In many towns in southern Germany, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the town Christmas Markets, often also called Christkindlmarkt or Christkindlesmarkt (Ger. literally, Christ child market). Generally held in the town square and pedestrian zones, the market combines shopping and pageantry as well as tradition. On opening night and, in some towns, every night, onlookers welcome the Christkind, or Christ child, in the form of a golden_haired angel played by a local youth.
Some of the most popular items at the Market are the Nativity Scene (also known as a crèche or crib); Zwetschgamännla (figures made of decorated dried plums); Nussknacker (carved Nutcrackers); Gebrannte Mandeln or candied, toasted almonds; assorted cookies like Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both forms of soft gingerbread); Christstollen or Stollen, a sort of egg bread with candied fruit; and not least, Glühwein, hot mulled wine (with or without a shot of brandy) to keep the body going in the cold winter air. Many other homemade crafts and toys, books and (in recent years) more or less useful gadgets can be found at a Christkindlmarkt.
The most famous Christmas markets are held in the cities of Nuremberg, Dresden and Stuttgart making them very popular tourist stops. The Nuremberg and Dresden markets draw each year about 2 million, the Stuttgart market (the largest in Europe) attracts more than three million visitors.
German immigrants to America brought the Christmas celebrations with them and there are some Christkindlmarkt events held in the United States as well.
One of the two islands hosts a small Christkindlmarkt each year on the first two Sundays of Advent, and it is one of the more charming Christkindlmarkts around.
Its Christkindlmarkt was small, with only a dozen huts, but about the entire town showed up on opening night.
Unlike most cities, the Christkindlmarkt did not take place in the main marketplace, rather it was closer to the edge of town as the main square hosted the regular Saturday markets.
This Christkindlmarkt has been in going on for more years than you can remember - how about going back to the 14th century when it was called the Nicholas Market.
This Christkindlmarkt is based on the real German Christmas Market that feature decorated booths full of crafts, food and entertainment.
Christkindlmarkt starts at the end of November and goes till Christmas Day.
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