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Frankfurt Christmas Market

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becks
becks
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Frankfurt Christmas Market

  • March 18, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by becks from Mexico City, Mexico
Frankfurt Christmas Market

From 25 November until 24 December, Germany’s largest Christmas market is in operation in Frankfurt. The center of activities is on Römerberg, where the largest Christmas tree in Germany is decorated in front of the Town Hall. However, the market spreads out in all directions and reaches parts of the Zeil shopping street and the banks of the Main River. To make sure even those on brief stopovers do not miss out, small Christmas markets also operate at the Main Station and in the Airport.

Although the market operates during the day, the best time to visit is after onset of darkness when the lights enhance the mood dramatically. It also gets progressively busier as the number of visitors increase after normal businesses start to close. Most stalls remain open until nine at night. If you love crowds visit over the weekend – Sunday can get especially busy as virtually all commercial establishments in Germany are closed on Sundays save the Christmas markets. Expect lots of families.

A wide variety of items is sold at a German Christmas market. Most items of course relates to Christmas such as decorations and cakes traditionally associated with Christmas. Plastic junk and cheap clothes are generally not sold and most Christmas markets will sell mainly hand made decorations – often crafted from wood in rural areas during the long winters.

Occasionally live music is played – a pleasant surprised during a visit last year was a band playing on the roof balcony of St Leonard’s Church at Römerberg.

Various rides are available – none that will put Six Flags out of business but they are generally aimed at younger children anyway. On some adults may accompany children for free.

Most people head directly for the food stalls. The range of food can be astonishing. At the Frankfurt market sausages are a perennial favorite but you can also buy Dutch poffertjes, waffles, pancakes (generally assumed to be the worst value for money but still selling well), Rebkuchen (potato pancakes with applesauce), soups, goose, pretzels – the list is endless. The drink of choice is Glühwein – hot wine with spices. An assortment is available including cherry and berry flavored wines. The wine is not heated to the point where alcohol evaporates and warm alcohol apparently enters the blood stream faster. Kinderpunsch is a similar spiced drink but non-alcoholic and made of fruit juice – usually apple or orange. You pay a deposit on the mug and either return it for a refund or keep it if you like the design. A local favorite is apple wine – very much an acquired taste with the distinction between wine and vinegar occasionally a mental rather than a physical one.

From journal Frankfurt am Main Old Town

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