Like the germans say: "Erstens kommt es anders, und zweitens als man denkt." Which indicates you cant control life no matter how good your plans, so stay positive and adapt to the situation - just like you do.
you should quote the colognenian Grundgesetz „§2 et kütt wie et kütt (es kommt wie es kommt)“ §3 „et hött noch immer jott jejange (Es ist noch immer gut gegangen)
We have a Chritsmas Tree farm very near here in the UK and the largest German Christmas Market outside of Germany . Christmas trees were a German tradition introduced by Prince Albert in 1840. He was born in Coburg. Later in 1843 Queen Victoria sent the first official Christmas card which led to the penny Post etc. You can't beat Christmas in Germany. Xx
I am originally from Coburg but now live near Nürnberg. I am glad that Albert introduced our German way of celebrating Christmas to the UK or at least Christmas trees. By the way: glass Christmas baubles originate from Lauscha, a small place in Thuringia, about 1-1,5 hours' drive from Coburg. They hold a bauble market there every year at the first two weekends in Advent, which is really worth visiting.
Christmas trees introduced by Prince Albert in 1840? No! In einer Akte der Mainzer Herrscher aus dem Jahr 1527 ist zu lesen von „die weiennacht baum“ im Hübnerwald in Stockstadt am Main. In a file of the Mainz rulers from the year 1527 one can read about "die weiennacht baum" in the Hübnerwald (Hubner's wood) in (the village of) Stockstadt am Main. Von 1539 gibt es einen urkundlichen Beleg, dass im Straßburger Münster ein Weihnachtsbaum aufgestellt wurde. From 1539 there is a documentary evidence that a Christmas tree was placed in the Strasbourg Cathedral.
My family moved from Germany to France in 1981, we lived in a house with 10 apartments. Around Christmas time, my mum started decorating the house and the windows, put a wreath on the front door, and bake biscuits and a witch house with my brother and me. Each neighbour received a small box of biscuits. So it was exactly the way we did it in Germany. The next year, my mother gave workshops on baking biscuits and making Advent wreaths for the whole neighborhood! 😆
I love German Christmas markets! All the food, Glühwein and just the overall atmosphere. We have similar markets here in DK, but it's not the same. What i love the most, is the huge selection of the Gebrannte nuts (Brændte mandler in Danish). We have them too here in DK, but only almonds. So when i finally get to go to Germany for Christmas, i get loads of different types to take home.
No, it's not a post-pandemic phenomenon that Christmas markets are crowded. I remember from previous years that our Christmas market here in Augsburg was always jam-packed.
I am from Leipzig and our christmasmarket is a bit famous and it is always packed, even before COVID. Famous enough that it is a tourist attraction in itself. Lokals(who dont like that kind of experience) know to no go to the christmasmarkets that are full like that, you cant move, the crowd shoves you forward and it is just not fun. So we go either at times we know are more empty (like in the midle of the week after it just opened) or to the smaller ones in the districts of big cities or even just small towns around the area , they might be only open one weekend in december, but it gives the oportunity to go to lots of different markets. New experiences each weekend!
Considering things being a lot less sweet, I can't wait for a video of you visiting family in the US and maybe even visiting somewhere with sweets and carnival food. Especially what the kids think would be interesting.
Cities like Salzburg have always been very popular with tourists from all over the world, and what is actually very beautiful has now become a politely expressed curse for the city's inhabitants, but also for the city's infrastructure and buildings. Of course, the interest does not decrease at Christmas, although the Corona years have of course done the rest. But in Vienna we have a lot of different Christmas markets, big and small, also very special ones, spread all over the city, that helps a bit, but in the evening it gets very crowded almost everywhere, so a bit of experience is needed to know which one is best for me to go to. But I'm really happy for you to get finally that experience and wish you a nice 4th Advent.
You already got the hang of it: you manage to go on Christmas markets before it is getting dark. I know that my mum loves strolling through ours in a fairly big city right when it opens up in the late morning. So if you meet up with people for drinks and food you can go in the evening with the atmosphere and lights. But just to look around you avoid the stress and the crowds.
All bigger Christmas marks are packed in the evening. I think we're not even close to what it was before the pandemic, as many still try to avoid big crowds of people. To enjoy a Christmas market you should come a little early and bring lots of time!
Something that made Christmas markets as well as other events even more packed than used to be the case anyways, of course, is social media. While popular big Christmas markets have been crowded and overrun with tourists forever, the same thing happened to small, atmospheric local markets that people would feature on social media. First, these places were made known to non-locals this way, and second, many people wanted to post a picture or video of themselves at these events, showing the world that they were "in the know" of "secret" lovely events and were active people going out in general. A sociological term for the phenomenon is: "ostentatious experiencing" ("demonstratives Erleben").
Personally, I prefer the small Christmas markets in the villages.You meet with friends,neighbors,and family,and celebrate this special time.The stall owners are all from the village or the surrounding area, everyone knows everyone and the prices are fair.No crowds of tourists, no stress, no exorbitant prices, good food and drinks... just being cozy together. And if it snows lightly - there is nothing better.
Yeah we do agree! It’s so much cozier and more special when it’s your own market with people you know, not touristy. Local food and local handmade items.
Sara, my German husband and I, an American, got back to the U.S. a couple of days ago. We go every year-except for the past two-to different Christmas markets in Germany. We choose three each time and spend several days in each location. This year we went to Cologne, Heidelberg and Dusseldorf. Heidelberg and Dusseldorf were wonderful and magical. Cologne was a complete mob scene, could not move.Awful. In years past the only other location that miserable was Nuremberg. Munich has been lovely, we have visited three times. Salzburg was great as was Bonn, Leipzig and Hamburg. Love going, just don't to face a mob!
I am from Nuremberg and I must admit that this year was awful. I gave up after three rows of stalls because one couldn't move. However, it totally depends on the time of day that you're visiting. 24th in the morning is really cool and not as busy as you would think. During the week after 6 p.m. (as soon as the tourist busses have left town) it's good too. Generally the twin-city Christmas Market at the Nuremberg Christkindes Markt is always a good idea.
@@susanned.2523 Thanks so much for the ideas.Nuremberg is such an interesting and lovely city it is good to know the markets can be enjoyed with a little planning. We stayed within walking distance of the markets so could have come once the busses left. Interesting that the morning of the 24th is a good time to visit!
@@lissalack1490 on 24th most people seem busy with the preparations for the "Holy Night" so no time for Christmas Markets. Still the Market in Nuremberg is open till 2 pm on 24th, so we usually meet our friends at the "Kinderweihnacht" around 10 am to have a Glühwein or two, then stroll along the market stalls and in the end enjoy lunch at "Bratwurst Röslein" (which isn't full either on 24th). By the time we leave the restaurant, it's closing time for the market.
I can tell from my experiences in the Christmas Markets (Christkindelmärik as they call it there) in Alsace, France, where i lived for more than 20 years. They were crowded of locals and tourist from all over the word, especially if you go there on week-end. It's less crowded during the week, but Christmas markets are really a cultural/social/economic/religious thing in Alsace, and i can imagine it's the same in Germany. And may be after 2 years of restrictions due to the pandemic, it's overcrowded. If you can, may be avoid the week-ends, and the hours with many peoples (evenings). From the images you published from Salzburg, i don't see so many peoples for a Christmas Market in a big city. Is that what you feel crowded ? It can be much worse. :-)
Good that you first went to a local Christmas market, in this way you are not 'spoiled' by a famous market and you are supporting the locals! Of course a christmas market is nicer if you go when it is dark ;)
you can also check out the Winter Tollwood in Munich ( there is a summer one too, actually it originated from the summer Tollwood but the one in the winter is bigger). Its on the Theresienwiese where the Oktoberfest is. Its like a huge christmas market with event locations and stalls where you can buy all sorts of stuff.
Yah genau it's always busy at the big Christmas Market here in Cologne as well. For example, the Christmas markets at the Cologne Cathedral (Köln Dom), the Chocolate Museum and by the Rathaus are always full of people but then again that's the fun experience of it. BTW, these markets that I mentioned above are also a big tourist attractions in the city and with that prices are eventually elevated.
