Another Day, Another Christmas Market
It’s true, I’ve hit a lot of Christmas markets this year already. For some, Christmas markets are the best thing ever, and for others they are just meh. For me, I’ve just been feeling so curious about everything and want to have a good handle on what’s out there and what I love. I’ve explored some with family, and others with friends. Some in the evening, and some in the daytime. I think what I love the most about them at this point is they getting me out of the house in this otherwise very dark and cold time of year, and that they feel special and new. I love the unique market settings from city squares, to winding streets, monasteries or caves, and looking for what makes a particular market special and different from the rest.
Earliest records show that Christmas markets have been going on since the Middle Ages here and were an event specifically to bring the locals together to exchange needed goods to celebrate the holidays through the dark winter months. Markets brought people to the church services as well.
Brian had a doctor appointment last week that took forever, so rather than dragging him the 45 minutes it would take to drive to his school when we finished, I took a detour and stopped in a little town called Nürtingen to visit their Christmas market — just me and my boy.
He was actually thrilled to have me all to himself, doing something fun. I let him lead the way and pick whatever foods and treats he wanted to get which meant a hot mug of kinderpunsch, fresh Lebkuchen, a Germknödel to share with me, and a huge German-style cheeseburger.
Germknödel with plum filling and vanilla sauce with poppyseeds. It was so good! Many markets serve on real dishes and you pay a deposit when you order. You get back part of the deposit when you return the dishes afterwards.
He loved taking his time at all the chalets with crafts and goods to buy. This market was so small but also fun because everyone seemed to be local. So many people greeted us and asked our names (I always feel badly that I cannot speak German, and people are truly so kind to speak English to us no matter how well they know it).
We stopped in the church after eating all of our goodies and Brian got to see several Nativities set up from different parts of Europe. There were a few people praying silently inside when we opened the door, and then others came in and it was like a group of long lost friends finally seeing each other. Lots of hugs and quiet laughter.
Part of the original altar piece, painted in 1420.
I love how a smaller town feels. And I loved the time with Brian. He’s almost eleven and has always had the most tender heart. I hope he keeps that forever.
