It is a special kind of street market in the four weeks (Advent) before Christmas, and has a many centuries long tradition. The open air stalls sell mostly seasonal items, specialty drinks and foods and winter attire, and there is often a play or a local choir singing traditional songs.
It's the season for gifts and kitsch.
The season of brass boy bands playing traditional christmas songs.
The season of unhealthy food such as torpedo noodles (gnocchi style pasta) with kraut.
The season of Glühwein (mulled wine), always good for a headache.
Oh, and did we mention Glühwein, already?
Have a wonderful pre-Holidays-period.
Meanwhile we'll go visit several other Christmas markets.
Cheers!
That looks like a wonderful place to visit, especially at night. Hmmm, gnocchi with sauerkraut….
ReplyDeleteOh yes, and there are many interesting culinary choices for vegans as well as meat eaters.
DeleteAh, this post kindles good memories for me.
ReplyDeleteGlühwein, I was introduced to this wonderful beverage while learning to ski in Garmish, delicious.
Your pictures remind me of the scene in downtown Nürnberg for their Christkindlesmarkt festival, same objective, much more crowded, about every kind of Christmas decoration you can imagine. Heck, I still have a small toy soldier decoration I got there.
Thanks for the memories.
dom
Dom, I am so glad you enjoyed the posting. I was sure that you must have had some hopefully positive memories of these seasonal markets while you were stationed in Germany. We have plans to go to Nuremberg but our schedule is quite full so we might have to do it next year.
Deletehmmm, I suddenly have a craving for a schnitzel sandwich!
ReplyDeleteOk, my favorite would be latke (potato fritters) with apple sauce.
DeleteStrolling along Christmas markets, having Glühwein and a bratwurst ... oh how I miss that! Too bad there is no snow yet, a little bit of white stuff would make it just perfect. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt was cold, though so the Glühwein was taken in at appropriate temperatures. Hope to get some christmas market with snow this year.
DeleteIt looks very festive. Have you found the holiday season quite different than North America after spending so many years over here?
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I think it would be a lot less commercialized in Germany.
Brandy, I'd say when you live in the city it would be as commercialized as you find it in North America but where we live (Hicksville, Black Forest) it is very much about tradition.
DeleteBob, you got it. Small town people seem to enjoy the Holiday season more than city people. And I find myself liking that a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'm also from Germany and live now in BC for more then 4 years
ReplyDeleteBut of all the things what I miss most is the German food ...
@SonjaM, I know hihihihihi I saw it lready. But I live almost 1000 km off.
DeleteIn the far east corner of BC
If not Iwould be a customer there.
Sorry Wolfgang… for some reason I thought you'd be living the lower mainland. I can imagine how hard it must be to find German stuff in the hinterland. We even had issues to find good delicatessen in Calgary where we lived before we moved to Port Moody.
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