I think this year every place is packed with people and I think it's a post pandemic thing. Every Volksfest, Mittelalter Markt or Theme Parks were over crowded. Usually you are good to go during the week but not this year. I think it will get bye when time passes, but at least for the next year, due to rising costs for gas, oil etc, people will stay within Germany and will spend their free time locally and not travel far.
Well getting a free tour would make it better! The problem is the only time we can go with the whole family would be on the weekends, and that’s when it’s all so crowded. I could go by myself during the week sometime though…
It's nice that you like the Christmas market. I live in Germany and haven't been to a Christmas market in 10 years because it's usually too crowded for me. But during the Advent season, I often go to a few Christmas stalls, where there are usually a lot of delicacies, for example "Mutzen". But for people who didn't grow up with something like that, it might be something extraordinary.
When I was living in Braunschweig, the christmas market was crowded almost all the time. If possible I went there during the week avoiding the weekends and as early as I could manage. The same happened in northern Germany where I lived near Bremen. Nowadays, living in a small town in the east, the market is less crowded but also less amazing.
Pushing your way through crowds while dodging people carrying Glühwein (and keeping your own out of harm's way) is definitely part of the normal Christmas market experience. You won't be able to avoid it 100%, but sticking to less popular/touristy locations and going early is definitely your best bet.
You were so lucky with the snow, normally we don´t really see much of it in december^^ I was in Vienna with my best friend over a long weekend and I can say it only really got crowded at the Stephan´s Dome, but the other markets where still easy to navigate^^ In Vienna they also have a huge variety of Glühwein I noticed xD (and ironically the food was cheapest at the christmas market in Schönbrunn) Our local christmas market in the city only has the problem that the road between the stalls is still a bit narrow and of course everyone´s always gathering around the food stands. The most interesting one is still the one in the village where my grandparents lived, because it has local sellers with many hand crafted items :)
I love special Christmas markets. For example we have on at a castle. You have to pay entrance but it's not as packed. Themed Christmas markets are also very nice like the Middle Ages one
The Salzburg Christmas market doesn't seem overcrowded at all. I even think it's very nice when people stand close together at a stand and drink mulled wine, for example, while talking and having fun. The fuller the better.
I was at the market in Frankfurt some yrs ago (long before covid), and it was just waaay to crowded. U couldn't just stop at a stand if u wanted to. It was just a constant pushing from behind and u had to go with the flow. Wasn't much fun, eventhough the stands etc were really beautiful. Been to Munich as well some yrs ago. It was okayish, but it was early in the afternoon, and during workdays.
Town councils started to force the owners/operators of stalls to do something about all that waste from one-way plates and cups about thirty or so years ago. At first people did not really fancy the idea and there was concern that real glass and porcellain/earthenware may cause problems in case they got smashed, but with that deposit system people were quickly taught "how to behave". At most events all the stalls use the same plates, glasses and mugs so that the people can hand them in at various collecting points with professional dishwashing machines where they get their money back. The clean plates, glasses and mugs are then carted back to the stalls.
You obviously missed the best local fast food dish at Salzburg Xmas market: The Bosna! That's a grilled long bun similar to a hotdog, filled with 2 thin pork Bratwurste and a topping made from Tarragon spiced mustard, Curry powder and chopped onions, garnished with fresh Parsley. The spicy dish was invented as street food around1950 in Salzburg by Zanko Todoroff, an immigrant from Bulgaria who later owned a small snack bar (in fact a 4 m² small room with a window to sell to the customers in a backyard) called "Balkan Grill" not far from where the Xmas market is located. There it is served until today. But there is good news: You can get this all over the year so don't miss to try it when you visit Salzburg again. Meanwhile it is sold by some butchers and snack bars in the southeast of Bavaria and in Austria, too. But better try the original... Fun fact: Even MCD in Salzburg tried to sell a "McBosna" years ago which was basically a McRib with that Bosna topping instead of Barbecue sauce. But it seems it didn't sell that well with the original's birthplace literally over the street so its not on the menue anymore.
You should really the ones from "Balkan Grill". I tried some other ones but they aren't good as these. When I was with my wife at the Salzburger or Innsbrucker Weihnachtsmarkt we always eaten Kiachl (with Sauerkraut). We didn't saw them anywhere else and we have been on Christmas markets in several cities. One other thing you should try next time in Christmas time is the Eierpunsch. It's Eierlikör mixed with white wine and on top Schlagsahne. It's also a famous (alcoholic) drink on Christmas markets. But not so much as the Glühwein.
Hi.. So schön unsere Weihnachtstraditionen mit euren Augen zu sehen..it is like reading a fairytale :) our christmasmarkets are always packed, but most of the time later the day or on weekends. So you have to go earlier to see everything and then you go back and eat and drink..later the day you can enjoy the lightnings and the smells and musik, and every market has his oen charm. And.. love your German and you do a good job. Hi from Nana💖
Never understood the appeal of Christmas markets, especially the big ones, it's overcrowded, it's overly expensive and what else is there to do but buy more stuff that is more expensive than in a normal shop... So... No Christmas markets for me...
I went to Aachen University and Aachen has one of the "famous christmas markets". I used to live like 200 m away from where it is placed and for a couple of years worked in restaurant/Pub directly in the christmas market area. Weekends were always terribly crowded. In a way where i felt i had to walk with the crowd and not how I wanted to (which is especially annoying when you just want to get home or to work). Weekdays were much nicer and much more "christmassy". I would never go there on a weekend, especially not with my small kids. I'd be afraid to lose them. 🙈
Yes! I’d also be afraid to lose our kids in a giant crowd and yeah, it can feel like the crowd moves you and you don’t get a choice. It’s so nice that we live here and can go during the week.
I can agree with you, I also lived in Aachen as a student and after my first year I wouldn't go to the Christmas market anymore during the weekends. You can't comfortably walk around and it's hard to find a spot just for drinking Glühwein with a group of people without the constant fear of losing your company. 😅
Just my opinion but Christmas markets are best enjoyed with people you know and the more the merrier for obvious reasons. So I think you did everything all right because at the end of the day they are all more or less the same. Stands for Glühwein and other sweet stuff, stuff to buy you don’t need ect… Ps: I think before bringing the cup back home just because you have some refund on it you still better ask if not stated otherwise… 😅
Yeah with 4 kids, it’s SO stressful to be in big crowds and the kids don’t like it at all because they can’t see anything! All they see are the backs and bellies of adults. So now that we live here we know to visit the markets during the week and to go to local ones. They’re so charming less commercialized.
There are a few Christmas markets that have become quite famous and are therefore always packed with people, i.e. Augsburger Christkindlesmarkt, Nürnberger oder Regensburger Weihnachtsmarkt. I always enjoyed the Adventsmarkt in my home village Oberstdorf (the most southern village in Germany), because we (local associations and groups) would prepare hand-made and crafted things throughout the year to sell them at the market. I also sold sausages at the stand of our local Kolpingverein, all the Advent weekends. So when I think of village christmas markets, I think of community rather than big and overcrowded events. Merry Christmas and thanks for your videos, Miriam
Oh I love what you describe about your local market. That is so special! Selling hand made items made by locals is the best, and having the community come together. It can be easy to feel alone in our times when so much is online and we are more separated. I think events like Christmas markets can be an amazing way for us to come together.
I also prefer the small local festivals. Whether Christmas markets or Oktoberfest or the annual city festivals. Not only that you meet old friends again but they are not too much tourism made and too commercial.Besides, you often know the shopkeepers and know what to eat and drink.And the prices are also much better. And that's right, they're not that crowded with people.
Yes to all of this! I was surprised by how commercial the Salzburg one was. So many things made in China and food that isn’t German or Austrian. It felt cheap, even though it was pretty. Our local market had handmade items by local artists and delicious, authentic food and good prices!
Wunderbar! Sara, deine Videos werden von Woche zu Woche professioneller! Wie schön, dass ihr zuerst einen weniger überfüllten Weihnachtsmarkt besuchen konntet. Ich fürchte nur, die meisten Märkte sind gegen Abend fast überall überfüllt. Trotz der Coronapandemie. Was für ein Leichtsinn! Seid bitte vorsichtig. Die Kinder wollen kaum noch einmal krank im Bett liegen. Und genießt die herrlich verschneite Winterlandschaft!
