Kings Journal: Christmas market (Patreon)

Kings Journal is about Bara, Furry, games, OC projects and places I visted.
This issue is about a place or better said: Christmas markets - a German tradition.

The tradition of christmas markets dates back to the middle age. Back then farmers and craftsmen did fairs to sell their goods like food for winter. Remember that people in the past had no supermarkets so they had to prepare for the cold season.
Later those fairs became markets and they became so popular that the idea spread fast in the German speaking countries. Today most German cities have christmas markets in December. Big cities open their markets for the whole month until christmas, smaller towns open their markets at some weekends or a single weekend.

What does a christmas market look like?
Have a look at these pictures from...
Dresden

Berlin

Frankfurt am Main
(fun fact: a copy of Frankfurts town hall  - pink building behind the christmas tree - can be found in Disneyland)

For a christmas market you need a square - a market square for example - lots of cabins for the traders, lots of lights, big christmas trees and visitors.

What is offered at a christmas market?
The best way to enjoy a christmas market is BE HUNGRY. I am serious.
Around 70% of all traders offer food or something to drink and you will always find Bratwurst (sausages) and Glühwein (glogg). I love eating a good Bratwurst in a bun with some mustard, but I dislike Glühwein, but that's a personal opinion.

You can also buy...
gingerbread and sweets

more sausages

candied almonds

and many other delicious things.

Aside the food people offer warm clothes, decorative items and toys.
Some christmas markets also have free concerts at certain days and carousels for kids and adults.

Is a christmas market worth a visit?
If you have never visited one you really should experience the combination of different odors, decorated downtowns,

happy people (or drunk people), busy people, relaxed people, ... if you make the best of it a christmas market brings you in the right mood for the holidays.

But many christmas markets are also very crowded, especially in the evenings and if you do not like body contact with strangers... well... no chance to keep some distance.

In my opinion some of the best christmas markets are usually in smaller towns or special markets that focus on craftsmanship. Once you have seen many markets, that are full of food, but lack unique offers it is pleasant to spend some time on a cozy market and watch artists creating and selling their goods.

Nevertheless I usually visit at least one christmas market each year and if you should ever have the chance to visit a German christmas market - do it.

Note: all photos belong to the original copyright holders

Special note:
This is the best gingerbread in my opinion and it can be bought at a famous supermarket in Germany. This gingerbread is soft and covered with bittersweet chocolate. I love it.
There are many different kinds of gingerbread and they all taste kinda different and some are dust dry, hard and taste like someone found them in an old basement or they once were part of a hags gingerbread house. ;)