An enchanting fairy tale Christmas in Germany

As I walked around the historical center of Frankfurt, I wondered where the piquant smell of ginger and cinnamon spices as well as the mouthwatering aroma of chestnuts were coming from. Doggedly following my nose led to my discovery of a fairy tale Christmas. Set in the historical center of every city in Germany, the Christmas market, or the Weinachtsmarkt, has been a German tradition since the medieval times. Suddenly, the main square, where the town hall is located, is transformed into a magical medieval-style market. Stands that look like old German cottages sell different Christmas specialties. A choir sings on the church balcony, accompanied by trumpets. Children don Santa Claus hats. Friends and families feast on traditional German food. With the snow falling around me at the Christmas market, it felt like a real white Christmas – like the white Christmas I always dreamt of when I was a kid.

During the medieval times, the Christmas market was only set up on the 24th of December or the eve of Christmas, but today, it starts on the last week of November and ends on December 22. What makes the Christmas market in Germany special? Well, it’s simply enchanting – it appeals to all the five senses. One’s eyes sparkle at the sight of the assorted Christmas decorations. There stands a real (not made of synthetic material, mind you) Christmas tree, all of 60 feet, at the center of the City Hall. The gluhwein, a traditional Christmas drink that tastes like a fruit tea and is spiced with rhum and cinnamon, leaves one breathless. The snow-capped cottages, the sound of Christmas carols coming from the church, the yuletide goods and goodies make for spellbinding ingredients which can transform a stone-hearted Scrooge into an avid Christmas fan.

Traditional food offerings tempt the harassed Christmas shopper to stay longer at the Christmas market. You see friends and families milling around. Food offerings include roasted almonds, chestnuts, gingerbread, hash browns, chocolate-coated candles, assorted German sausages plus warm apple wine or gluhwein to warm you up on a nippy day. Then there are all these Christmas delicatessens like freshly baked lebkuchen, special cookies and gingerbread from Nurnberg, and christollen, a special bread from Dresden, and printen cookies from Aachen. Must-haves are the exquisite handcrafted Christmas decorations in wood coming from the Erzgebirge region. Some decor double as wooden toys. Assorted potteries from Frankfurt to Lausitz as well as candleholders, Christmas wreaths, handmade candles, balls in all colors, jewelry in silver and crystal, lamps, flower arrangements, porcelain dolls, animal puppets could be bought from the brightly-lit small cottages in the market. Artisans are available for those who want to have their leather and wooden stuff personally engraved. Since Christmas is a family tradition in Germany, ancient-looking (’20s-inspired) merry-go-rounds are aplenty for children. Doubly heartwarming is the sight of cute little kids mounted on the horses. In the meantime, parents enjoy a cup of warm gluhwein or relish the sound of Christmas carols dished out by the choirs.

Since Germany has a musical tradition as well, the Christmas market offers not only religious services but Christmas concerts as well. Choirs from music schools – and even the fire brigade – perform on the balcony of the church so they could be seen and heard by everyone. Since Christmas is sharing, there is also an annual fundraising for various charity projects.