Ulm WeihnachtMarkt

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

 

Today is December 11, and Christmas festivities are in full swing all around the globe.  It has been very interesting watching the Christmas traditions unfold in Germany, many of which are the same, and many which are new to us. 

Christmas Markets are a big deal all over Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.  Many markets try to differentiate themselves in some way, and the Ulm market's claim to fame is being in the shadow of the tallest church in the world. 

There are stalls set up selling jewelry, hats, trinkets, candles, toys, ornaments, food, and gluhwein.  The food mostly is sausage served in a rolls, but there is also soup, baguette pizza, cheesy spaetzle, roasted chestnuts, and candied nuts.  When we have gone we have had sausages, but I am hoping to try some soup next time we go.  Gluhwein (hot spiced wine) has captured my heart and tastes like Christmas in a cup.  There is also 'kinderpunsch' which is mulled fruit punch for the kids to warm up with.  The gluhwein and kinderpunsch is served in special Christmas Market mugs that you pay a deposit for, and then get your money back when you return the mug.  Of course, we had to bring our mugs home as a souvenir! 


Mugs full of warm Christmas cheer!

kid heaven

 

There are a couple of carousel-types rides for the kids, a small train ride, and a nativity scene with live sheep and a donkey that they could pet. 

 

Ryan's favorite thing at the Christmas market is the glass blowing demonstration, and I think he could stand there and watch the men make ornaments and glass flowers for an hour if we let him. 

I think these star displays are so pretty!

 

 

Visiting the Christmas market is a nice way to participate in the holiday festivities, but I must admit that instead of feeling 'holly-jolly,' we find it a bit stressful!  There are so many people milling about that it is difficult to do much shopping without having to elbow your way into the fray.  Keeping the kids from darting off is a job itself, and we are in constant fear of the kids having steaming hot gluhwein spilled on them accidentally.  Add those factors to not being able to find a parking spot and freezing your jingle bells off, and after about 30 minutes we are ready to head home.  Luckily, we can have our cups of Christmas cheer at home in our cute Ulm Weihnachtsmarkt mugs!

 



Looking at a bronze model of the city of Ulm

I hope to be able to see some of the Christmas markets in other cities, but I am not sure that we will make it to very many this year.  Luckily, we will still be here next Christmas!