Christmas Special 2006

Christmas Markets

Fairy-Tale Christmas Market

“The Hedgehog and the Hare” with Germany´s biggest revolving Christmas pyramid

Once upon a time there were two brothers, Jacob (1785 - 1863) and Wilhelm (1786 - 1859) Grimm, who spent a few years of their productive lives in Kassel, collecting fairy tales.
Even today, there are still many things in Kassel, the capital of the tourist trail known as the “German Fairy-Tale Route”, to remind visitors of the famous brothers, including the Fairy-Tale Christmas Market which takes place every year. The motto for the 2006 market is “The Hedgehog and the Hare”.

Take a leisurely stroll through the festively decorated city centre and marvel at Germany´s biggest revolving Christmas pyramid on the Königsplatz, the main city square.

On two main squares in Kassel’s city centre, Königsplatz and Friedrichsplatz, visitors from countries all over the world can enjoy the magic of the fabulous world of the Brothers Grimm amid the festive pre-Christmas season.

The Fairy-Tale Christmas Market is open daily from 11am to 8pm.
More than seventy artisans and craftsmen offer their goods for sale; some of them even make pottery and do woodwork at their stalls. Under the watchful eye of the experts, children can dye candles or look for precious stones using a metal sieve. And when it’s time for a snack, visitors to the market, both young and old, are spoiled for choice: there’s reindeer stew, Russian borage, stuffed focaccia bread, potato fritters and many more delicious food and specialities to choose from.

Kassel’s Twin Cities and Symbolic Figures of Christmas
As in previous years, Kassel’s twin cities - Florence (Italy), Mulhouse (France), Rovaniemi (Finland), Västeras (Sweden) und Yaroslavl (Russia) add to the market atmosphere with their own traditional arts and crafts as well as food stalls.

Moreover, on the four Sundays of Advent, symbolic figures of Christmas from each country pay homage to Kassel: Santa Claus from Finland; Lucia, the “Light Queen” from Sweden and Grandfather Frost from Russia.

Advent Calendar
Of all the visitors young children, in particular, are always fascinated by the main attraction the Fairy Tale Christmas Market has to offer – probably the biggest, free-standing Advent calendar in Europe; 5 metres high and 6 metres wide. Each of the 24 little doors conceals the carefully-worked reconstruction of a fairy tale. Each day, starting on December 1, a door in the Advent calendar is opened at 4pm amid a festive ceremony.

The Heavenly Workshop
Every day in the heavenly workshop under the watchful eye of the experts, young visitors can make cribs, stars, window designs, clay and salt-dough figures as well as Christmas presents.

Opening Times of the Heavenly Workshop
Monday to Friday: 2pm - 7pm, Saturday & Sunday: 1pm – 6pm

The Enchanted Forest
All around the 20-metre-high fir tree, movable fairy-tale figures are waiting to be discovered so they can tell everyone their stories.

www.kassel-tourist.de

 

572nd Dresden Striezelmarkt from 29 November to 24 December

Germany’s oldest Christmas market dates back to 1434 / “Romantic Christmas Market at the Schloss“ now offers time travels back to the 19th century.
Dresden, the romantic city on the river Elbe, is steeped in tradition. And one of its oldest traditions is the Dresden Striezelmarkt. This Christmas market was founded in 1434 and is the oldest of its kind in Germany.

It evokes traditions of the olden days, and Germany’s most famous Christmas arts and crafts come from the Dresden region: wooden crafts from the Erz Mountains, pottery from Lausitz, lebkuchen biscuits from gingerbread city Pulsnitz, delicate lacework from Plauen, Advent stars from Herrnhut, handmade Christmas tree decorations from the glass blowing city of Lauscha, and, of course specialities from Dresden such as the traditional Dresdner Pflaumentoffel.

The market’s big culinary attraction is the original Dresden Christstollen Christmas cake, originally known as striezel, after which the market was named. The annual Stollenfest is also dedicated to Dresdner Christstollen and will take place on 09.12 this year. In a big parade Dresden’s bakers will carry a gigantic almost 4-ton Christstollen from the baroque Zwinger palace to the Altmarkt.

The world’s biggest Christmas pyramid with a record height of 14 metres will be the highlight of the market. On 16.12. the people of Dresden and their guests gather to celebrate the Pyramidenfest, a Christmas carol singing contest.

If you like, you can watch the carvers, glass blowers and bakers at the Crafts Market. Of course the main attraction for children is the children’s bakery, where they can make, decorate and, of course, take home biscuits.

 

www.dresden.de/striezelmarkt

 

Christmas Market and Schlachte-Zauber in Bremen

Christmas lights from 30.11. to 23.12.2006 in Bremen Around the town hall and Roland (UNESCO world heritage site) Bremen’s festive Christmas market with over 170 festively decorated stalls will invite guests on a Christmas shopping spree. This is one of the most beautiful markets in Germany.

With its historical setting, lovingly decorated booths and stalls, and romantic lights it has a very special flair and lures more and more visitors every year. Children’s faces will light up at the sight of Christmas tree decorations, hand-carved wooden cribs and candle-lit Christmas pyramids. Smells of steaming mulled wine, baked apples and cinnamon biscuits waft over the fair. Organ concerts and nativity plays, Christmas pantomime and exhibitions – Bremen’s culture scene offers a colourful programme of festive events that will delight young and old at Christmas.

Schlachte-Zauber at Bremen’s Weser Promenade will again lure visitors with historical, wintry and maritime attractions this December. Blazing fires and torches light up stalls with traditional crafts and medieval taverns. Hearty fare from Bavaria and the Tyrol will be served in snow-covered mountain huts, alongside freshly fried fish and hot cocktails. After sunset Schlachte will be bathed in a spectacular blue light.

Bremen’s Tourist Board (BTZ) again offers a Christmas package tour including two overnight stays with breakfast, a gourmet meal, a tour of the historical city centre, visit to the Christmas market with biscuits and mulled wine and further surprises for 109 euros per person.

www.bremen-tourismus.de