Video: The 2012 Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in Hannover, Germany
The Hannover Weihnachtspyramide (Christmas Pyramid) – “Honey, is this how your people contact the German Mothership?”
It’s that time of year! Time for just about every city and town in Germany to construct and enjoy their Weihnachtsmärkte for the entire month of December! (And for some reason, I’m describing this tradition as if I’ve actually experienced it before.)
Apparently, Christmas is a BIG deal here in Germany. It is celebrated with these incredible markets, where people visit booths to buy wooden trinkets, eat bratwurst, drink Glüwein (hot, spiced wine, sometimes with shots of rum in it), listen to live music and generally have an awesome time.
We sure as hell do.
Here is a video of the Weihnachtspyramide (Christmas Pyramid) at the Kröpke, right in the middle Hannover’s major shopping center.
And here are some before and after pictures of the Christmas Market in Hannover’s Altstadt, surrounding the big, scary, medieval Market Church (Marktkirche).
This is Kramerstraße, facing the old Market Church. This was the morning the Weihnachtsmarkt opened, and they were not selling Glüwein yet (not even after I tried to bribe the booth operators with my useless American dollars).
Putting the final touches on a medieval-themed booth. I would later discover this is where they sell mead and play bagpipes.
This is our absolute favorite of the Biergartens – The Wunschbrunnenwald (Wishing Well Forest). They basically made a tiny forest in the middle of the street, encircling a fountain. It has a bunch of little booths inside, plus dark corners and hiding places, so you can inconspicuously spike the holy shit out of your Glüwein.
Here are some more booths under construction right around the Market Church. I’m so relieved it’s not a sin to get plowed within sight of the House of God.
Here’s one of the booths advertising Glüwein, specifically. They sell other things too, like eggnog, which is called “Eierpunsch.” An Eierpunsch sounds like something you get when you go to a sports pub and make fun of the local soccer team.
Yet another booth under construction. Hurry up, Germans! Daddy’s got a sudden and inexplicable thirst for scalding hot wine.
Our first Glüwein. This is actually on the second level of the Pyramid. Usually, Glüwein is sold in charming little handmade mugs, but this place used glasses, which burned my American fingers all the way to the bone.
Here’s a nice and blurry photo for you. Clearly, I should have been a photographer.
Look at the miniature ferris wheel! isn’t it adorable? I made my wife SWEAR she would ride it with me, even though it’s really only for stupid little kids.
Here’s one of the larger stands at the market. You can even go inside, which is so cramped you feel like you’re getting drunk in a closet… inside a stranger’s home.
Now HERE is a traditional Weihnachtsmarkt mug. So charming! They’re almost charming enough to make me forget the €2 euro deposit I had to pay on top of the €2.5 euros for the Glüwein itself. Really? A deposit? These Germans… they think I’m going to steal a mug so I can take it home with me. I am offended. (And I am much more likely to lob my mug like a grenade into the swarm of Christmas shoppers. “Incoming!”)
Do you have any funny, German-related stories about Christmas time? Fire them off in the comments section below! We’d love to hear from you!
Happy holidays everyone!
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Wonderful post! It brought back many happy/fuzzy memories from my visit to the Weihnachtsmarkt in Freiburg last year. Within the first hour, I consumed an estimated 7,800 calories in beer, wine, wurst, and a globby, gelatinous yellowish dessert topped with berries. And then it was on to Runde zwei ! Mein Gott in Himmel, these people knew how to party!! I didn’t feel so great the next morning, but still … I’d go back in a heartbeat. Thanks for letting me do just that, if only vicariously.
I very much *hope* to return to Germany — maybe as early as next summer. I’ve made many friends in Freiburg, but I’d love an opportunity to inflict my horrible Deutsch on a few other cities as well. Like Köln, for starters. I was there for just one day when I was 16 and have been itching to return ever since. I’ll definitely drop you a note if my travels being me even remotely close to your area. And in the meantime, I look forward to much more of your always-hilarious blog. Prost!
I commend you for drinking that swill, I won’t touch it the stuff. Quite frankly, I just go to the market for the nuts, and I mean the almonds, not the loaded people walking around with hot liquids and currywurst. By the way, are you a fan of The Office (U.S.)? You have to see the Christmas episode that aired last week. I have a feeling you’ll appreciate the humor.
German Weihnachtsmärkte are indeed very special. They are so famous, that people around the world actually book a 7 day Christmas Market river cruise trip and visit the markets in different cities.
Do they serve Kartoffelpuffer mit Apfelmus in Hannover too? I miss potato pancakes with apple sauce. I have to make some one day again …..
BTW you can’t watch most US shows online due to the country code – unless you have a US IP address.
I’ve seen brochures for those Weihnachtsmärkte trips! Nice.
I haven’t seen Kartoffelpuffer mit Apfelmus yet, but I’ll keep an eye out. I know I love that stuff in America already!
Yeah, I’ve been frustrated a number of times by our ISP being in Germany. I’ve effectively lost all touch with Hollywood and TV in general. Not a bad thing, since I read most of the time anyway, but still. I want my Game of Thrones Season 2 dammit!
