German Christmas Markets

    Of course, Advent time is the time for German Christmas markets.

    Almost every town/city in Germany has a Weihnachtsmarkt which usually starts in mid-end of November and lasts until Christmas.

    Every day, it is open from late morning until nighttime and, depending on the town or city size, this street market can be larger or smaller. Christmas markets originated in the Late Middle Ages in Germany, Austria and Alsace but are now held in many other countries as well. In bigger American cities such as New York or Chicago you will be able to find German Christmas markets and I have to say that the one on Chicago is really authentic. They sell German handicrafts and German food and in fact, many if not even most of the sellers actually come from Germany in order to sell their goods at the Christmas market.

    The Christmas market is generally held in the town square and adjacent pedestrian zones and food, drinks, and seasonal items are sold from open-air stalls, accompanied by life-music.

    Popular attractions are displays of the Nativity Scene (a crèche or crib), Nussknacker (carved nutcrackers), many other handmade items, (Christmas tree) decorations and ornaments, self-made articles of clothing, toys and much more. Of course traditional food like gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds) can't be missing, as well as Christstollen (a loaf-shaped cake containing dried fruit, and covered with powdered sugar), Lebkuchen (a kind of soft gingerbread) and the German Bratwurst. Very popular drinks include Glühwein (hot spiced red whine, if, mit Schuss, containing a shot of Brandy) and Eierpunsch (an egg-based hot alcoholic drink). Christmas markets now also feature Glühbier, a hot flavored beer. It's up to you if you'd like to try it or rather stay with the traditional Glühwein, but if you are in Germany around Christmas time, visiting a Christmas Market is an absolute must.

 

 

[pictures in this post are displaying the Weihnachtsmarkt in Bonn, Germany]

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