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The whole Christmas season is a very special time in
Germany. Its most attractive feature is the Advent (Christmas) markets
held in the pre-Christmas period in lovely old cities and towns like
Nuremberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This centuries-old tradition
reaches back to a time when regular seasonal markets took place
throughout the year. Christmas Markets were a welcome occurrence during
cold winter months. They were joyful occasions for weary villagers and
added a bit of light to long winter nights. The first markets were
little more than winter markets that lasted a couple of days. Instead of
the cosy stands that line the market alleys today, traders in some
cities laid their goods out in the streets. Many Christmas Markets date
back to medieval times, and have changed little since then. Through the
years each market has stayed true to its own character with each
specialising in local delicacies and traditional products - the Dresdner
Striezelmarkt, for example, prides itself in the hand carved wooden
figurines from the Erzgebirge region... each Christmas Market is
different, but all have that special, almost magical, atmosphere that
Christmas seems to evoke.
The market stalls display traditional arts and handicrafts: Christmas
tree decorations, hand-carved angels, blown-glass bowls, charming straw
stars, pewter statuettes and dolls. German Christmas biscuits and
gingerbread (Lebkuchen) tempt young and old alike. Music is in the air -
from children’s and male-voice choirs and folk groups.
The Christmas Markets usually start around the last weekend of November
(a few open a little earlier) and usually end during the third week of
December (latest Christmas Eve). They are generally open daily from
10.00h to 19.00h or 20.00h, and in the evening when darkness falls the
stallholders light up their lanterns and the atmosphere becomes truly
magical. The aroma of delicious grilled sausages, roast chestnuts and
burnt-sugar almonds fills the air, and these culinary delights are
nicely washed down with a glass of mulled wine (Glühwein).
The most famous Christmas Market in Germany is Nuremberg’s
‘Christkindlesmarkt’ held in the city’s main market square and draws
millions of visitors, both local and foreign. It has an ancient
tradition and a long history, becoming a fully-fledged market in 1639.
And it has changed little since then, its 150 stalls with their red and
white awnings filling the cobble stoned square. The market itself is
enhanced by outdoor parades, a lantern procession and the appearance of
The Christchild (Christkindl). |
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