Lots of Christmas markets (Weihachtsmarkt) this time of
year. Some last more than a month,
others just a few days. Look
around. You’ll find plenty, big
and small, sometimes more than one in the same city.
Here’s a partial list for Rheinland Platz http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/rheinland-pfalz.html
Click on the brown lettering to get the dates for a specific market
And another partial list for Saarland: http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/saarland.html
Click on the red lettering to get the dates for a specific
market.
Weihnachtsmarkt is pronounced Vie-knocks-marked, but in English
or German, it’s a wonderful tradition for the holiday season.
Unlike the United States, where anything suggesting religion
is carefully scrutinized before being beheaded, the Germans are unabashedly
fond of Christmas and its many celebratory reincarnations. Nativity scenes are shamelessly
displayed. Join in the fun, or
embrace The Grinch.
Remember, this is Germany. No matter the occasion, the waft of roasting meats and
baking bread lusciously fills the air.
Beer and wine flow freely and the click of heavy mugs lets you know
you’re in the right place. My kind
of Christmas celebration. Vendors
line the streets. Artisans display
their wares, with everything from intricate tree ornaments to handsomely carved
furniture, olive wood kitchen implements, homemade chocolates, and a thousand
other things that suddenly look like a fabulous way to spend money and keep the
snarling relatives at bay.
Roasting Chestnuts |
Castle is in the far background |
In the city of Saarbrücken (Bridge over the Saar River) you
have a bunch of choices. We picked
the Weihnachtsmarkt in the plaza of the Saarbrücken Castle. Is the castle historic? Yes and no. Lots of castles on this site, dating back to around 1000
A.D. Dukes, Duchesses, wars,
revolutions saw so many deconstructions and reconstructions that the history is
difficult to follow. The current
buildings got a facelift and architectural changes in the late 20th
Century and are used as offices by the Saarland government. Still, they stand straight, white, and
with a certain majesty. The
cobblestones are a nice touch and it’s the perfect place for a market, which
also wanders down the surrounding streets.
But, no matter which Weihnachtsmarkt I pick, I always find
something different, something that strikes me as “Hey, never thought of
that.” In some cases I’m pleased
that I never thought of that, but often I’m surprised.
This time it was hot beer. Glühbier, it’s called. The thoughtful folks who provided this
warmth on a chilly day in Saarbrücken were Belgian as was the Glühbier.
The beer comes out steaming! |
Most of us have sampled Glühwein. Wine with spices, and sugared, then heated. You can also get it with a shot of this
or that, which is always a good idea, but only if you’ve found another driver
for the sleigh. Even with
more alcoholic infusions, I can only take one mug of Glühwein. A bit sweet for my taste. But, it does get better with age, so
wait five minutes, then have another.
Glühbier is a different beast. You may think fruit flavored beer is sweet. Not if it’s Belgian. They add the fruit flavoring before
fermentation, so the sugar from the fruit morphs into real beer, with a fruit
flavor. Heat the fruit beer up and
you’ve got Glühbier. First time I
tried it, I was ready for another.
Instantly addictive. A side
effect is that suddenly your other hand feels empty without a Brat. Easily remedied.
Glühbier! Succulent, with just a bare bite of bitterness. |
One thing I really enjoy about a German Weihnachtsmarkt is
the attitude of the people.
Happy. Smiling. Hail fellow well met! You well may wonder about the origin of
that greeting from medieval times.
Well, join me for a Glühbier, grab a Wurst and let’s talk about it…
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