Michael White faults Gordon Brown's "cack-handed handling" of the EU reform treaty signing for winning no points at home but concedes it might win him some with Chancellor Merkel of Germany, "who is at loggerheads with President Sarkozy of France over budget and agricultural reform (and who should be the new permanent EU president), would love to work more closely with Mr Brown, a child of the Protestant manse like her."

The highest-ranking German officer in Afghanistan, Bruno Kasdorf, told Spiegel Online in an interview, "We really do need more forces in order to secure and hold on to areas. That's just one part, though. At least as important are arms, air transport, reconnaissance and, above all, the deployment of specialists. We need a lot more development professionals, advisors and police. I am sure that Afghanistan will be a better place in 20 years. But all of us -- including the Germans -- must think about what we want in Afghanistan, what interests we have here and whether we are ready to deploy the necessary resources."

There is historical speculation that the Christmas tree was introduced to America by Queen Victoria via her German husband Albert. "In 1846, the London Times featured an illustration of Victoria, Prince Albert and their children standing around a Christmas tree. Seeing Victoria’s tree, Americans may have copied the fashion. By 1890 Christmas trees had become more popular in America. Unlike Germans, who preferred Christmas trees to stand at about 4 feet tall, Americans liked their trees to reach the ceiling."

Gridskipper has a pair Glühwein-based guides to Christmas markets in Berlin, which include a Chanukka-Markt. And The Guardian lists the Top 10 wacky things to do in Berlin, including a bar for cabaret, a bar for absinth and an unlit restaurant where the waiters are blind.

Watch out children, it's also the season for Krampus, the pagan Christmas devil.

American ambassador Paris Hilton invaded Berlin this week, partied randomly and was painted in gold.