It’s not even December yet, and already the air rings with
Christmas music. The neighbor’s front yard is stuffed with inflatable
Christmassy characters, including a Transformer, a Minion, Snoopy, and a Storm
Trooper. (Scratching my head, but to each his own.)
This will be my fifth Christmas in the U.S. since leaving
Germany, and I still tear up when I hear the tinkling notes of Leise Rieselt der Schnee. How I miss the
Weihnachtsmärkte, those wonderful
German Christmas markets in the historical town center, with booths that look
like little alpine cabins. I’d visit as many as possible each year, soaking up
the atmosphere and the Glühwein, steaming
mugs of sweet red wine spiced with cinnamon, anise, nutmeg and orange rind. There’s
nothing like it to drive away the biting cold. Here’s a recipe to try at home;
it makes your house smell marvelous!
And the food! At a German Christmas market, you can choose
from sizzling Bratwurst, a paper boat
of mushrooms swimming in creamy garlic sauce, a flatbread hot from the
wood-fired oven and topped with goat cheese, bacon and walnuts, or perhaps a Dampfnudel, a steaming, fluffy wheat bun
filled with sweet cherry goo and topped with hot vanilla custard sauce. And
don’t forget the candied almonds! All the delicious smells are drifting back to
me on the winds of memory.
Here, we usually shop for gifts online or in overcrowded,
tacky malls. (Oh dear, is my inner Grinch showing?) How I miss strolling
through the booths where artisans sold all manner of hand-crafted gifts and
decorations: carved wooden tree ornaments and nativity scenes, hand-made soap
and candles, gingerbread and fruit cake (The German version is really
delicious!), knit hats, scarves and gloves, jewelry made of semi-precious
stones and silver, fluffy slippers made of sheepskin and fleece. One-stop
shopping in a beautiful outdoor setting!
Sure, there were stores in Germany, big and small, offering
the usual gift items, both useful and useless, but to get to these stores we
strolled through the pedestrian zone in the historic city center, past
beautiful historical buildings, past buskers of all sorts, past tents and
booths where this church group or that civic club sold hot chocolate, more Glühwein, and homemade Christmas cookies
made with ground hazelnuts and dipped in dark chocolate, or kissed with jam and
powdered sugar. Here are a few recipes to try!
And so, I wish you a holiday season steeped in whichever
traditions are dear to you. May you enjoy the warmth of friends and family. Frohe Weihnachten!
P.S. You know what makes an excellent Christmas present? A
nice, juicy romance story–like this one!
Sadira Stone
http://sadirastone.com
Buy links:
What a lovely description of your Christmas markets, and the food sounds delicious. Here in the UK Christmas markets are becoming more and more popular - in fact we're going to one at a local Stately Home tomorrow. It's always very traditional with lots of crafts and food stalls - as you say, much nicer than crowded city stores. Sorry you're feeling homesick, but I can understand why - and I hope you have a very happy Christmas despite the 'Hiraeth' as we call homesickness in Wales!
ReplyDeleteOh, my. This sounds so delightful! I'd miss it too! Wish I could take in something like that. The idea of a Christmas market sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always wanted to see the German Christmas markets— I’ve heard so much about them that they are on my bucket list! Thank you for sharing your memories, photos and recipes.
ReplyDeleteThe markets and food in Germany sound like an experience to encounter. I especially love the different foods as my great-great grandparents came from Germany.
ReplyDeleteThe markets sound wonderful. I enjoyed your descriptions and no wonder you miss them. Thanks for sharing and merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your post. I spent my first four years in Austria which, like Germany, had beautiful Christmas markets. It was always a magical time. Christmas in Canada was so very different [only the German delis had Advent calendars at the time!] Thanks for a beautiful memory. And all that dearly familiar luscious food.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Cat
Sounds like a great time. I bet you are missing it. The Cookies sound delish!
ReplyDeleteChristmas sounds lovely in Germany. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYou've described a true winter wonderland--German style! Thank you for the wonderful recipes. Can't wait to try some.
ReplyDeleteThere was a lovely German Christmas festival a few weeks in my town. It was wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThere is a Christmas market in downtown Chicago every year which is huge. If you're near Chicago, you would do well to visit--it will help your homesickness.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your memories of German Christmas markets. Your descriptions were so vivid, I feel as if I were there. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSomeday, I want to visit the Christmas markets. I've heard so much about them. The replicates here are NOT the same. But then, we have lots of craft fairs which are awesome. May your days be Merry and Bright!
ReplyDeleteWow. Thanks for a wonderful post. It brought back a sweet memory for me. I worked at the Deutsche Haus at NYU when I was in college and singing Leise Reiselt der Schnee was an annual treat.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for these vivid memories of Germany and the amazing Christmas markets. I hope you find comfort and joy even while missing home. I'm sure you could write an entire book about all the German Christmases you enjoyed. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Germany for three years and your description of the food, especially the bratwurst, which my husband loved, the Christmas markets and the whole holiday season brings back such vivid memories. We were lucky enough to visit Germany along the Rhine and Mosel a couple years ago--awesome to go back and recapture those memories. Thanks for sharing. Have a very merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds so amazing. Can't wait to try some. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAs it is a festival season try out Original gift מתנות מקוריות