I feel I should preface this post by saying that it was REALLY HARD trying to come up with any cons for this post. I was literally 'scraping the bottom of the barrel', as they say. Christmas in Germany is all around delightful. But, for the sake of keeping with the theme of my favorite pros & cons posts, I rustled up a few cons just for the sake of having them. Most are just things I could do without, but aren't necessarily reasons not to enjoy Christmas here. Many of you that have experienced Christmas in Germany might even like a few of the cons...to each, his own. So, without further adieu, here's my list of pros & cons of living in Germany during Christmas time! ENJOY!!
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PRO: Glühwein
You guys had to know this would be the number one pro on my Christmas in Germany list, right? Gühwein is the nectar of the gods, I've decided. I don't quite remember what my life was like before I took that first sip of delicious mulled wine at the Cologne Christmas Market 2 years ago. Guess it really doesn't matter much. My life is so much better having tasted this German treat! Glühwein is basically red wine (or white, if you prefer) that's been heated with mulling spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, star anise, orange peel) and poured into these ADORABLE mini-mugs that are unique to each Christmas market. D and I have acquired quite the glühwein mug collection these last 3 years. I've even started collecting various glühwein mulling spice packets to take back with us when we move. I can't give up this Christmas treat just yet! It's such the perfect beverage to enjoy when the cold December wind is nipping at you while shopping the markets. But be careful...they serve that stuff PIPING HOT! When the crowds are thick in the Christmas Markets and you're trying to dodge strollers with a mug of glühwein in hand, make sure you've got gloves on or you'll probably burn yourself. I've got a special wine-colored pair of glühwein gloves just for that reason (patent pending...ahem). ;)
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PRO: Glühwein
I am not a fan of either of these German sweets. Magenbrot not only sounds dubious, but looks like blocks of turd. They're far from turd-tasting (hallelujah!), but these soft, glazed cocoa squares do have an off gingerbread flavor to me. Magenbrot is essentially known as "stomach bread" because of its tummy-friendly spices like clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and star anise. It allegedly helps aid in stomach digestion, but the star anise addition is what gives Magenbrot a licorice flavor that I just can't stomach. Ironically enough. Another sweet offender? Stollen...Germany's version of fruit cake. Need I say more?
Ornaments, smokers, and nutcrackers...OH MY! If you want to deck your halls like the Germans do, then save all your holiday decor shopping for the Christmas Markets. Each market across Germany features stalls upon stalls of various local Christmas handicrafts all for the buying. Some 'must have' German Christmas decor? Nutcrackers, incense smoker figurines & Christmas pyramids, straw ornaments, anything from Käthe Wohlfahrt, hand-painted glass ornaments, pewter ornaments, beeswax candles, wooden nativity scenes, and advent calendars. One thing to keep in mind while shopping, make sure to note prices from various stalls. A nutcracker at one stall might be cheaper at another, so grab a mug of glühwein and shop around! And be weary of where your handicraft is made. Avoid anything 'MADE IN CHINA'...go for the real German deal!
CON: The crowds
PRO: Spiced & Candied Nuts
The smell of candies nuts wafting through the aisles of Christmas market stalls is almost enough to make you want to pitch a tent and stay right there forever. And if you wanted to try all the flavors and varieties of nuts they have, you'd absolutely have to stay forever because the list goes on and on! My personal favorite? The Nutella covered almonds. Shut up, right? Their traditional Mandeln (candied almonds--pictured above) are pretty stellar as well. I suggest grabbing a bag the second you hit the Christmas market so you can munch as you shop!
CON: Feuerzangenbowle
The smell of candies nuts wafting through the aisles of Christmas market stalls is almost enough to make you want to pitch a tent and stay right there forever. And if you wanted to try all the flavors and varieties of nuts they have, you'd absolutely have to stay forever because the list goes on and on! My personal favorite? The Nutella covered almonds. Shut up, right? Their traditional Mandeln (candied almonds--pictured above) are pretty stellar as well. I suggest grabbing a bag the second you hit the Christmas market so you can munch as you shop!
CON: Feuerzangenbowle
The name literally translates to 'fire-tongs punch'. Picture this--A giant pot of piping hot glühwein with some kind of contraption hanging over top of it. In this contraption, there's a giant loaf of sugar (a giant sugar cube, if you will) that's soaked in rum. Someone then lights this sugar cube on fire and the cube begins to melt into the giant pot of glühwein below. That, my friends, is a Feuerzangenbowle. German's love this drink during the holidays. If fact, you can buy Feuerzangenbowle sets and have ceremonious Feuerzangenbowle parties in your own home! Quite the spectacle. I know what you're thinking...WHY IN THE WORLD would this be on my cons list?! It's very simple, I hate rum. I blame honeymooning in Jamaica for that, but the addition of rum basically ruins glühwein for me. It's quite a strong drink. The glass I had at the Frankfurt Christmas market last year had me sloshed. Totally 'Gemütlichkeit' worthy. These days, I tend to avoid those stands. Although, if you've never watched the Feuerzangenbowle being made, it's worth a look. Everyone loves watching things lit on fire! Me? I'll stick with my traditional glühwein. (UPDATE: I tried Feuerzangenbowle again this weekend (for research purposes) and really liked the mug I had at the Mannheim Christmas Market. It wasn't too strong and rum-flavored. So, I guess it just depends on the stand!)
