Sojourn Magazine Spring 2017

SOJOURN//SPRING17
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CHRISTMAS IN NUREMBERG
THIS MEDIEVEAL BAVARIAN CITY IN GERMANY IS FAMED FOR ITS
AMAZING CHRISTMAS MARKET
Christmas markets – they’re everywhere.
But the original, and many would say the
best, is in Nuremberg. The Bavarian city
can trace its gathering of festive
commerce back to 1628. Yes, there are
plenty of sausages, mulled wine and
wooden tree decorations among the
attractions, but this is the real McCoy.
Centred on the marketplace but spread
throughout a large part of the city,
Nuremberg is a template to the world as all
our ideal Christmas take on a ever-more
Germanic feel.
The whole Christkindlesmarkt kicks off
the Friday before the first Sunday of
Advent with a declaration by the
Christkind, high above the market place on
the balcony of The Church of Our Lady.
The tradition of Christkind - Christ Child –
is a relatively new one from 1933. A young
woman, who must be 1.6 metres tall, is
selected from applicants to be the
figurehead for the markets for two years. It
is the Christkind, rather than Father
Christmas, which brings presents to
children in the region. Medieval
Nuremberg, ringed by walls with 80
towers, sheltered by the castle of the Holy
Roman Emperors, seems like something
out of a fairy tale at any time of year. But in
dark December it dazzles, its 400-year-old
Christkindlesmarkt the prototype for
Christmas markets across Europe.
With 186 market stalls, there’s a lot to
see before it draws to a close on
Christmas Eve afternoon. There’s also a
special children’s market with fairground
rides, craft workshops and lower stalls so
toddlers can see something other than a
sea of legs; and a ‘sisters’ market which
features stalls from Nuremberg’s many
‘twin’ cities from throughout the world,
including Glasgow.
When locals and tourists come to sip
mulled wine and purchase hand-made
Christmas presents at Germany's holiday
markets, they are participating in a
tradition that has been around for
centuries - and has even become more
beloved lately. Even before Christmas
markets began, winter markets were held
in Europe during the Late Middle Ages. At
that time they usually took place over just
several days, rather than weeks; the
markets were an opportunity for residents
to come together, trade food and
handicrafts, and stock up for the coming
winter months. While the markets didn't
initially have a strong Christmas focus,
people started using them to purchase
baskets, toys, wood carvings and baked
goods for Christmas.
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