitz Heilstätten and then bus 643 to Klaistow, Spargelhof. If you've missed to Regional (or took the S7 because of the works on the line right now), you can also take bus 643 from the Potsdam Hauptbahnhof. 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. Contact Me. 

Chanukah 2013 in Berlin - Communal Events and Useful Information (slightly updated)

Was it also a shock for you? To find out that what we innocently call as our own "Sunfganyot" is sold year-round all over Germany as "Pfannkuchen" (and is even known outside Berlin as a "Berliner Pfannkuchen")? At least now Jewish Democrats know for sure that JFK was one of ours, after all, He is a Berliner.

Not German Pfannkuchen... Not even similar! (source: Wikipedia)

Where to get stuff for Chanukkah in Berlin

If you need menorah (Chanukia), there are several places to get one. The Berlin Chabad is giving away small ones for free, you can also get candles from them.

Judaica stores, including the one at the Jewish Museum and Levy's Tabularium in the Hackescher Hoefe sell fancier menorahs as well as dreidels. You can of course try eBay or Amazon.

You can of course make your own...

You need 44 candles if you plan to light the whole holiday. Hanukkah Gelt, as well as Sunfganyot and Latkes, are all readily available in any supermarket in their surprising German versions: the Schokoladengeld, the aforementioned Pfannkuchen and of course, Kartoffelpuffer.


Where to celebrate with others

Chabad will have two public candle lighting ceremonies: for the first candle in Brandenburg Gate (Wed., Nov 27th, at 6:30 pm) and for the fourth candle near Galeria Kaufhof in Alexanderplaty (Sat., Nov 30th, 8:30 pm). You can also see both public menorahs after the ceremony.

All synagogues will hold public ceremonies on Friday Night (Erev Shabbath), but two of the synagogues that are very welcoming are Rykestrasse (especially for families, as they hold a weekly Kabalat Shabbath in their "children room", see Facebook Event) and Fraenkelufer. In Fraenfelufer, you can also come for the first candle, BYO kosher-style food (FB Information)

At Feinberg, you can enjoy a festive meal on the 27th. Further details

Especially for children

I have already mentioned the Rykestrasse children activities, and on Friday, the 29th (3rd candle), they will be doing special activities for children from ca. 5 pm.

Wednesday the 4th will bring the Bubales' puppet theatre for children:

Other activities for children for Hanukkah are organised by Bambinim , for example a Hanukkah lunch at their East Berlin centre.

The Jewish Museum is offering a special workshop/activity for kids on all December Sundays.

And for Adults..

This Thursday, Chabad organises a party for students and young professionals at the New West:

On Saturday night, the Hebrew Language Week will begin with a party, at Sophiensaelle, with the Meschugge team. You can see a list of all Hebrew Language Week events (including the party) here.

A Mini-Chanukah Market

The Pestalozzistrasse community is organising a "Chanukka-Basar" on Sunday, at the Fasanenstrasse JCC. Veteran Jewish Berliners might remember the Jewish Museum's "Chanukah Market" from few years back. Unfortunately, this is not that, but on the other hand, it is for a good cause - to renovate the Pestalozzistrasse synagogue.