German Christmas Markets

I know, I know. It's been over a month since I've posted. Many of you know that I took a little break, but now I'm back and running, and I have a couple of posts to make. I hope to get caught up by the New Year.

Anyways, Germany is very well known for its Christmas Markets, which you can find everywhere leading up to Xmas. Frankfurt has an especially big Xmas Market that takes up the central city hall sqaure (Rathaus Platz) and an adjacent one.

The markets are filled with sights and smells that cannot be found in the US, although some things we do have. For instance, roasted almonds are especially popular, and they are usually roasted right in front of you. You could go broke though going around and trying everything as usually things are priced like you'd expect at an open air market/tourist trap.

Apart from the numerous different sweets and delicacies available (ranging from smoked sausages to funnel cakes) there are also a myriad of different vendors selling toys, candles, xmas decorations, fine arts and crafts and clothing. Some are especially traditional, like toy train sets and xmas stars, and others are unique and can only be found there.

The xmas market in Frankfurt was especially busy when I went. Richard invited me to go walk around and try some things. It was really nice, and it felt like the holiday season, (despite the warm weather - it had reached 60°F days prior).

Oberursel, my home town and suburb of Frankfurt also had a xmas market. I especially enjoyed the Oberurseler Weinachtsmarkt, as it was smaller and more tame. There are several main pedestrian areas where the merchants set up their kiosks. The goods sold were quite literally the same things one could find in Frankfurt.

I went to the Oberurseler Xmas Market with some friends who I recently met in Oberursel - a huge plus because it means I don't have to take a train anywhere to meet them, and also means I don't have to worry about the train coming back. We walked around town with these new friends of mine (almost all of them Au Pairs). They sort of introduced me to the ins and out of Oberursel. Apparently what I had thought was downtown or the central areas turned out to be just the periphery of the central area, and I was finally taken to the main square with the church. (I had always though it odd that Oberursel didn't have a church, but alas it does).

At the xmas market, we drank Glühwein with Amaretto di Sorrento (a hot red wine with Amaretto liquor). It was very tasty (Amaretto is my favorite) and we ate some roasted almonds. However we also tried Med, a honey fermented beer (also hot) and sat by this huge bon fire.

As the Au Pairs and I talked, many Germans sitting around us took interest in our "foreignness" and encouraged us to talk in German. Many of us do fluently, but because we're from all different parts, we speak English to keep it simple, Well, it's really a mixture of English and German... Denglish.

This Xmas Market in Oberursel apparently was a moving one, as it only stayed one weekend in early December. It was nice though, and the locals take it seriously, dressing up in costume (like elves) and selling Glühwein, Med, Beer, Roasted Nuts, Funnel Cakes, Bretzels, Sausages, Crepes, Quiche Lorraine, Flammkuchen, und etc.