Christmas in
Germany
In 1986, I found
myself, at 18, stationed near the German city of Muenster for Christmas, and
one thing I learned is that the Germans prepare for Christmas a little
differently than Americans. The biggest cultural difference? The German Kris
Kringle markets. In fact, most major European cities have them. When I went to
my first one in Muenster, I was wrapped in a cocoon of cold, but it didn't
matter. The festive atmosphere and overall good will permeated my heart and
still resonates with me today. I thought I'd share some of my Kris Kringle
memories with you.
The first Kris
Kringle market I went to in Muenster blew me away. I had never seen anything
like it. Lights were everywhere. Glühwein, a German Christmas drink, was warmed
on every corner. The stalls were wooden; easy to put up and take down. The
market sold everything you could think of purchasing for a more "homier"
Christmas.
Items in the
market included handmade wood ornaments, toys, gingerbread, candles, wreaths,
glass ornaments, handmade knitted scares, hats and mittens, candy and marzipan.
There was plenty of food from sausages, fries, hot spiced wine, and waffles.
The bigger the market, there might even be an amusement ride or two.
I loved just
browsing the markets, drinking the glühwein and munching on a sausage with a
brotchen. For me, it was a great adventure and the cultural
The German city,
Aachen, attracts over 1.5 million visitors a year.
Berlin has more
than 50 individual markets.
In Köln, a
medieval Christmas market is held at the local chocolate museum. (Doesn't that
sound yummy?)
Stuttgart's
Christmas markets date back to 1692, making the city one of Germany's oldest
markets.
My love of the
European Christmas markets and traditions shines in my 99 cent contemporary
Christmas story, "Christmas in Bayeux."
ENJOY THIS
EXCERPT:
Aiden parked his car a few blocks from the
town center. He noticed the middle of town was very compact. Most of the
buildings were tall and either beige or grey. From the second stories hung the
American, British, French, and Canadian flags – the forces that stormed the
Normandy beaches. He slammed his door shut and Noel took his hand.
God, he loved it when she held his hand
with no hesitation. "Fess up, Noel. Where are we going?"
She gave him a mischievous grin as she
wrapped her scarf around her neck. "It's in the town centre."
"Um." No, he didn't care for
surprises one bit. They made him feel uncomfortable. He'd had enough surprises
in Iraq to last a lifetime.
They walked a block or two and entered the
downtown pedestrian area. Aiden stopped, amazed by the wooden shops lined up
against each other. They sold wooden ornaments, candies, knick-knacks, wreaths,
candles, anything that had to do with Christmas. There were three rows of these
booths, which took up the square along with a food tent. The scent of mulled
apples and sweet pastries tickled his nose.
"Noel, what is this?"
"The Christmas markets."
"Is this what you wanted to show
me?"
"No." She paused. "Ah,
that's right – you don't have Christmas markets in the States."
"Well, then, we're coming here
tomorrow to shop for Christmas."
She smiled. "It's a date."
He found it impossible not to return her
disarming grin. Was that what they were doing? Dating? She led him down the
street. It was getting harder for him to hold back, but he wanted her to know
that when he kissed her, when he touched her, it was because he wanted her, not
because it was gratitude or some other strong emotion. Well, yes, he was
grateful to her, but damn it, he wasn't about to let her walk out of his life
right now. Right now? Who was he kidding? He didn't want her to walk out of his
life again.
REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Karen
Michelle Nutt, author
Christmas in Bayeux is a tender romance sure to
warm your hearts for anytime of the year. I highly recommend it.
5 Stars, Diane Craver, author
Christmas in Bayeux" is the perfect short romance
to enjoy during the holiday season or any time during the year, and I highly
recommend it.
5 Stars, Celia Yeary, author
You will enjoy this beautiful story, rich in
history and appreciation of the past, while living and falling in love in the
present. I highly recommend "Christmas in Bayeux."
BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-muZ0dhOvSE
Christmas in Bayeux is available as an ebook
only.
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