I can highly recommend the christmas market at Gut Herrmannsdorf near Glonn, Landkreis Ebersberg. Itˋs all organic food and there is a lot of art you can buy. That market is every year on the second „Advent-weekend“…
The impression can be deceiving since German Christmas markets are generally well attended. Yes the influx is greater because again all without access restriction to the markets may, but that is I think only minimally decisive. I think the problem is that the Christmas markets in Germany are mostly moved to the city center, where Christmas market visitors meet people who go shopping normally and that makes the whole thing so crowded. We in the "Ruhrgebiet/NRW" like to go to the markets in small suburbs of big cities, where you can still enjoy the atmosphere, unlike in the city.
They are always packed after a while. I would recommend the smaller ones and that you go there when it just opened, to have a chance to see everything in peace. Of course the bigger ones are additional tourist magnets. So, maybe you like to chose the small ones - as you did in your area. That is ways more lovely and feels more like christmas - and not like commercial overflow. Thanks goodness your kids are better again, hope all is healed well. Take care and have a lovely time. I am working all christmas but the last 45 min of Holy Eve, I will be able to spend with my son and we will enjoy it just the more. Besides: Lovely video - as always. I enjoy it (while having the flu :D )... but at night it goes back to work.
Just got back from the German Christmas markets. We stay away from the bigger ones as we do t like the crowds. The smaller ones are so quaint, love them!
Wish you a nice Adventszeit as well. It's the fourth Advent(Sunday) today. One more week, and it's Christmas. Hope you get to see more Christmas markets. They are so wonderful (mulled wine, Kinderpunsch or hot chocolate, Bratwurst and other goodies, Christmas trinkets, and Christmas songs). The ones in the big cities are naturally crowded more than those in smaller cities or even villages.
Love your channel , the Christmas markets are becoming so popular in USA but mostly big cities , wish they had more in the small towns , the Gluwein in mugs is a great souvenir idea or recycle them 😊 , have fun with your aunt and uncle ❤
If you can, you should really visit the christmas market in Hameln. One of the most beatiful markets and the town has still got all the small "Fachwerkhäuser" from the 16th and 17th century. So adorable!
Glad you made it. We went to.one in Esslingen on Sat and it was fantastic. Question- I.have been here 3 weeks and feeling stressed about setting up all.new doctors and etc. Did this stress.you out? How did you deal with it practically? Thanks Shoshana Mueller
Yeah finding all new doctors, dentist, orthodontist - whew, yeah it was a lot. We waited until we moved here and then asked the locals who their favorite doctors are.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife thanks for the acknowledgement. I have many health issues and felt. Like giving up yesterday. How did you schedule the appts? Most offices do not understand English.I start German class in Jan.
Well, people really miss their Weihnachtsmärkte, of course, and almost everyone is excited about re-visiting them like old acquaintances that you didn't see for a long time. On the other hand the real "famous" Weihnachtsmärkte had been always crowded in the past, and now, after two years, are twice as swarmed by locals and tourists. An as you said there are so many Christkindlesmärkte all around and they have their very special "vibes" so you can successfully avoid the large and overcrowded ones. When I lived in Munich a lot of the "local" inhabitants of Munich avoided the city during the Oktoberfest since even your daily routine like shopping had become very time-consuming because of the crowds of people everywhere. Gute Besserung an die "Kranken" und viele liebe Grüße. 🌲
Heyho, Christmas Markets were always quite packed already before the pandemic, at least the bigger ones. That's the reason I always avoided the inner city here in Trier during the advent, since it was always so crowded, especially on weekends. In our case, it was a lot of french tourists, even during the week. And since I'm not the biggest fan of the combination of Glühwein, crowds and overpriced souvenirs I wouldn't go there on my own, although the Christmas market in Trier in and of itself is quite nice. And when it comes to the internationalization of foods and snacks on Christmas markets: Ours had a churros stand when I was there a couple of years ago... 😁 Happy remainder of the Advent - and we had a lot of it this year. This year we had the longest possible advent time, and next year will be the shortest possible advent time, with the 24th being the 4th advent. 😉
Hi friend! I had noticed that the advent season seemed quite long this year! I’ve loved it - it makes this season even better. Yeah I noticed in Salzburg there were so many foods and items being sold that weren’t authentic at all, even cheap stuff made in China. I thought that sad - I don’t go to Salzburg to get stuff made in China! Some of the things were authentic, though. But it just felt a bit cheap.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife shortest it can be is 1st advent being on the 3rd december -> 4th advent on 24th of december. it feels weird to open Adventskalender in these years before Advent even started
Yes, you have to reckon with huge crowds on the bigger, well-known christmas markets. Except if you have the possibility to carve out an early week day visit. Which would mean your kids have to miss school only to visit that thing ... That was so, even before the pandemic. Btw: Everyone please make sure when you go to a Christmas Market, don't only buy food but buy something from the stands! If the good stands with quality wares don't sell things - they may not come again ... About the food, though: The traditional Christmas market food is still on offer: Bratwurst, oftentimes the more spicy variety, Kartoffelpuffer and some regional specialities (Schupfnudeln around where I live). However, Germans are only lately beginning to really love international street food. And a lot of that is American inspired. Burghers, Pulled Pork, but also vegetarian offers like Falafel on veges are making their way onto any food-booth in Germany, including those on the Weihnachtsmarkt.
Guten Morgen. Die Weihnachtsmaerkte sind an den Wochenenden immer voll. Wenn es geht geh ich in der Woche. Schön jemanden aus eurer Familie zu sehen. Ich wünsche den beiden noch viel Spass auf ihrer Reise.
I love the Christmas markets! I would buy everything there. I was hungry while watching and wishing I had some food from the markets. It's beautiful in Salzburg. And the snow is gorgeous! I wish we would get some here in Chattanooga! Merry Christmas 🎄
Last week I passed our Market in Munich during the day and it was not crowded. Mostly in the evenings after the offices close it will be more crowded. I am actualy not a friend of Glühwein and all that jazz😉😱
Try the Christmas market on the Fraueninsel. Not sure if it is running this year, but we were there a few years ago and it was lovely and not at all crowded. Head to Prien on the Chiemsee and take the boat accross to the Fraueninsel. We loved it.
Hi, I'm really happy for you, that you finally made it for the Christmas market this year. :) But why didn't you go to the most famous one in Nürnberg ? And yes,now it is a post-covid reason, why the markets are so overfilled this year. Of course, the right time to visit a Christmas market is before lunch....if you prefer to see everything at the stalls and to find the place not crowded. Germans are usually visiting the markets in the afternoon or evening, because of the very special Christmas atmosphere, meeting friends or family there, or the whole staff of companies are enjoying their quitting time, trying to relax after a hard working day. Thus, most people you can find there in the evenings ... Regensburg had a small, but nice market as well....My favorite one is always one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany, in my hometown Frankfurt/Main. What is so special to it, you'll ask me .. and I mean, First, it's really big, there are lots of stalls, where you can find all kind of traditional Christmas ornaments, food and drinks....last year I'd recommended you the famous FEUERZANGENBOWLE, which is even better than Glühwein...and second, for most Germans it is simply a long custom/folkway to walk over the market in December, eating and drinking there. Everybody is waiting for snow and when the market is then white, people are getting in the right mood for Christmas....like in the carols, it makes spirit bright ! So, I wish you a nice Christmas time and all my best wishes to you for the coming new year 2023 ! ....and keep on trying to discover good old Germany with all its customs and habits in every corner of the country, it's worth doing it :) :) :)
Sara: "Are you feeling unpopular at parties, restless or rundown? Then drink some gluhwine! It contains cinnamon, red wine and alkohol. And it's so tasty, too. HONEST!" - "Oh, gosh! It's the crazy redhead again!"
I just know crowded Christmas markets🙅♂ That's normal, the markets in the bis cities always will be crowded so that you have difficulties to walk. Maybe you should try going during the week, not friday or saturday evening, there should be less people there. Friday and saturdy evening, it will always be crowded
Wow, your uncle looks good! Like Sean Connery! I wonder if they are brother and sister or a couple? Because I would never call the husband of my aunt uncle (or the other way around). But I don't know if that's a German thing or a me thing. About the Christmas markets: The ones in big cities are always packed, especially in the evenings. On the contrary: A lot of big christmas markets are more spread out this year because of Corona reasons so they aren't as packed as usual. I like iäthe big one in Munich more this year. But every big city also has smaller markets, that mostly are more nice.
