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December 14, 2009
Germany: The enduring appeal of the Christkindlmarkt
It’s true there’s no place like home for the holidays … but Germany is a pretty amazing place to be in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
In major cities and small towns alike, Advent is celebrated with Christkindlmarkt. These traditional holiday markets, which have been a staple of German life for hundreds of years, continue to delight with their festive, “Old World” ambience. I love the simple but beautiful decorations—pine cones, colored lights, ribbons, greenery—that adorn the market stalls, and the tempting aromas—mulled wine, spiced nuts, freshly baked gingerbread cookies, and more—that fill the air.
And I’m always excited to the see the various handcrafts for sale, ranging from glass ornaments and lacquered nutcrackers to cuckoo clocks and hand-dipped candles. The woodcarvings, however, are by far my favorites. The last time I visited Germany, I bought a pair of wooden angels with gilded wings—which I had made into a pair of lamps as soon as I got home. Every time I look at them, I’m reminded not only of where I was when I purchased them, but how I felt at the time: Aglow with the spirit of the season.
Do you have treasured item or special memory from your own holiday travels? If so, email me at
harriet@gct.com
With the holiday season upon us, I’ll be scaling back a bit on my postings—but I’ll still be updating the site weekly, so I hope you’ll continue to check in between now and New Year’s to see what’s new.
Harriet Lewis