You could spoof your IP address with TunnelBear or HideMyAss …. just google it ;)
My December is pretty busy. Glad that I got all gifts and cards done and sent out. Haven’t decided yet if I should get a tree this year or not.
How is yours going?
This was great! Thank you for sharing all your pictures. Love all your comments. It’s so very festive. We have nothing like that here. All of a sudden, I feel like everything is very dreary around here. Jeez! I like the hut in the forest, too. That’s the one I would pick!
Hahaha, Eierpunsch! Like a punch in the balls? Love it!
As to the Ferris wheel, the funny thing is that in German they are called Riesenrad (‘giant wheel’), not sure the term is entirely appropriate in this case.
Oh God, My Wife Is German. 
Wonderful post! It brought back many happy/fuzzy memories from my visit to the Weihnachtsmarkt in Freiburg last year. Within the first hour, I consumed an estimated 7,800 calories in beer, wine, wurst, and a globby, gelatinous yellowish dessert topped with berries. And then it was on to Runde zwei ! Mein Gott in Himmel, these people knew how to party!! I didn’t feel so great the next morning, but still … I’d go back in a heartbeat. Thanks for letting me do just that, if only vicariously.
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Awesome! We’re so glad to remind you of the great times to be had around Christmas here in Germany!
And thank you for your response. What a lovely way to describe your memory of the Freiburg Weihnachtsmarkt.
Think you’ll ever actually return to Germany?
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I very much *hope* to return to Germany — maybe as early as next summer. I’ve made many friends in Freiburg, but I’d love an opportunity to inflict my horrible Deutsch on a few other cities as well. Like Köln, for starters. I was there for just one day when I was 16 and have been itching to return ever since. I’ll definitely drop you a note if my travels being me even remotely close to your area. And in the meantime, I look forward to much more of your always-hilarious blog. Prost!
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Thank you! And yes, please do send us an email if you visit next summer!
And thank you for the kind words of encouragement!
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I commend you for drinking that swill, I won’t touch it the stuff. Quite frankly, I just go to the market for the nuts, and I mean the almonds, not the loaded people walking around with hot liquids and currywurst. By the way, are you a fan of The Office (U.S.)? You have to see the Christmas episode that aired last week. I have a feeling you’ll appreciate the humor.
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I know, right? The drunken crowds are a bit much to take. And I don’t think we will touch any sweet, hot beverages for a few weeks now.
I love The Office! Can it be watched online from overseas?
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In a manner of speaking…
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Haw haw haw! Was that a Pirate Bay sort of joke?
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Perhaps! lol
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German Weihnachtsmärkte are indeed very special. They are so famous, that people around the world actually book a 7 day Christmas Market river cruise trip and visit the markets in different cities.
Do they serve Kartoffelpuffer mit Apfelmus in Hannover too? I miss potato pancakes with apple sauce. I have to make some one day again …..
BTW you can’t watch most US shows online due to the country code – unless you have a US IP address.
LG
~Anja~
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I’ve seen brochures for those Weihnachtsmärkte trips! Nice.
I haven’t seen Kartoffelpuffer mit Apfelmus yet, but I’ll keep an eye out. I know I love that stuff in America already!
Yeah, I’ve been frustrated a number of times by our ISP being in Germany. I’ve effectively lost all touch with Hollywood and TV in general. Not a bad thing, since I read most of the time anyway, but still. I want my Game of Thrones Season 2 dammit!
How is your December going?
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You could spoof your IP address with TunnelBear or HideMyAss …. just google it ;)
My December is pretty busy. Glad that I got all gifts and cards done and sent out. Haven’t decided yet if I should get a tree this year or not.
How is yours going?
LG
~Anja~
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Ooohh! Thank you for the tips! Have you used these IP address hiding programs yet?
We’re busy as hell over here, but I think the Christmas gifts are mostly taken care of.
I had to talk my wife out of a tree this year though. :) This American knows ALLLLLL about cleaning up dead pine needles.
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Yes, I have used both sites. I was able to use HideMyAss through a friend who had a subscription for some time.
So no Christmas tree this year? I’m still thinking about getting one but not sure yet.
Schönes Wochenende!
~Anja~
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No Christmas tree at out place this year! Woo hoo!
I’m sure I’ll have to get one for my wife at some point in the future though. Ugh. They’re pretty, but MAN are they a lot of work.
Are you still deciding on yours?
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This was great! Thank you for sharing all your pictures. Love all your comments. It’s so very festive. We have nothing like that here. All of a sudden, I feel like everything is very dreary around here. Jeez! I like the hut in the forest, too. That’s the one I would pick!
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Right on! I’ll try and take some more pictures of it.
Yeah, after Christmas here in Germany, I don’t know what else to look forward to during the holidays in the States. Mall Santas?
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Hahaha, Eierpunsch! Like a punch in the balls? Love it!
As to the Ferris wheel, the funny thing is that in German they are called Riesenrad (‘giant wheel’), not sure the term is entirely appropriate in this case.
A very Happy Christmas for you and the wife, too.
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Thank you Sandra! And to you as well!
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