I wish you all a very nice Adventtime and coming up Christmas! ♥ The first moments of the vid reminded me when I was very young, why kids like to eat snow? Hugz and kisses from Thuringia. ♥
Daytime tends to be less crowded for a weihnachtsmarkt, but all the ones I ever went to, were bysy like .... However it gives this great gemutlichkeit vibe imho ;) Ella is going to be a handfull growing up, seeing she already likes practical jokes. (saying Yuck to cotton candy)
Here in Vienna we have a lot of different kind of markets and if you avoid the large ones you still can enjoy them thouroughly. I am missing that anyone ate a langos or maroni ? That is a must.
The famous Christmas markets are packed. It is better to visit them between Monday and Friday, when other people are working or on a rainy weekend. At the evenings people after work there, so it is getting full... Because it is also always nicer to see a Christmas market in the dark. The nicest Christmas Market I saw was in Leipzig. Nürnberg is boring, not nice I can tell (lived there).
THANK YOU, Sara ! Thank you for what ? For 15 amusing minutes, which let me forget my own illness, also a flu which brought me down for a few days. Following your Insta posts, today I hoped to see some pics of my hometown Passau (I live 20 minutes away by car). But life often passes not like expected.
The big ones have always been crowded. Cologne for example has busses full of tourists coming for the Christmas Marktes from the Netherlands/Belgium. Never go on weekends if you can avoid it. Go in the off-hours early after Lunch
its always a jam trhere...and i doint know why...i dont like christmas...im not religious...and all, ppl around me fullö of stress...also all ppl try to be overfriendly...hypocritical
13:07 You go to the Salzburg Christmas market and have a pulled pork burger & sweet potato fries, Chicken Wings???? You go to the Christmas market and you are Dutch fries or mushrooms with onions art of course a typical German Weihnachtsmarkt Bratwurst, but not by the typical American and things that you get all year round 🫣🫣🙄🙄
Did you not see the first part where we got a Schnitzel Semmel and a Steak Semmel? Also we have German food ALL the time now so it’s so wonderful to have food from our home land sometimes. If you were a foreigner you would understand 😉. For instance if you live in the USA for two years and suddenly came across someone selling a delicious bratwurst, you’d be so excited to have a taste of home.
Beautiful tosee the snow, the family and I have great memories fron this beautiful country : Germany is very beautiful just like it's people nice and helpful. That's my 20's memories. Well filmed ! You make people travel with you. Ps : I noticed you said Salzburg Austria and I immediately thought, my next vid will me Mozart symphony :)
I rarely go to Christmas markets anymore since for me, they feel way too comercialized, with a lot of useless, overpriced stuff being sold. But a couple of years ago, a good friend came visiting from the UK, and she wanted to see our Christmas markets, of course. I took her to two local ones, and then... we went to Nürnberg. What can I say, even my friend had enough of it all after having done about two thirds of the Christkindlmarkt, so we called it quits. But, as we went walking around a bit further, we found a signpost indicating another little market in the inner yard of the Nürnberg city hall and decided to give it a try. We were most pleasantly surprised with a tiny Christmas market with a stall from each of Nürnberg's twin towns/sister cities, where the folks offered specialties from Italy, France, Poland, Scotland and other places. It was so charming, and totally made up for the lack of spirit we felt at the main market... Long story short: go looking for the smaller experience, it is often more genuine!
All the Christmas Markets get crowded on the weekends. You have to take it as part fochten experience. I love the markets in Passau and Stuttgart. And our market here in Lindau is really nice, too. It’s in the harbor right at Lake Constance which makes it special.
Crowded? It depends... ;-) Even in the 1980s I remember the markets (Yes, there were several) in Münster to be packed like hell. You could barely get to any market stand. In my hometown Recklinghausen however, the market in the Altstadt was crowded, but you could get through and enjoy. For several years I supplied a market stand on the Siegplatte in the city of Siegen. Delivering at 10 in the morning was easy, but getting to the booth even from the back on a Friday or Saturday afternoon could be a real challenge. You could not get to any market stand walking the market. You would just get pushed around for an hour or so and randomly get closer to a Glühweinstand or Bratwurstbude. By chance you could put your order, and by even more chance you could get your desired items. Rumors go that ocasionally people passed out in the pack, but could just not fall to the ground in the market. Instead, even a person that would have died there would be pushed along like all the others, until randomly and finally they would have arrived at an entrance with space enough to collapse...
Yeah, it sucks when they change from you being able to walk across the Christmas Market freely, to you being moved by others, as they squeeze around that place. I prefer smaller versions or "alien" visitor times to avoid the masses.
The later in the day the more crowded the Christmas markets get as most people want to see the lights and enjoy some Glühwein. Here in Hamburg the main market is to be avoided after 3pm!
There is a sweet spot for christmas markets. Whenever it's advertised or known to tourists you can pretty much forget about it. Big enough to attract all the residents from surrounding districts, small enough to not be in scope for major tourist enterprises. My favorite, being from the Harz region, was always Goslar christmas marketl
the Christmas markets are always so full that you can hardly walk through them ,best to go during the weekdays on the weekends they are all crowded with people.
As a small trader or artisan you hardly have a chance to get a stand at the big markets. There is often 10 years and more waiting time. And the 1 A places are inherited.
It used to be crowded here too. Post Covid, they spread it out through the city centre more, they added more sites to place the same number of market stalls and tables you can enjoy your food and drinks at. I really appreciate that effect, more space to walk through and people more sparse.
Like the germans say: "Erstens kommt es anders, und zweitens als man denkt." Which indicates you cant control life no matter how good your plans, so stay positive and adapt to the situation - just like you do.
you should quote the colognenian Grundgesetz „§2 et kütt wie et kütt (es kommt wie es kommt)“ §3 „et hött noch immer jott jejange (Es ist noch immer gut gegangen)
Hope you enjoyed it🙂
We have a Chritsmas Tree farm very near here in the UK and the largest German Christmas Market outside of Germany . Christmas trees were a German tradition introduced by Prince Albert in 1840. He was born in Coburg. Later in 1843 Queen Victoria sent the first official Christmas card which led to the penny Post etc. You can't beat Christmas in Germany. Xx
Yes! We did a video about the origins of the Christmas tree last year - the history is so interesting! ruclips.net/video/CQmF6Wkrd1w/видео.html
I am originally from Coburg but now live near Nürnberg. I am glad that Albert introduced our German way of celebrating Christmas to the UK or at least Christmas trees.
By the way: glass Christmas baubles originate from Lauscha, a small place in Thuringia, about 1-1,5 hours' drive from Coburg. They hold a bauble market there every year at the first two weekends in Advent, which is really worth visiting.
Christmas trees introduced by Prince Albert in 1840? No!
In einer Akte der Mainzer Herrscher aus dem Jahr 1527 ist zu lesen von „die weiennacht baum“ im Hübnerwald in Stockstadt am Main.
In a file of the Mainz rulers from the year 1527 one can read about "die weiennacht baum" in the Hübnerwald (Hubner's wood) in (the village of) Stockstadt am Main.
Von 1539 gibt es einen urkundlichen Beleg, dass im Straßburger Münster ein Weihnachtsbaum aufgestellt wurde.
From 1539 there is a documentary evidence that a Christmas tree was placed in the Strasbourg Cathedral.
@@geertrebreps191 sorry I meant in the UK. Of course they were in Germany centuries before. Regards.
@@terencewilliams789 🙂
My family moved from Germany to France in 1981, we lived in a house with 10 apartments. Around Christmas time, my mum started decorating the house and the windows, put a wreath on the front door, and bake biscuits and a witch house with my brother and me. Each neighbour received a small box of biscuits. So it was exactly the way we did it in Germany. The next year, my mother gave workshops on baking biscuits and making Advent wreaths for the whole neighborhood! 😆
I love German Christmas markets! All the food, Glühwein and just the overall atmosphere. We have similar markets here in DK, but it's not the same. What i love the most, is the huge selection of the Gebrannte nuts (Brændte mandler in Danish). We have them too here in DK, but only almonds. So when i finally get to go to Germany for Christmas, i get loads of different types to take home.
No, it's not a post-pandemic phenomenon that Christmas markets are crowded. I remember from previous years that our Christmas market here in Augsburg was always jam-packed.
