By John Roberts
The sky is gray and the air is cold, but the Christmas market in Nuremberg -- the Christkindlesmarkt -- is filled with warm smiles and festive holiday spirits.
Free-flowing gluhwein and sizzling sausages tend to make that happen. I am on a Viking Cruises journey on the Danube, and the first two days were spent in Nuremberg, which is reputed to have one of the top Christmas markets in the country. Its history dates to the 1600s, making it one of the oldest in the world.
As an American, the whole experience makes me jealous of the authentic feel the holiday season still owns in this part of the world. It's a brilliant experience to be able to immerse yourself in the sense of community that exists in this market atmosphere. Vendors proudly serve hand-made crafts and delicacies made using traditional recipes -- sausages are particular to each region in Germany, as are the lebkuchens (a gingerbread-type pastry) and gluwheins (hot spiced wines).
Holiday lights, music and colors fill the market square, primarily in the form of quaintly decorated stalls. Vendors go through a rigorous approval process to operate at the market, and there is a years-long waiting list. Products cannot be mass produced, and playing recorded holiday music and using plastic garlands as decor are considered taboo.
The sky is gray and the air is cold, but the Christmas market in Nuremberg -- the Christkindlesmarkt -- is filled with warm smiles and festive holiday spirits.
Free-flowing gluhwein and sizzling sausages tend to make that happen. I am on a Viking Cruises journey on the Danube, and the first two days were spent in Nuremberg, which is reputed to have one of the top Christmas markets in the country. Its history dates to the 1600s, making it one of the oldest in the world.
As an American, the whole experience makes me jealous of the authentic feel the holiday season still owns in this part of the world. It's a brilliant experience to be able to immerse yourself in the sense of community that exists in this market atmosphere. Vendors proudly serve hand-made crafts and delicacies made using traditional recipes -- sausages are particular to each region in Germany, as are the lebkuchens (a gingerbread-type pastry) and gluwheins (hot spiced wines).
Holiday lights, music and colors fill the market square, primarily in the form of quaintly decorated stalls. Vendors go through a rigorous approval process to operate at the market, and there is a years-long waiting list. Products cannot be mass produced, and playing recorded holiday music and using plastic garlands as decor are considered taboo.
The Schoner Brunner, a beautiful 19-meter tall pyramid fountain, is a landmark is Nuremberg.
The gate around the fountain is adorned by a "gold ring." Turn it three times for good luck.
You won't have to walk far to find a stall selling gluhwein, a hot mulled spiced wine.
Need a souvenir? The Nuremberg Prune People are tiny figurines made with walnut heads and fig and prune bodies.
Hungry? Grab toasted nuts.
Or delicious bratwurst.
Shoppers delight with limitless choices for unique gifts, such as hand-made ornaments.
Quite a contrast from what the holiday in the U.S. has become: a consumer-driven rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday marketing and spending. In Germany, you won't find people trampling over one another or fighting in long lines at big-box retailers to snatch up the latest video games and other gadgets.
Sure, it's very busy at times in these markets, but they simply have a pleasant feel of a shared experience and camaraderie as you wend your way through the square.
If you are looking for a new holiday tradition for your family, I highly recommend checking out getting on a Viking Cruise that hits cities that host Christmas markets. We'll be visiting a more on this adventure -- in Regensburg and Vienna, for example -- each with their own style and feel. I can't wait because it's been an eye-opener so far, and you can never get tired of sampling new varieties of sausage, gingerbread and beer!
Sure, it's very busy at times in these markets, but they simply have a pleasant feel of a shared experience and camaraderie as you wend your way through the square.
If you are looking for a new holiday tradition for your family, I highly recommend checking out getting on a Viking Cruise that hits cities that host Christmas markets. We'll be visiting a more on this adventure -- in Regensburg and Vienna, for example -- each with their own style and feel. I can't wait because it's been an eye-opener so far, and you can never get tired of sampling new varieties of sausage, gingerbread and beer!
Thanks for reading.
Always travel happy!
Cheers,
JR
Always travel happy!
Cheers,
JR
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