Ever spent Christmas in Germany?
December 22nd 2009 23:43
If yes, what were your impressions?
Did you go to a Christmas market? Did you try roasted almonds and Gluehwein (wine served hot)?
Although I live in Germany at the moment, I always fly back home to Australia for Christmas -- where it's summer at that time of the year. Because of this, I get to experience two very contrasting but equally pleasant Christmas atmospheres. And that's a privilege.
Before I fly off in mid-December, the Christmas markets in German cities have already been up and running for a good two weeks. They are bustling with activity and filled with people browsing through the stalls for Christmas presents. These stalls sell all sorts of things, from jewellery to toys, to original handicrafts and artwork. There are also stalls serving hot food -- typically German sausages, French fries and fried fish, but also international cuisine like fresh, steaming Asian stir-fries. And of course there are many places where you can get roasted almonds (with all sorts of flavours) and the ever-popular mulled wine.
There are also stage shows with music and Christmas carols to entertain the crowds, as well as various rides and carousels for the little ones. All this activity works to create a cosy and warm atmosphere that's very... well... Christmassy.
As I strolled through Bonn's Christmas market two days before my flight to Australia, I saw a brass band on stage playing "Walking in a Winter Wonderland". A crowd of people was watching the show, huddling for warmth and cheerfully clinking their glasses of mulled wine and beer as their mouths expelled little clouds of mist into the frosty December air. It was hard to believe that a few days later I'd be enjoying a very different Christmas atmosphere -- under the sunny Australian skies.
Click here to read an article about Germany's white-Christmas weather forecast
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