I am from Leipzig and our christmasmarket is a bit famous and it is always packed, even before COVID. Famous enough that it is a tourist attraction in itself. Lokals(who dont like that kind of experience) know to no go to the christmasmarkets that are full like that, you cant move, the crowd shoves you forward and it is just not fun. So we go either at times we know are more empty (like in the midle of the week after it just opened) or to the smaller ones in the districts of big cities or even just small towns around the area , they might be only open one weekend in december, but it gives the oportunity to go to lots of different markets. New experiences each weekend!
Nice to see your family come together! Hope you'd a nice time together!
They are - my aunt and uncle are some of the nicest people I know!
Considering things being a lot less sweet, I can't wait for a video of you visiting family in the US and maybe even visiting somewhere with sweets and carnival food. Especially what the kids think would be interesting.
Cities like Salzburg have always been very popular with tourists from all over the world, and what is actually very beautiful has now become a politely expressed curse for the city's inhabitants, but also for the city's infrastructure and buildings. Of course, the interest does not decrease at Christmas, although the Corona years have of course done the rest. But in Vienna we have a lot of different Christmas markets, big and small, also very special ones, spread all over the city, that helps a bit, but in the evening it gets very crowded almost everywhere, so a bit of experience is needed to know which one is best for me to go to.
But I'm really happy for you to get finally that experience
and wish you a nice 4th Advent.
Meeting the family at Christmas time is the best... Merry Christmas to all of you
You already got the hang of it: you manage to go on Christmas markets before it is getting dark. I know that my mum loves strolling through ours in a fairly big city right when it opens up in the late morning. So if you meet up with people for drinks and food you can go in the evening with the atmosphere and lights. But just to look around you avoid the stress and the crowds.
All bigger Christmas marks are packed in the evening. I think we're not even close to what it was before the pandemic, as many still try to avoid big crowds of people.
To enjoy a Christmas market you should come a little early and bring lots of time!
Something that made Christmas markets as well as other events even more packed than used to be the case anyways, of course, is social media. While popular big Christmas markets have been crowded and overrun with tourists forever, the same thing happened to small, atmospheric local markets that people would feature on social media. First, these places were made known to non-locals this way, and second, many people wanted to post a picture or video of themselves at these events, showing the world that they were "in the know" of "secret" lovely events and were active people going out in general. A sociological term for the phenomenon is: "ostentatious experiencing" ("demonstratives Erleben").
Yeah true. Social media has made many special places overrun with tourists.
5:24 Potato pancakes (Reiberdatschi / Kartoffelpfannkuchen) with apple sauce is one of my favourite dishes. 🥰 Now I know what I'm cooking today 🍴
Dafür brauch ich nicht einmal Apfelmus.Den bekommen die Enkel.
Personally, I prefer the small Christmas markets in the villages.You meet with friends,neighbors,and family,and celebrate this special time.The stall owners are all from the village or the surrounding area, everyone knows everyone and the prices are fair.No crowds of tourists, no stress, no exorbitant prices, good food and drinks... just being cozy together. And if it snows lightly - there is nothing better.
Yeah we do agree! It’s so much cozier and more special when it’s your own market with people you know, not touristy. Local food and local handmade items.
I have no friends or nice neighbours anyway 😂
Very welcome here in Germany.... wonderful that you like our traditions.... Americans belongs to us.... A blessed new year.... 🇺🇲
Sie gehören uns? Brauchst du ein paar Sklaven? 😁 Wolltest du belong together sagen?
I'm sure many people are so happy to have their christmas markets again and want to celebrate every day of this christmas
Yeah so true. Everyone deserves to enjoy them after two years of being stuck inside!
Sara, my German husband and I, an American, got back to the U.S. a couple of days ago. We go every year-except for the past two-to different Christmas markets in Germany. We choose three each time and spend several days in each location. This year we went to Cologne, Heidelberg and Dusseldorf. Heidelberg and Dusseldorf were wonderful and magical. Cologne was a complete mob scene, could not move.Awful. In years past the only other location that miserable was Nuremberg. Munich has been lovely, we have visited three times. Salzburg was great as was Bonn, Leipzig and Hamburg. Love going, just don't to face a mob!
I am from Nuremberg and I must admit that this year was awful. I gave up after three rows of stalls because one couldn't move. However, it totally depends on the time of day that you're visiting. 24th in the morning is really cool and not as busy as you would think. During the week after 6 p.m. (as soon as the tourist busses have left town) it's good too. Generally the twin-city Christmas Market at the Nuremberg Christkindes Markt is always a good idea.
@@susanned.2523 Thanks so much for the ideas.Nuremberg is such an interesting and lovely city it is good to know the markets can be enjoyed with a little planning. We stayed within walking distance of the markets so could have come once the busses left. Interesting that the morning of the 24th is a good time to visit!
@@lissalack1490 on 24th most people seem busy with the preparations for the "Holy Night" so no time for Christmas Markets. Still the Market in Nuremberg is open till 2 pm on 24th, so we usually meet our friends at the "Kinderweihnacht" around 10 am to have a Glühwein or two, then stroll along the market stalls and in the end enjoy lunch at "Bratwurst Röslein" (which isn't full either on 24th). By the time we leave the restaurant, it's closing time for the market.
I can tell from my experiences in the Christmas Markets (Christkindelmärik as they call it there) in Alsace, France, where i lived for more than 20 years. They were crowded of locals and tourist from all over the word, especially if you go there on week-end. It's less crowded during the week, but Christmas markets are really a cultural/social/economic/religious thing in Alsace, and i can imagine it's the same in Germany. And may be after 2 years of restrictions due to the pandemic, it's overcrowded. If you can, may be avoid the week-ends, and the hours with many peoples (evenings). From the images you published from Salzburg, i don't see so many peoples for a Christmas Market in a big city. Is that what you feel crowded ? It can be much worse. :-)
Good that you first went to a local Christmas market, in this way you are not 'spoiled' by a famous market and you are supporting the locals! Of course a christmas market is nicer if you go when it is dark ;)
The aunt and the uncle are soooo nice, as you are! FAMILY! GREETINGS to them! ☃️❄️🎄
Awe yes! It was wonderful! I love them so much!
you can also check out the Winter Tollwood in Munich ( there is a summer one too, actually it originated from the summer Tollwood but the one in the winter is bigger). Its on the Theresienwiese where the Oktoberfest is. Its like a huge christmas market with event locations and stalls where you can buy all sorts of stuff.
Yah genau it's always busy at the big Christmas Market here in Cologne as well. For example, the Christmas markets at the Cologne Cathedral (Köln Dom), the Chocolate Museum and by the Rathaus are always full of people but then again that's the fun experience of it. BTW, these markets that I mentioned above are also a big tourist attractions in the city and with that prices are eventually elevated.
I think this year every place is packed with people and I think it's a post pandemic thing. Every Volksfest, Mittelalter Markt or Theme Parks were over crowded. Usually you are good to go during the week but not this year. I think it will get bye when time passes, but at least for the next year, due to rising costs for gas, oil etc, people will stay within Germany and will spend their free time locally and not travel far.
The famous Christmas markets here always were extremely packed which is why I never go. I cannot take these masses of people.
Even though I also prefer the small Markets,here's an invitation to the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg. When you come I'll give you a free tour!!
Well getting a free tour would make it better! The problem is the only time we can go with the whole family would be on the weekends, and that’s when it’s all so crowded. I could go by myself during the week sometime though…
It's nice that you like the Christmas market. I live in Germany and haven't been to a Christmas market in 10 years because it's usually too crowded for me. But during the Advent season, I often go to a few Christmas stalls, where there are usually a lot of delicacies, for example "Mutzen". But for people who didn't grow up with something like that, it might be something extraordinary.
When I was living in Braunschweig, the christmas market was crowded almost all the time. If possible I went there during the week avoiding the weekends and as early as I could manage. The same happened in northern Germany where I lived near Bremen. Nowadays, living in a small town in the east, the market is less crowded but also less amazing.
Pushing your way through crowds while dodging people carrying Glühwein (and keeping your own out of harm's way) is definitely part of the normal Christmas market experience. You won't be able to avoid it 100%, but sticking to less popular/touristy locations and going early is definitely your best bet.
