German Christmas Markets
Tuesday, 4th November 2008
If there’s one thing to add to your pre-Christmas ‘to do’ list, it should be ‘visit a real German Christmas market’.
Yes, times are hard and trips abroad aren’t at the top of everyone’s agenda, but with so many lovely German cities to choose from, and a wealth of last-minute, low-cost airline deals, there’s no really no excuse.
With the climate ever-changing and seasons seemingly overlapping into each other, the chances of stereotypical ‘Christmas’ weather around the festive season in the UK is even less likely than usual. Germany around this time really does indulge the pre-Christmas child in you, you may not be lucky enough to get any snowfall, but its cold enough to feel like it’s on the way.
The new bugbear of every Brit is the emergence of festive decorations and even worse, ‘Here it is, Merry Christmas’ from roughly 31st August every year. Given that everyone seems to detest the outrageously premature, and usually extremely tacky, nature of this occurrence, why not allow yourself a bit of traditional Christmas cheer?
In honesty, a good deal of the ‘traditional’ items sold on the stands on the markets would bring tears to a child’s eyes if presented as their main gift. Let’s face it- despite all our gripes about the commercial nature of modern Christmas, even we would have been disappointed with a wooden flute when our friends were all boasting new My Little Ponies or the latest Transformer in the series!
That’s not what it’s about though. The edible contingent of the Christmas market products, are in themselves, worth the trip. Bratwurst, potatoes, warm soups and stews, toffee apples, crepes and gingerbread delights..the list is endless. Wrap up warm, take a stroll around the markets and then head to a dimly-lit Bierhalle. What more could you possibly want.
The atmosphere at these Christmas markets really cannot fail to give you a festive glow. Or perhaps that’s just the gluhwein…
If you have more time at your disposal, why not take the opportunity to escape the onslaught of crazy last-minute shoppers and brush up your German skills. Go a week early and take one of the language available throughout the country- surely, there can’t be a better time to go!
Tags: german, christmas, germany, christmas market
Posted by Laura Harrison under Experience Cultures,
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