German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
December 15th 2005
Published: December 16th 2005
Published: December 16th 2005
The Christmas season is a very special time in Germany. During the four weeks preceding Christmas, known as Advent, in almost every city, town, or village in Germany the main market square where all the fruits and vegetables are sold, the fruit and vegetable stalls are dismantled and removed from the market square at the beginning of November, and replaced by picturesque wooden huts adorned with miniature white lights which transform town squares and city marketplaces around the country into winter wonderlands. Vendors begin selling traditional German gifts, handcrafted ornaments, wooden toys, and Advent wreaths. The aromas of fresh gingerbread, roasted chestnuts and almonds, lebkucken (honey or spiced rectangular cakes with a wafer bottom), and hot steaming mugs of mulled wine, known as glühwein, waft through the air. All this contributes to a sense of wonder that delights locals and visitors alike. It is a sign for every citizen to prepare himself for the oncoming spectacle, which goes by the name of the Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindle's Market. The season of Christmas has arrived in Germany!
Some of the most traditional German handicrafts can be found here in the weeks before Christmas — from nutcrackers, wooden figurines, straw stars and smokers,
Polish Pottery
Wonderful colors and patterns
Despite the widespread belief that Christmas has only recently developed into a feast of commercialism, it may be shocking to find out that, as early as the 17th century, gift buying at the Christmas markets had already become a main pre-holiday activity.
Usually the Christmas Market would take place around the main church in the village. This way the market attracted many visitors due to its central location as well as due to the fact that the church-goers would have to pass the market. And they really liked to look around the market and buy many a gift or sweet. So it does not really come as a surprise that a parish priest in Nuremberg complained in the year 1616 that the afternoon service on Christmas Eve did not take place since nobody showed up for the service. Instead, everybody was out and about buying Christmas presents.
Historians, however, currently name 1628 as the year the market first appears in the historical record. An unambiguous piece of evidence remains from that year. A 19 cm (approx. 8 1/2 inches) oval wooden box painted with flowers in the German National Museum bears an inscription in black on its base describing the box as sent by one Susanna Eleonora Erbsin (or Elbsin) to Regina Susanna Harßdörfferin on the occasion of the Christkindle‘s Market of 1628. This box is currently regarded as the oldest piece of evidence for the Christkindle's Market.
It is likely that the markets drew more visitors when religious reformer Martin Luther instituted new customs for Christmas. Before Luther, the exchanging of presents took place on the saint days of St. Nicholas, December 6, or of St. Martin, on November 11.
It was Luther who suggested that children receive presents from “the Christ child,” hence the name “Christkindlsmarkt,” a popular name for the Christmas markets.
This Advent season Kate and I were only able to visit six different Christmas Markts: Ansbach, Dinkelsbuhl, Fulda,
Das Suppenhauschen
One would think that a booth like this would serve soup. No soup but some very strongly flavored coffee. Notice the menu on the right side.
Although we would love to be back in San Diego to celebrate Christmas with our entire family and friends, unfortunately it is not going to happen this year. So we are making due by spending a week at a resort in Tenerife, Canary Islands. At least it is suppose to be warm there!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, a healthy and happy New Year!
Our voyage through life has taken a rather pleasant and unexpected turn. After spending three years in Bavaria in the beautiful town of Ansbach and two more in Landstuhl, near the French and Luxembourg borders, Kate was accepted for a two year extension at the Landstuhl Military Hopsital. So, our journeys will continue for us here in Europe, at least for the next two years. I hope you will enjoy our adventures and stories of our trips. So, please join us. As I have shared with you before what St. Augustine said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page”. I hope... full info
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Heidelberg's Christmas Markt
In Heidelberg, there are more than one market squares. This one is unique as it has the Heidelberg Castle as it's backdrop.
Heidelberg's Full Size Twirler
This full size twirler is also the home to a gluh wein stand. Notice the large crowd.
Smoking Figurines
Not all the crafts at the Christmas Markts are Christmas related as seen here as Indian smoking figures.
Candle Globes
You place a candle inside and the light from the various slots produces a very unique pattern.
Nurnberg or Nuremberg Christmas Markt
Behind these walls is one of the largest Christmas Markts and one of the most crowded
Really Crowded in Nuremberg
It was so crowded that if you look carefully you can see a man carrying a full-grown golden retriever.
Wurzburg's Weihnachtsmarkt
The colorful church provides the perfect background for Wurzburg's Christmas Markt.
Wurzburg Gluh Wein Stand
Nothing beats the taste of hot gluh wein (mulled wine) on a cold day.
Look Familiar?
Every wonder what happens to those animals in commercials? In this case, the sheep from a mattress commercial.
Fulda's Weihnachts Ice Carver
This woman took a block of ice, scraped an outline of an angel and with a chain saw went to work.
Finished Ice Carving
I came back later to take this picture as the lights in the background really highlighted the angel.
Comment on German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
Comments
Date: 29th November 2007
Thanks for the memories!
Grew up in Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany (1967-1973). I miss Christmas time over there the most!
From Blog: German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
Thanks for the memories!
Grew up in Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany (1967-1973). I miss Christmas time over there the most!
From Blog: German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
Date: 15th December 2008
Home sick
I found these pictures when I was helping my 10 yr old daughter who was born in Wuerzburg work on her Christmas traditions project for school. I lived there 7 years (1995-2002) and would have liked to stay there forever. We were in Wuerzburg last Christmas (Dec 2007) and will be there again this summer. Thank you so much for posting these photos. They bring back such happy memories.
From Blog: German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
Home sick
I found these pictures when I was helping my 10 yr old daughter who was born in Wuerzburg work on her Christmas traditions project for school. I lived there 7 years (1995-2002) and would have liked to stay there forever. We were in Wuerzburg last Christmas (Dec 2007) and will be there again this summer. Thank you so much for posting these photos. They bring back such happy memories.
From Blog: German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
Date: 9th February 2009
we have only been gone for a yr and I miss it so much...brings tear's seeing these pics....we were there from 2005 to 2008
From Blog: German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
we have only been gone for a yr and I miss it so much...brings tear's seeing these pics....we were there from 2005 to 2008
From Blog: German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)
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XMAS MKTS Thank You
Thank You for bringing into view what I remember as one of the real joys living in Ansbach. I was a radar tech assigned to an IHAWK unit and lived in the Barton Barracks ~ Bob Silva
From Blog: German Christmas Markts (Christkindlsmarkts)