Ho, Ho, Ho!
Every year there is a special time for all of us – Christmas. Of course, the Christmas has dozens of meanings, because there are so many different kinds of people. So that, the children wait for presents, the salesman welcome parents who will buy this presents, and the grown-ups can at last enjoy a little break form work. But for each of them Christmas symbolize one same thing – joy!
There are some worldwide traditions like a Christmas Eve meal, going to church or visiting friends and family. The Germans, and especially Berliners, has one additional tradition – Weihnachtsmarkt, what just means a Christmas Market. Every city, and almost every town has its own Weihnachtsmarkt and is its’ pride and most important place during Christmas.
This tradition has a very long tradition – the first Weihnachtsmarkt in Berlin started almost 5 centuries ago, in 1530. At the beginning this event in city’s life meant something else then today. In the Middle Ages the first Christmas Market appeared with first snow, so that the city inhabitants could buy new warm clothes for cold season. Years passed, new époques started and the character of Weihnachtsmarkt changed into joyful family festival, with over 4 Million visitors each year only in Berlin.
Nowadays there are m
uch more attractions to experience. No matter where, every Christmas market offers traditional meals and drinks. The first and the most important thing you can get here I the Glühwein – hot mulled wine with numerous spices, being available in many tastes, from standard red to blueberry. The colder outside, the better it tastes. Absolutely a must-do! Other things made to kill your thirst are Eierpunsch, an egg-based warm alcoholic drink (best to drink with cream on top) or a Feuerzangenbowle, another traditional German wine. You can hear a loud -Wow!-, when the tourists see how it is being made – a sugar loaf soaked with rum is set on fire and drips into the rum. However, much more Wows! are after fourth or fifth round, especially when the stomach was empty.
To avoid too many Wows! you will have to eat something on Weihnachtsmarkt. There are plenty of meals you will have to try, so we will only describe only few of them – in our opinion most tasty and most traditional, of course. At first try the Rahmbrot – round crunchy bread with sour cream, bacon and chives directly from an oven. If you are still hungry, take the (yes, again traditional) sausage in bread – Bratwurst. There are so many variations about the meat here, from Nürnberger to Nackenstaek, which you will be able to satisfy your predator instinct in almost every way you want.
Now it’s time to get a dessert. Let’s just say there are many sweets that can make you fat. Luckily, Christmas is not about diet – it’s a (again) joyful time to eat and drink whatever you want without remorse. If you already cleared that out with your conscience, take the fruits poured with chocolate, grab the Nussknacker (Nutcrackers) and end this meal orgy with Christstollen!
The Weihnachtsmarkt isn’t of course only about eating and drinking all the time. It is just a great location to hang out with your family, friends or co-workers. It’s also a one and only opportunity to hear and sing Christmas c
arols. You will find here many artists, selling their creations from glass, wood or steel. If you look hard enough, you will also find some jersey for cold winter evenings, a wooden sculpture for your grandmother or bottle of home-made liquor for your best friend.
Among numerous Weinnachtsmarkt in Berlin, the most beautiful and second most visited (600.000 during Christmas time) is the Gendarmenmarkt. Located in the heart of Berlin, near the shopping avenue Friedrichsstrasse, it has a exquisite neighborhood: Frech- and German Cathedral and the Konzerthaus. This old part of Berlin is most popular tourist spot in every season, because of its space and outstanding architecture.
The Weihnachtsmarkt at Gendarmenmarkt offers every day new portion of entertainment and amusement. The show starts every day on 1 pm and lasts to 9 or even 10 pm, and presents many attractions like theater plays, live bands or the church choir. There is also more than 70 booths with Christmas specialties, tasty Glühwein and one of the biggest Christmas trees in Berlin!
Be a Santa once for yourself! Visit Gendarmenmarkt!
Location: Gendarmenmarkt
Internet: www.gendarmenmarktberlin.de
Last, but not least, AMC-Booking Team wish you lots of love, joy and happiness in this special time.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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