Some Things About: Weinachtsmarkt

Germans are Christmas crazy! They love their Christmas markets. Hamburg alone had six! We went to the one by the Rathaus, the biggest in Hamburg. While the market does sell a lot of unique and even handcrafted items, it seemed more like an excuse to sell food and alcohol. We bought a lot of Christmas gifts here, ate a unique "pizza" and drank Elderberry and apple Glühwein, a Christmas drink specifically served hot.

Every year at Christmastime, against the impressive backdrop of the venerable, historic Town Hall of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, approximately a hundred traders arrive for one of the city's largest and loveliest Christmas markets. The lights, sounds, and decorations were fantastic! It even snowed while we were there (something that apparently is kind of rare, surprisingly). I really got into the Christmas spirit with a traditional Polka band playing in the center of the congregation.