Germany: Visiting Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt

DW (English)

The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg in southern Germany has more to offer than just gingerbread and bratwurst. To kick things off, an angelic figure speaks to the crowds. Reporter Shabnam Surita went to see for herself.

Transcript

00:00 It is that time of the year and Team Meet the Germans has just landed in Nuremberg,

00:05 the city with one of Germany's most famous Christmas markets. And we are here also to

00:10 meet a living legend, the Christkind.

00:16 Here in Nuremberg, the Christmas market is known for the Rauschkultengel, Lebkuchen,

00:21 the city's special Nürnberger Rospbratwurst and of course Glühwein.

00:27 And it is very popular among tourists from all over the world.

00:30 I'm from Lebanon.

00:31 Romania.

00:32 India.

00:33 Japan.

00:34 St. Louis, Missouri.

00:35 From Turkey.

00:36 I'm from India.

00:37 From Amman.

00:38 USA, Utah.

00:39 Finland.

00:40 And what do you like the most about this Christmas market?

00:42 Glühwein is nice, the roast is nice.

00:45 Sausage.

00:46 The setup here is very nice.

00:48 The traditions, the colors.

00:50 The nuts that you have here.

00:52 I just love going in and out of all the different stalls and seeing people having a good time

00:56 together.

00:57 I like the Lebkuchen here.

00:59 It feels magical.

01:00 The smells, the sights, the people.

01:04 It's just wunderbar.

01:07 Among locals, the market has been popular for more than four centuries.

01:12 As early as 1616, the minister of this church had to cancel his afternoon sermon because

01:17 nobody showed up.

01:19 He complained that everybody was away at the market buying Christmas presents.

01:22 So, what sets this market apart from all the other Christmas markets in Germany?

01:31 The hint is in its name.

01:33 Also known as Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, this market derives its name from the symbolic

01:38 figure of the Christkind, a traditional gift bringer in southern Germany and other parts

01:42 of Europe.

01:43 The Christkind is said to have been created by the religious reformer Martin Luther in

01:47 the 16th century.

01:50 Many descriptions imagine the Christkind as a non-gendered infant.

01:53 But since the 1930s, the Christkind has been portrayed by young women here in Nuremberg.

01:58 Could I qualify?

02:00 Nope.

02:01 And here's why.

02:02 To compete for the Christkind's position, the applicant should either have been born

02:05 in Nuremberg or have lived here for a long time, must be at least 16 years old but no

02:10 older than 19, must be at least 160 centimetres tall and not afraid of heights, and the Christkind

02:17 must be willing to work irrespective of the weather.

02:20 That I could definitely do.

02:23 The selection of the Christkind is also quite tricky.

02:26 Nurembergers first vote for their favourite contestants and then the jury chooses the

02:30 winner.

02:31 The selected Christkind then serves for two years.

02:34 For 2023 and 2024, the Christkind is 17-year-old Nelly Lunkenheimer, whose hobbies include

02:41 playing tennis and the piano.

02:43 Why did you apply for the role of the Christkind?

02:46 I think the role of Christkind is a really nice honorary position.

02:50 You get to meet so many people, you give people a lot.

02:53 You greet the people, you greet the children and their eyes light up.

02:57 And I simply realised that I wanted to play this part.

03:00 It suits me and I really enjoy it.

03:02 What are your tasks?

03:05 I go to lots of daycare centres, nursing homes and lots of homes for the disabled.

03:11 I visit many other Christmas markets and then I accept wish lists from the children.

03:16 I recite my world-famous speech, listen to Christmas carols and bring the magic of Christmas

03:21 to all.

03:22 How do you feel with a costume on?

03:25 When I put on the costume, I immediately feel Christmassy.

03:27 I just have to smile.

03:29 I'm happy to greet people straight away.

03:31 I think my posture is also a bit more upright, maybe because of the crown.

03:36 So I'm immediately in the Christmas spirit.

03:40 Visiting a Christmas market is a traditional activity for many Germans in December.

03:44 But there are more.

03:45 Ice bathing is cool and walks in the forest in winter, everything having to do with cold

03:50 weather.

03:51 I like the Advent calendar and the time with my family.

03:55 Mulled wine and lots of it.

03:59 And decorating is important.

04:00 The Christmas tree for sure.

04:03 I think it's nice to have the Advent wreath at home.

04:07 Coming together with family from all over the world, eating together, celebrating Advent,

04:12 but also going to church and praying together.

04:16 Having more time at home and making presents there.

04:19 Happy holidays!

04:20 [Music]

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