PRO: Chocolate Advent Calendars
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CON: Heart-shaped Lebkuchen (Gingerbread Cookies)
Ok, so let me start by saying that I do like gingerbread. Very much. But there are a few different kinds of gingerbread (lebkuchen) that aren't super tasty and should be just for decoration (and adorableness). The heart-shaped cookies pictured above, prime example. They're ALL OVER the Christmas markets as well as almost every other big German festival year-round. But they're hard. Like, rock hard. Makes me wonder just how long some of those cookies have been hanging around, ya know? I've bought a heart cookie or two, but merely for souvenir purposes. However, the soft lebkuchen (the ones that are round, not covered in colorful icing and hanging from a string) are worth eating mounds of! They taste like taking a bite right out of Christmas! Find those, eat those.
PRO: Nikolaustag
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CON: Jägertee
PRO: Weihnachtspyramide (Christmas Pyramids)
The Weihnachtspyramide (Christmas Pyramids) are Christmas staples around Germany. You can find them in small versions for sale as home decoration or in larger than life versions atop glühwein stands at the Christmas Markets. The Christmas pyramid concept is said to have originated somewhere in the Ore Mountains in Germany and is a predecessor to the Christmas Tree (which was also thanks to the Germans!). Most Christmas pyramids are decked with candles, garland, and religious figurines such as angels and nativity scenes. Other more secular pyramids feature mountain folk, forests, and reindeer. Either way, they're a festive addition to the holiday season here in Germany!
CON: Krampus: The Christmas Demon
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PRO: Kartofflepuffers
CON: Eierpunsch (Hot Eggnog Punch)
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PRO: Chocolate Covered EVERYTHING!
Need I say more? I don't know what it is about Christmas time in Germany, but Christmas market vendors LOVE covering just about anything in chocolate! Believe me, I'm not complaining! The Christmas markets are notorious for having numerous stalls with chocolate covered fruit. Those chocolate mice above...they're chocolate covered pears! You can also find chocolate covered chili peppers, fruit kabobs, potato chips (I wonder where they go that idea from...haha), pretzels, marshmallows (pictured above), and popcorn. Truly a chocolate lover's paradise!
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*Please keep in mind that all of these pros & cons are formed simply from my experiences and perspective as an American living abroad. You can find the other installments of my Pros & Cons of living in Germany here, here, here, here, here, here, & here.*
Since my grandparents are German I always had chocolate Advent calendars as a kid and now Fredrik and I always get one for each other as they are big in Sweden too!
ReplyDeleteI miss the Christmas markets in Germany! I hate jager so I will have to stay away from that jagertea at all costs
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely do! Jager is gross all on its own...but in tea? Blech!
DeleteAGH! This post is perfect! We are traveling to Dusseldorf and Berlin right after Christmas, are the markets usually open until after New Years? We have a loose itinerary for both of these cities, but do you have suggestions for must-sees?
ReplyDeleteAlso (haha a lot of questions), I know that Berlin is supposed to be AMAZING for New Years... have you ever been? Do you have any advice?!
Thank you so much for this list!!!!
Happy Thursday!
oh man. i love the christmas markets! it would be REALLY hard for me to find cons....except maybe the cold, but, ya know.
ReplyDeleteOoo the cold is a good one!!! I didn't even think of that!
DeleteGreat list! I have always wondered what the heck Feuerzangenbowle actually was. Mystery solved. And Jagertee seems to be a thing here in Czech Republic too, and a terrible terrible thing it is. But so much goodness! Central Europe is a fabulous place to be for Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cynthia! Yeah that Jagertee is nothing to mess with. GA-ROSS!
DeleteIn the part of Germany where I am from (Baden-Württemberg) the evil partner of St. Nikolaus is called Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Ruprecht) and he is dressed in dark cloth with a big beard and carries a switch/ rod that he uses to scare the children. Pretty scary dude! Funny thing: I never knew that Kartoffelpuffer were sold on christmas markets... we usually eat them year round at home (makes me want some right now ;))
ReplyDeleteMmmmm potato pancakes- my favorite. So yummy. And I must say I'm glad to have never heard of or come across this krampus character. Creepy!
ReplyDeleteI really like everything about German Christmas, even the Jägermeister, magenbrod,crowds etc. Here in Belgium, Krampus has been replaced with a black man. Lots of people think it's a form of racism, so we might have Krampus again someday soon :)
ReplyDeleteWHAT?!?! That's nuts!
