Jefferson City, MO – Frohe Weihnachten! (Merry Christmas!) Celebrate a traditional 19th century German Christmas in historic Hermann from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the first two weekends in December at Deutschheim State Historic Site.

These free open houses, scheduled for Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 10-11, will be at the 1840 Pommer House, which will be decorated with Christmas trees adorned with authentic German ornaments. Participants can sample traditional German Christmas springerle cookies and learn how the Christmas customs of the German immigrants became American traditions still celebrated today.

Depending on the weather, the site may have a cart with a small outdoor “Weihnachtsmarkt” stand, or “Christmas market” cart, in front of the visitor center. Items for sale include springerle cookie molds and rolling pins, recipe books, imported German pop-up cards, children’s books and ornaments.

For advisories due to capacity or winter weather, visit the Park and Site Status Map on the website at mostateparks.com/.

The Deutschheim State Historic Site visitor center is located at 101 W. Second St. in Hermann. There is no admission fee for the event and exhibits sponsored by Missouri State Parks and Deutschheim Verein. For further information, call 573-486-2200.

For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.