Okay good to know!
Famous Christmas Market are always packed. The only thing you can do is come early.
You were so lucky with the snow, normally we don´t really see much of it in december^^
I was in Vienna with my best friend over a long weekend and I can say it only really got crowded at the Stephan´s Dome, but the other markets where still easy to navigate^^ In Vienna they also have a huge variety of Glühwein I noticed xD (and ironically the food was cheapest at the christmas market in Schönbrunn)
Our local christmas market in the city only has the problem that the road between the stalls is still a bit narrow and of course everyone´s always gathering around the food stands.
The most interesting one is still the one in the village where my grandparents lived, because it has local sellers with many hand crafted items :)
I love special Christmas markets. For example we have on at a castle. You have to pay entrance but it's not as packed. Themed Christmas markets are also very nice like the Middle Ages one
The Salzburg Christmas market doesn't seem overcrowded at all. I even think it's very nice when people stand close together at a stand and drink mulled wine, for example, while talking and having fun. The fuller the better.
I was at the market in Frankfurt some yrs ago (long before covid), and it was just waaay to crowded. U couldn't just stop at a stand if u wanted to. It was just a constant pushing from behind and u had to go with the flow. Wasn't much fun, eventhough the stands etc were really beautiful. Been to Munich as well some yrs ago. It was okayish, but it was early in the afternoon, and during workdays.
Town councils started to force the owners/operators of stalls to do something about all that waste from one-way plates and cups about thirty or so years ago. At first people did not really fancy the idea and there was concern that real glass and porcellain/earthenware may cause problems in case they got smashed, but with that deposit system people were quickly taught "how to behave". At most events all the stalls use the same plates, glasses and mugs so that the people can hand them in at various collecting points with professional dishwashing machines where they get their money back. The clean plates, glasses and mugs are then carted back to the stalls.
Ihr müsst unbedingt Schmalzkuchen probieren.
Die sind super lecker. Wenn ich das nur rieche, bin ich gedanklich immer sofort in meiner Kindheit.
You obviously missed the best local fast food dish at Salzburg Xmas market:
The Bosna!
That's a grilled long bun similar to a hotdog, filled with 2 thin pork Bratwurste and a topping made from Tarragon spiced mustard, Curry powder and chopped onions, garnished with fresh Parsley.
The spicy dish was invented as street food around1950 in Salzburg by Zanko Todoroff, an immigrant from Bulgaria who later owned a small snack bar (in fact a 4 m² small room with a window to sell to the customers in a backyard) called "Balkan Grill" not far from where the Xmas market is located. There it is served until today.
But there is good news:
You can get this all over the year so don't miss to try it when you visit Salzburg again. Meanwhile it is sold by some butchers and snack bars in the southeast of Bavaria and in Austria, too. But better try the original...
Fun fact: Even MCD in Salzburg tried to sell a "McBosna" years ago which was basically a McRib with that Bosna topping instead of Barbecue sauce. But it seems it didn't sell that well with the original's birthplace literally over the street so its not on the menue anymore.
You should really the ones from "Balkan Grill". I tried some other ones but they aren't good as these.
When I was with my wife at the Salzburger or Innsbrucker Weihnachtsmarkt we always eaten Kiachl (with Sauerkraut). We didn't saw them anywhere else and we have been on Christmas markets in several cities.
One other thing you should try next time in Christmas time is the Eierpunsch. It's Eierlikör mixed with white wine and on top Schlagsahne. It's also a famous (alcoholic) drink on Christmas markets. But not so much as the Glühwein.
Hi.. So schön unsere Weihnachtstraditionen mit euren Augen zu sehen..it is like reading a fairytale :) our christmasmarkets are always packed, but most of the time later the day or on weekends. So you have to go earlier to see everything and then you go back and eat and drink..later the day you can enjoy the lightnings and the smells and musik, and every market has his oen charm. And.. love your German and you do a good job. Hi from Nana💖
Never understood the appeal of Christmas markets, especially the big ones, it's overcrowded, it's overly expensive and what else is there to do but buy more stuff that is more expensive than in a normal shop... So... No Christmas markets for me...
Yeah I can understand that! Except when you go with friends and drink Glühwein together and hang out. Then I found it’s really fun!
Beautiful intro! Very nice video as always.
Thank you!
I went to Aachen University and Aachen has one of the "famous christmas markets". I used to live like 200 m away from where it is placed and for a couple of years worked in restaurant/Pub directly in the christmas market area.
Weekends were always terribly crowded. In a way where i felt i had to walk with the crowd and not how I wanted to (which is especially annoying when you just want to get home or to work). Weekdays were much nicer and much more "christmassy".
I would never go there on a weekend, especially not with my small kids. I'd be afraid to lose them. 🙈
Yes! I’d also be afraid to lose our kids in a giant crowd and yeah, it can feel like the crowd moves you and you don’t get a choice. It’s so nice that we live here and can go during the week.
I can agree with you, I also lived in Aachen as a student and after my first year I wouldn't go to the Christmas market anymore during the weekends. You can't comfortably walk around and it's hard to find a spot just for drinking Glühwein with a group of people without the constant fear of losing your company. 😅
Just my opinion but Christmas markets are best enjoyed with people you know and the more the merrier for obvious reasons. So I think you did everything all right because at the end of the day they are all more or less the same. Stands for Glühwein and other sweet stuff, stuff to buy you don’t need ect…
Ps: I think before bringing the cup back home just because you have some refund on it you still better ask if not stated otherwise… 😅
I think you’re so right because going to a market with friends, while drinking Glühwein and eating a wurst just makes it so much fun!
I don't like the big markets . They are so crowded . I also prever the smaller ones . Especialy in the eve when the lights are shining .
Yeah with 4 kids, it’s SO stressful to be in big crowds and the kids don’t like it at all because they can’t see anything! All they see are the backs and bellies of adults. So now that we live here we know to visit the markets during the week and to go to local ones. They’re so charming less commercialized.
There are a few Christmas markets that have become quite famous and are therefore always packed with people, i.e. Augsburger Christkindlesmarkt, Nürnberger oder Regensburger Weihnachtsmarkt. I always enjoyed the Adventsmarkt in my home village Oberstdorf (the most southern village in Germany), because we (local associations and groups) would prepare hand-made and crafted things throughout the year to sell them at the market. I also sold sausages at the stand of our local Kolpingverein, all the Advent weekends. So when I think of village christmas markets, I think of community rather than big and overcrowded events.
Merry Christmas and thanks for your videos,
Miriam
Oh I love what you describe about your local market. That is so special! Selling hand made items made by locals is the best, and having the community come together. It can be easy to feel alone in our times when so much is online and we are more separated. I think events like Christmas markets can be an amazing way for us to come together.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife 👏👍👍
I also prefer the small local festivals. Whether Christmas markets or Oktoberfest or the annual city festivals. Not only that you meet old friends again but they are not too much tourism made and too commercial.Besides, you often know the shopkeepers and know what to eat and drink.And the prices are also much better. And that's right, they're not that crowded with people.
Yes to all of this! I was surprised by how commercial the Salzburg one was. So many things made in China and food that isn’t German or Austrian. It felt cheap, even though it was pretty. Our local market had handmade items by local artists and delicious, authentic food and good prices!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife In addition, you can also go home comfortably (gemütlich) in the evening, if you have drunk a glühwein too much 😉
Wunderbar! Sara, deine Videos werden von Woche zu Woche professioneller! Wie schön, dass ihr zuerst einen weniger überfüllten Weihnachtsmarkt besuchen konntet. Ich fürchte nur, die meisten Märkte sind gegen Abend fast überall überfüllt. Trotz der Coronapandemie. Was für ein Leichtsinn! Seid bitte vorsichtig. Die Kinder wollen kaum noch einmal krank im Bett liegen. Und genießt die herrlich verschneite Winterlandschaft!
Frohe Weihnachten, Ihr Lieben! Und vielen Dank für Eure schönen Videos! Liebe Grüße aus Hamburg!🎄🌟❤️
I can highly recommend the christmas market at Gut Herrmannsdorf near Glonn, Landkreis Ebersberg. Itˋs all organic food and there is a lot of art you can buy. That market is every year on the second „Advent-weekend“…
The impression can be deceiving since German Christmas markets are generally well attended. Yes the influx is greater because again all without access restriction to the markets may, but that is I think only minimally decisive. I think the problem is that the Christmas markets in Germany are mostly moved to the city center, where Christmas market visitors meet people who go shopping normally and that makes the whole thing so crowded. We in the "Ruhrgebiet/NRW" like to go to the markets in small suburbs of big cities, where you can still enjoy the atmosphere, unlike in the city.
