Travel-and-Leisure
Christmas Markets in Germany
Ahhhh, Gluhwein ! Hot and spicy mulled wine, tastes so good with my bratwurst here in the marketplace of Mainz, Germany. Oh, the shopping! Christmas pyramid carousels (Weihnachtspyramids), incense burners called ?smoking men? (Raeuchermaennchen), nutcrackers and glass ornaments. Not my favorite, but certainly a holiday treat, Gingerbread (lebkuchen). I?ll have more Gluhwein, bitte!
It?s Christmas time on the Rhine River. The holiday season is celebrated in marketplaces throughout Europe (Weihnactsmarkt). None better than in Germany. Having had the opportunity to live in Germany, I was introduced to this wonderful tradition of Christmas markets. We would bundle up our children (the oldest who was only 6 at the time) and visit market after market, each one more wonderful than the last. The scents of baked apples, pretzels and gingerbread, coupled with the sounds of seasonal music and the lights ? added to the folklore of the marketplaces. For hundreds of years this tradition has been held in cities and towns throughout Europe. Beginning the third week in November and ending on Christmas Eve, various town squares turn on the lights and the sounds of the holiday.
Heidleberg offers not only a wonderful town setting but the added ambiance of the castle perched high on the hill overlooking the festivities. If you stop to visit, take the English guided tour of the castle ? the guides are very knowledgeable on the history of past Kings. Rudesheim, on the Rhine River, wonderful to visit all year long comes alive with the season ? shopping here is absolutely a must! We have wooden plaques, with wood burned picture landscapes, purchased years ago adorning our walls. Cologne, the home of the famous Gothic cathedral, reminds us of the religious significance of our holiday. Stand outside the cathedral in its beautiful square and look up to admire the spirals that reach toward the heavens. Nuremberg offers one of the biggest Weihnachtsmarkts I can recall. A giant Pyramid in the center of its marketplace, this popular attraction, with life size figurines, represents the story of the season.
If you go, remember that it is cold outside during this time of year. The Gluhwien helps, but so do gloves, hats and scarves! While we drove from market to market, living there we could visit one market a week. If you go during a vacation, I recommend a Rhine River cruise or similar packaged tour. Parking in the towns is not easy. They were not created with cars and buses in mind. Rivers were the primary mode of transportation. Even today boats dock right along the edge of the market. While the market places are open until Christmas Eve, it is important to note that they (like all shops in Germany) close early on the twenty-fourth.
As many times as I?ve been able to return to Germany ? mostly in warmer weather ? I would not have given up the opportunity to experience the Christmas markets. So bathed in tradition they are part of the heritage of a wonderful Europe. The markets are visited by tourists like myself but also by the local citizens of these magnificent old towns.
Marci is a European River Cruise Specialist. Visit my website http://www.CastleCruises.com |
Marci Oakley
Similar articles
Chicago Attractions - Shedd Aquarium
Chicago is full of countless attractions that can occupy your time. One of the best attractions in Chicago is the Shedd Aquarium. This is especially true if you have children and are looking for a family friendly activity. Read more →China Town And Nob Hill
The area known as Chinatown in San Francisco is a tourist must-see. Bordered by Broadway, California, Kearney and Powell Streets, this is a unique cultural experience that takes you into another world. Read more →Cigar Occasions
We are all aware there are certain occasions in one's life where lighting a cigar is as integral as breathing itself. There are moments when it is expected everyone on hand will have a cigar in hand, smoking away in a puff of celebration. Read more →Cigarettes
A cigarette is a small paper-wrapped cylinder. The cylinder contains cured, shredded or cut tobacco leaves. A normal cigarette length is 120 mm in length and 10 mm in diameter. Read more →Aphorism
The travel writer seeks the world we have lost --the lost valleys of the imagination.