Refugees bring Syrian cuisine to Germany

Alongside the traditional gluehwein and sausages on offer at a Christmas market in small-town Bavaria, visitors could also try more exotic fare: falafel and kibbeh served by a family of refugees from the Syrian war.

As hostility towards immigrants has increased since a record 890,000 arrived in Germany in 2015, the participation of the Ballish family in a distinctly German tradition was welcomed by many at the market in Schillingsfuerst as a sign of integration.

"I feel comfortable here but of course not like at home," said 20-year-old Mayar Ballish who served falafel sandwiches from a wooden hut decorated with festive fir tree garlands, red bows and white fairy lights.

"The people here are so nice and so kind, yes, the language is always difficult," she said in German.

In the baroque castle behind the market, Mayar's sister, Nawar, 21, and their father, Moneer, held an exhibition of their own paintings and drawings depicting scenes of suffering in Syria.