Just call drinking out of Styrofoam cups a 'breach of style' due to greed.
Yep - mugs are so much better.
They are always packed after a while. I would recommend the smaller ones and that you go there when it just opened, to have a chance to see everything in peace. Of course the bigger ones are additional tourist magnets. So, maybe you like to chose the small ones - as you did in your area. That is ways more lovely and feels more like christmas - and not like commercial overflow. Thanks goodness your kids are better again, hope all is healed well. Take care and have a lovely time. I am working all christmas but the last 45 min of Holy Eve, I will be able to spend with my son and we will enjoy it just the more. Besides: Lovely video - as always. I enjoy it (while having the flu :D )... but at night it goes back to work.
Just got back from the German Christmas markets. We stay away from the bigger ones as we do t like the crowds. The smaller ones are so quaint, love them!
Wish you a nice Adventszeit as well. It's the fourth Advent(Sunday) today. One more week, and it's Christmas. Hope you get to see more Christmas markets. They are so wonderful (mulled wine, Kinderpunsch or hot chocolate, Bratwurst and other goodies, Christmas trinkets, and Christmas songs). The ones in the big cities are naturally crowded more than those in smaller cities or even villages.
Love your channel , the Christmas markets are becoming so popular in USA but mostly big cities , wish they had more in the small towns , the Gluwein in mugs is a great souvenir idea or recycle them 😊 , have fun with your aunt and uncle ❤
If you can, you should really visit the christmas market in Hameln. One of the most beatiful markets and the town has still got all the small "Fachwerkhäuser" from the 16th and 17th century. So adorable!
Glad you made it. We went to.one in Esslingen on Sat and it was fantastic.
Question- I.have been here 3 weeks and feeling stressed about setting up all.new doctors and etc. Did this stress.you out? How did you deal with it practically?
Thanks
Shoshana Mueller
Yeah finding all new doctors, dentist, orthodontist - whew, yeah it was a lot. We waited until we moved here and then asked the locals who their favorite doctors are.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife thanks for the acknowledgement. I have many health issues and felt. Like giving up yesterday. How did you schedule the appts? Most offices do not understand English.I start German class in Jan.
Well, people really miss their Weihnachtsmärkte, of course, and almost everyone is excited about re-visiting them like old acquaintances that you didn't see for a long time. On the other hand the real "famous" Weihnachtsmärkte had been always crowded in the past, and now, after two years, are twice as swarmed by locals and tourists. An as you said there are so many Christkindlesmärkte all around and they have their very special "vibes" so you can successfully avoid the large and overcrowded ones. When I lived in Munich a lot of the "local" inhabitants of Munich avoided the city during the Oktoberfest since even your daily routine like shopping had become very time-consuming because of the crowds of people everywhere. Gute Besserung an die "Kranken" und viele liebe Grüße. 🌲
You definitely need to go at night again. Nothing beats the experience when it's dark. That's the best experience I learned~
Heyho,
Christmas Markets were always quite packed already before the pandemic, at least the bigger ones. That's the reason I always avoided the inner city here in Trier during the advent, since it was always so crowded, especially on weekends. In our case, it was a lot of french tourists, even during the week. And since I'm not the biggest fan of the combination of Glühwein, crowds and overpriced souvenirs I wouldn't go there on my own, although the Christmas market in Trier in and of itself is quite nice. And when it comes to the internationalization of foods and snacks on Christmas markets: Ours had a churros stand when I was there a couple of years ago... 😁
Happy remainder of the Advent - and we had a lot of it this year. This year we had the longest possible advent time, and next year will be the shortest possible advent time, with the 24th being the 4th advent. 😉
Hi friend! I had noticed that the advent season seemed quite long this year! I’ve loved it - it makes this season even better. Yeah I noticed in Salzburg there were so many foods and items being sold that weren’t authentic at all, even cheap stuff made in China. I thought that sad - I don’t go to Salzburg to get stuff made in China! Some of the things were authentic, though. But it just felt a bit cheap.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife How right you are! Nobody needs that trend. 🤨
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife shortest it can be is 1st advent being on the 3rd december -> 4th advent on 24th of december. it feels weird to open Adventskalender in these years before Advent even started
Thanks for sharing your life experience with us,I love people that love my country and have some thing positive to say about Germany
Yes, you have to reckon with huge crowds on the bigger, well-known christmas markets. Except if you have the possibility to carve out an early week day visit. Which would mean your kids have to miss school only to visit that thing ...
That was so, even before the pandemic.
Btw: Everyone please make sure when you go to a Christmas Market, don't only buy food but buy something from the stands! If the good stands with quality wares don't sell things - they may not come again ...
About the food, though: The traditional Christmas market food is still on offer: Bratwurst, oftentimes the more spicy variety, Kartoffelpuffer and some regional specialities (Schupfnudeln around where I live). However, Germans are only lately beginning to really love international street food. And a lot of that is American inspired. Burghers, Pulled Pork, but also vegetarian offers like Falafel on veges are making their way onto any food-booth in Germany, including those on the Weihnachtsmarkt.
Guten Morgen. Die Weihnachtsmaerkte sind an den Wochenenden immer voll. Wenn es geht geh ich in der Woche.
Schön jemanden aus eurer Familie zu sehen. Ich wünsche den beiden noch viel Spass auf ihrer Reise.
I love the Christmas markets! I would buy everything there. I was hungry while watching and wishing I had some food from the markets. It's beautiful in Salzburg. And the snow is gorgeous! I wish we would get some here in Chattanooga! Merry Christmas 🎄
Last week I passed our Market in Munich during the day and it was not crowded. Mostly in the evenings after the offices close it will be more crowded. I am actualy not a friend of Glühwein and all that jazz😉😱
Nice video! Take a look at the Christmas market in Dresden. It's culturally a bit different than Salzburg. Have a nice Christmas!
Try the Christmas market on the Fraueninsel. Not sure if it is running this year, but we were there a few years ago and it was lovely and not at all crowded. Head to Prien on the Chiemsee and take the boat accross to the Fraueninsel. We loved it.
I never go to christmas markets, because I don‘t like the crowds… it´s not fun for me at all….🙈
I can understand that. 💕🎄
You could go early in the morning. The atmosphere is not as nice at the evenings, but it's okay.
"We all living in AMERICA, AMERICA is wunderbar! We all living in AMERICA, AMERICA, Coca Cola wonderbra (sometimes war) !*
*RAMMSTEIN
Hi, I'm really happy for you, that you finally made it for the Christmas market this year. :)
But why didn't you go to the most famous one in Nürnberg ? And yes,now it is a post-covid reason, why the markets are so overfilled this year. Of course, the right time to visit a Christmas market is before lunch....if you prefer to see everything at the stalls and to find the place not crowded. Germans are usually visiting the markets in the afternoon or evening, because of the very special Christmas atmosphere, meeting friends or family there, or the whole staff of companies are enjoying their quitting time, trying to relax after a hard working day. Thus, most people you can find there in the evenings ... Regensburg had a small, but nice market as well....My favorite one is always one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany, in my hometown Frankfurt/Main. What is so special to it, you'll ask me .. and I mean, First, it's really big, there are lots of stalls, where you can find all kind of traditional Christmas ornaments, food and drinks....last year I'd recommended you the famous FEUERZANGENBOWLE, which is even better than Glühwein...and second, for most Germans it is simply a long custom/folkway to walk over the market in December, eating and drinking there. Everybody is waiting for snow and when the market is then white, people are getting in the right mood for Christmas....like in the carols, it makes spirit bright ! So, I wish you a nice Christmas time and all my best wishes to you for the coming new year 2023 ! ....and keep on trying to discover good old Germany with all its customs and habits in every corner of the country, it's worth doing it :) :) :)
Sara: "Are you feeling unpopular at parties, restless or rundown? Then drink some gluhwine! It contains cinnamon, red wine and alkohol. And it's so tasty, too. HONEST!"
