Weihnachtsmarkt

 

"Weihnachtsmarkt" means "Christmas Market" in German.  Merry Christmas!

 

I would be doing a blog on Rome today, except for that it's Christmas, and I kinda figured it would be a good time to do a Christmas blog!  So, yesterday we went to a Christmas Market in Guteneck.

 

 

So a Christmas Market is like a big festival with lots of Christmas decorations, lights, music, stands to buy food and handicrafts, and all-around giant Christmas party outdoors in Winter.

 

The Christmas Market in Guteneck is on the grounds of an old palace and they had a medieval theme going on.  Many of the lights were real candles lashed onto trees .

 

There were cool torches lighting the pathways.

 

One of my favorite things about the Christmas Markets is the people selling roasted and candied nuts.  You can smell it as you get closer.  They are made fresh right there.  My favorites are the almonds.

 

Pretty much all the food is good.  Kieran and I got the bratwurst for dinner.  My mom tried a langosch, which is like a big scone covered in cheese and bacon.

 

This is the gluhhausl, which is where they serve gluhwein, which is hot wine.  They also serve "Kinderpunsch" which is a warm non-alcoholic drink - the kid alternative.

 

Here is Saint Nikolas.  Isn't this what you think of at Christmastime?  Santa Claus and angels?  In Germany, Saint Nikolas brings candy to good children on December 6.  You have to leave your shoes outside the door on the evening of December 5, and if you've been good, you might get a treat. 

 

There are his angel assistants.

 

They were passing out treats to all the little kids.....

 

"But do you recall....the creepiest part of Christmas of all.......?"

 

"Krampus the horned evil devil dude...had a very ugly face.  And if you ever saw him, you would run to another place."

 

Bet you didn't know this creepy guy (Krampus) had anything to do with Christmas!  Well, in Germany, he is often seen accompanying St. Nikolas.  If you have been bad, he might give you coal, a potato, a smack in the rear with a wooden switch...or if you have been really bad, he might take you away in his bag.

 

So be good for goodness sake.....Oh, you better watch out....

 

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!