Weihnachtsmarkt

Kyra Menzel
Nov 3, 2016
2 min read

Christmas is just around the corner and coming with it, Christmas markets!!! And now the first one has officially opened, with more following next week. To say I am excited is an understatement. So I went to one when they were setting up and did some pre-scouting and it just made me want to sing Christmas carols and drink hot cocoa.

Now a little history before we get into the good stuff. Christmas markets originated in Germany (we will be visiting many when we go to Oliver's parents' house for Christmas) but are held in many different countries around the world.

"The history of Christmas markets goes back to the Late Middle Ages in the German-speaking part of Europe, and in many parts of the former Holy Roman Empire that includes many eastern regions of France. The Christmas markets of Bautzenwere first held in 1384. Dresden's Striezelmarkt was first held in 1434. Frankfurt was first mentioned in 1393, Munich in 1310 and Augsburg in 1498. In Austria, Vienna's "December market" can be considered a forerunner of Christmas markets and dates back to 1298." (For more reading go here or here)

Wood huts lined the square and green garland trimmed the white roofs. I felt like I was walking through a gingerbread wonderland! I was one step behind of Oliver the whole time sporting a toothy grin and gigantic heart eyes. There were rows and rows of stalls overflowing with traditional Christmas cookies and goodies, hand-carved nativity scenes, and ornaments. There was a marching band playing Christmas carols by City Hall and twinkling lights hanging from every tree and hut in sight. A real-life winter wonderland.

Allow me to introduce you to the German mega-donut with an unfortunate name: Krapfen. This thing was as big as my face and came in a wide variety of flavors. I chose plain with a strawberry jelly in the middle. Holy diabetes it was delicious! For an actual dinner, I ate goulash in a bread bowl. (Click here for goulash) I am fighting a food coma.

We will keep you updated on how our Weihnachsmarkt hopping goes!