Different Customs

Have you ever been to Germany in the weeks before Christmas? Many of the towns have Christmas Markets. They are outdoor markets, where you can find candies, ornaments, food, wine, music and gift. All in decorated booth'. Everyone wanders around, drinks a glas of hot cider or of hot 'gluehwein' (a hot, spiced red wine) and enjoyes the sounds (Christmas Music, often played 'live') and smells (nuts being roasted, miniature brats being cooked, lebkuchen being baked). It's an old custom in Germany to have these markets in the 4 weeks of Advent before Christmas Eve.

A couple of the more famous ones are in Nuernberg

and in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Another, smaller market, happend each year in Forchheim, in an area called "Fraenkische Schweiz" (Frankonian Switzerland). All the historic buildings in the town center have been restored and are used for their original purpose. The building in the photo is the court house. Each year at Christmas, the windows are being decorated like an Advent Calender, and each evening, after a free concert, the daily window is opened and the "Christkind" reads a poem and sends greetings.

Despite the huge number of people attending these markets each year, they are an integral part of the Christmas Celebration in Germany, and we wouldn't want to miss it.

I'd love to know - if you're willing to share: What are some of the Customs in your area?