10 Days remain until Christmas!
The Pre-Christmas period in Berlin is very exceptional. I like to go out when the whole city is illuminated with million chains of lights. The streets, the buildings and the trees are shining. This period of the year is very great for going to Christmas markets. Over 70 Christmas markets have opened their gates this year in Berlin. The Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and is the exquisite setting for “WeihnachtsZauber “-market which will whisk you away to a magical Christmas world full of scrumptious treats and fairy lights.
The history of Christmas markets goes back to the late Middle Ages in the German speaking part of Europe. The Vienna “December market” was a kind of forerunner of the Christmas market and dates back to 1294. Bautzen Christmas market was first mentioned “Christmas Market” in records in Germany in 1384. In Southern Germany the Christmas market is also called Christkindlmarkt (“Christ child Market”). Generally held on the town square and adjacent pedestrian zones, the market sells food and drink from open-air stalls with other seasonal items and traditional singing and dancing.
On a German Christmas market you can find many stands with different handcrafts. Here you can buy especially traditional hand-made products as for example: candles, Christmas tree decorations, textiles, stollen, crib figurines….
Something you shouldn’t miss is a glass of
the delicious mulled wine you are offered. It helps stave off the cold winter air which sometimes dips below freezing!
The ambience is further enhanced by the aromas of hot chestnuts, sugar roasted almonds, grilled sausages and other tasty snacks. Youngsters will be especially attracted to the gingerbread biscuits known as “Lebkuchen”, marzipan figures and other sweets. Since
I am 
a little child, I look forward to eat a candied apple when going to a Christmas market.
a little child, I look forward to eat a candied apple when going to a Christmas market.
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