- "Oh, gosh! It's the crazy redhead again!"
🤣🤣🤣 love it! I’m the vita-vita-vegamin girl!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife From your husband's most popular sitcom: "I LOVE SARA".
It is indeed worse post pandemic.
These famous christmasmarkets are always overcrowded... especialy Nürnberg/Nuremburg, Stuttgart and many more...
I just know crowded Christmas markets🙅♂ That's normal, the markets in the bis cities always will be crowded so that you have difficulties to walk. Maybe you should try going during the week, not friday or saturday evening, there should be less people there. Friday and saturdy evening, it will always be crowded
Wow, your uncle looks good! Like Sean Connery! I wonder if they are brother and sister or a couple? Because I would never call the husband of my aunt uncle (or the other way around). But I don't know if that's a German thing or a me thing.
About the Christmas markets: The ones in big cities are always packed, especially in the evenings. On the contrary: A lot of big christmas markets are more spread out this year because of Corona reasons so they aren't as packed as usual. I like iäthe big one in Munich more this year. But every big city also has smaller markets, that mostly are more nice.
I wish you all a very nice Adventtime and coming up Christmas! ♥ The first moments of the vid reminded me when I was very young, why kids like to eat snow? Hugz and kisses from Thuringia. ♥
Even I like to eat snow 😂
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife There is only one rule NEVER eat yellow snow. ; )
Daytime tends to be less crowded for a weihnachtsmarkt, but all the ones I ever went to, were bysy like .... However it gives this great gemutlichkeit vibe imho ;)
Ella is going to be a handfull growing up, seeing she already likes practical jokes. (saying Yuck to cotton candy)
Here in Vienna we have a lot of different kind of markets and if you avoid the large ones you still can enjoy them thouroughly.
I am missing that anyone ate a langos or maroni ? That is a must.
The famous Christmas markets are packed. It is better to visit them between Monday and Friday, when other people are working or on a rainy weekend. At the evenings people after work there, so it is getting full... Because it is also always nicer to see a Christmas market in the dark. The nicest Christmas Market I saw was in Leipzig. Nürnberg is boring, not nice I can tell (lived there).
THANK YOU, Sara ! Thank you for what ? For 15 amusing minutes, which let me forget my own illness, also a flu which brought me down for a few days.
Following your Insta posts, today I hoped to see some pics of my hometown Passau (I live 20 minutes away by car). But life often passes not like expected.
Hi Klaus! I’m so sad we weren’t able to go to Passau 😰. I’m so sorry you also have the flu! What a bummer. Gute besserung!
The big ones have always been crowded. Cologne for example has busses full of tourists coming for the Christmas Marktes from the Netherlands/Belgium.
Never go on weekends if you can avoid it. Go in the off-hours early after Lunch
its always a jam trhere...and i doint know why...i dont like christmas...im not religious...and all, ppl around me fullö of stress...also all ppl try to be overfriendly...hypocritical
Try "Dornfelder"-Red wine, the dry one, make hot with the traditional herbs, like cinnamon a.s.o. Maybe orange-slices. No sugar.
Best Glühwein ever.
13:07 You go to the Salzburg Christmas market and have a pulled pork burger & sweet potato fries, Chicken Wings????
You go to the Christmas market and you are Dutch fries or mushrooms with onions art of course a typical German Weihnachtsmarkt Bratwurst, but not by the typical American and things that you get all year round 🫣🫣🙄🙄
Did you not see the first part where we got a Schnitzel Semmel and a Steak Semmel? Also we have German food ALL the time now so it’s so wonderful to have food from our home land sometimes. If you were a foreigner you would understand 😉. For instance if you live in the USA for two years and suddenly came across someone selling a delicious bratwurst, you’d be so excited to have a taste of home.
Although the Isar flows into the Danube via Munich, it is not navigable. In this respect, a cruise from Munich to Budapest is rather unlikely.
Big city Christmas Markets are always packed unless you go very early. If you want to really see everything and take your time, go before 4pm.
Beautiful tosee the snow, the family and I have great memories fron this beautiful country : Germany is very beautiful just like it's people nice and helpful. That's my 20's memories. Well filmed ! You make people travel with you. Ps : I noticed you said Salzburg Austria and I immediately thought, my next vid will me Mozart symphony :)
So glad you enjoyed it, and the snow!
We’re you maybe looking for “classier” when you were talking about drinking out of a ceramic mug vs. styrofoam? I know I was 😂
I rarely go to Christmas markets anymore since for me, they feel way too comercialized, with a lot of useless, overpriced stuff being sold. But a couple of years ago, a good friend came visiting from the UK, and she wanted to see our Christmas markets, of course. I took her to two local ones, and then... we went to Nürnberg. What can I say, even my friend had enough of it all after having done about two thirds of the Christkindlmarkt, so we called it quits. But, as we went walking around a bit further, we found a signpost indicating another little market in the inner yard of the Nürnberg city hall and decided to give it a try. We were most pleasantly surprised with a tiny Christmas market with a stall from each of Nürnberg's twin towns/sister cities, where the folks offered specialties from Italy, France, Poland, Scotland and other places. It was so charming, and totally made up for the lack of spirit we felt at the main market... Long story short: go looking for the smaller experience, it is often more genuine!
Ooo yes! We do agree! The Salzburg one was full of stuff from China and it was just not charming. But our local ones were much better.
All the Christmas Markets get crowded on the weekends. You have to take it as part fochten experience. I love the markets in Passau and Stuttgart. And our market here in Lindau is really nice, too. It’s in the harbor right at Lake Constance which makes it special.
Crowded? It depends... ;-)
Even in the 1980s I remember the markets (Yes, there were several) in Münster to be packed like hell. You could barely get to any market stand.
In my hometown Recklinghausen however, the market in the Altstadt was crowded, but you could get through and enjoy.
For several years I supplied a market stand on the Siegplatte in the city of Siegen.
Delivering at 10 in the morning was easy, but getting to the booth even from the back on a Friday or Saturday afternoon could be a real challenge.
You could not get to any market stand walking the market. You would just get pushed around for an hour or so and randomly get closer to a Glühweinstand or Bratwurstbude.
By chance you could put your order, and by even more chance you could get your desired items.
Rumors go that ocasionally people passed out in the pack, but could just not fall to the ground in the market.
Instead, even a person that would have died there would be pushed along like all the others, until randomly and finally they would have arrived at an entrance with space enough to collapse...
I live near Cologne, and I don't like to go on Christmas Markets, because of all this "millions" of people over there.
Yeah, it sucks when they change from you being able to walk across the Christmas Market freely, to you being moved by others, as they squeeze around that place. I prefer smaller versions or "alien" visitor times to avoid the masses.
Same for me and the market in Leipzig
The only way one could go is under the week short after the stalls opened once it got dark its over.
The later in the day the more crowded the Christmas markets get as most people want to see the lights and enjoy some Glühwein. Here in Hamburg the main market is to be avoided after 3pm!
I live in Hamburg and our Christmas markets are mostly overcrowded always .... xD
There is a sweet spot for christmas markets. Whenever it's advertised or known to tourists you can pretty much forget about it. Big enough to attract all the residents from surrounding districts, small enough to not be in scope for major tourist enterprises. My favorite, being from the Harz region, was always Goslar christmas marketl
That’s a great tip!
the Christmas markets are always so full that you can hardly walk through them ,best to go during the weekdays on the weekends they are all crowded with people.
@5:28 Even better, prices aren't that crazy on small local Christmas markets like this because the lease is more affordable.
The Nuremberg Christmas Market is always packed, because it´s visited by many tourists
Try the Weihnachtsmarkt after 5 pm when it's dark: much more intensive and like a miracle. 😊
A winter cruise is odd? They need to do a summer cruise when all the hills are full of wine gardens beautiful in the summer
As a small trader or artisan you hardly have a chance to get a stand at the big markets. There is often 10 years and more waiting time. And the 1 A places are inherited.
Woah! Inherited stalls and a 10 year waiting list? That’s hard.
It used to be crowded here too. Post Covid, they spread it out through the city centre more, they added more sites to place the same number of market stalls and tables you can enjoy your food and drinks at. I really appreciate that effect, more space to walk through and people more sparse.
That does sound nice for it to be more spread out!