DeleteVisiting Germany's Christmas markets is high on my bucket list and these pictures just made me want to visit even more! Even with the cons on the list :) I love Christmas time, the food, decorations, and festivities and it looks like Germany is doing it right! I am now starving for some delicious food! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the pros always far outweigh the cons when it comes to Germany!
DeleteI have seriously loved living vicariously through all your German christmas posts and instagrams, I love it all and really can't wait to go some day.
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES to every one of these!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, you are speaking straight to my German-Christmas-loving heart in this post! I was born in Germany and my parents lived there for almost 10 years total, and many of our family Christmas traditions come from German heritage - things they picked up when they were first married and living in Germany! As a child, we always celebrated St. Nikolaus Day (and most of my friends thought we were crazy), I had several lebkuchen hearts hanging on the walls of my bedroom (they were never for eating!), and, to this day, we set up our Christmas Pyramid with candles and all every year. The one my parents have is almost 30 years old! Also, we always had the advent calendars with chocolate in them! Luckily, you can buy them at most commissaries in the US :) I treasure those traditions, because they are something rather unique to our family (in America, anyway) - I hope you will keep some precious memories and traditions to pass on to your children someday! :)
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous!! German Christmas markets look absolutely amazing, the little teensy one in Copenhagen isn't even in the same category. I have to say my favorite thing on this list is the Krampus, I've never seen such a thing. So festive!
ReplyDeleteYum, just had kartofelpuffers mit apfelmus a couple of weeks ago in Heidelberg. And I haven't seen Krampus yet either but I really want to. I think it's so interesting how scary he actually looks. American kids would be terrified.
ReplyDeleteThe food!! This is why I need to come to Germany!! The fried potatoes and chocolate everything... yes please. And as a child we used to celebrate Dec 6th when St Nick would come and put treats in our shoes! Never really knew where that tradition came from but now I know!
ReplyDeleteI have been curious about all the cute mugs I have seen you holding in your pics. Such as, do you get to keep them? Good to know you do! So many mugs! haha.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got down to Krampus, I was reminded of the episode of The Office where Dwight got to have his own Christmas, and dressed up as "Belsnickel" - who, I learned, is kind of an anti-St. Nick and visits children a few weeks before Christmas to scare them into being good for Santa. Haha! Did you see that episode? And, have you ever came by a Belsnickel in Germany? :)
ReplyDeleteI want to be there!
ReplyDelete~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
http://acutelifestyle.blogsot.com
We ran into a Krampus parade downtown last weekend. He was freaking terrifying!
ReplyDeleteI love lebkuchen. Love it! I need to make a commissary run to get some this year. They've had it everywhere else we've lived and I pray this one has it too. I bought a bunch of gorgeous ornaments in Heidleberg years ago. The glass ones made it until last year and somehow they all managed to break. I guess they weren't packed well enough. All the others ones are still good though! My kids love the chocolate advent calendars. Their grandma (who is German) started giving them the calendars when my son was two. The only thing that has rivaled them was the Lego calendars I bought them last year!
ReplyDeleteAll of your European expats are seriously killing me this week with your wonderful Christmas posts! I just want to jump aboard a plane right now and experience the amazingness of a Christmas market! I'm with you on the soft gingerbread btw. My grandma has a WONDERFUL soft gingerbread cookie recipe that I make every year and end up eating 90% of the cookies myself all in one setting. bahaha.
ReplyDeleteYay Christmas!
I am German and I can agree with all of your Cons!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh yes to all of this! It's the exact same for me in Frankfurt... I will also say some of the chocolate covered stuff is just plain gross though. Just because it's covered in chocolate doesn't automatically make it good. At least not in Germany ;)
ReplyDeleteWe got three chocolate Advent calendars this year! LOL One is mine, the other two are for the kids. They also got Lego advents so they are fine.
ReplyDeleteI love these lists. Oh to be in Germany for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI'm spending a year studying in Germany, and am loving our Weihnachtsmarkt here too, if you see somewhere making fresh Flammkuchen in stone ovens you have to try it! The ones with Zweibeln, Speck and Käse are the best… accompanied with Glühwein of course, mhmm! Ailish Goes
ReplyDeleteI visited a Christmas Market in Berlin last winter and I fell in love with Glühwein. I don't drink at all, but I could have 2 cups of this lovely German mulled wine in a raw! I would love to try some of these delicacies once again! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Feuerzangenbowle - had one at lunch just because today, but actually, I can never really taste the rum unless it's a homemade one, then people go all out. Stollen is terrible though.
ReplyDeleteI had some puffers at the Stuttgart market last week. Yum! But they only had apple sauce - and I wanted the garlic sauce.
ReplyDeleteWe area heading to Nurnberg this weekend!
Aren't they delish?! One of my favorite market treats!
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