Weihnachten in Deutschland - Part I

As you view the home page of my blog above, you are looking at the old Frankfurt town center, called Römer Platz, with its beautiful half-timbered buildings.  It's usually fairly open with a few tourists gazing at the beautiful buildings surrounding the town.  But not in December where Christmas markets throughout Germany are a tradition!

With numerous Christmas booths and thousands of people there to enjoy the Weihnachtsmarkt, one can scarcely make out the famous buildings anymore.  But, oh, what an amazing, 

festive atmosphere is present this time of the year!

Elder G just LOVED the huge lighted tree!

And it gets prettier when the sun goes down and the lights are illuminated.

The colorful temporary shops sold everything from Christmas ornaments and crafts

to wine, beer, hot drinks, and food.

 

So many ornaments and decorations to choose from!

   

And there was even a merry-go-round!

There were food booths galore!  This one sold meat and cheese.

Here you could buy a variety of chocolate-covered fruits on a skewer!  

I tried the pineapple.  Truly yummy!

Licorice, anyone? 

Plenty of pretzels - cheese or chocolate covered!

Iced gingerbread cookies!

And chocolate-covered apples

And for every ornament or food booth, there was an equal number of booths where one could buy the drink of choice.  Wine, beer, or hot drinks were purchased and then drunk, standing and visiting around nearby tables. Seriously, we think drinking and eating were the favorite pastimes

with actual shopping coming in third.

  

  

Just a few blocks away is the upscale pedestrian shopping district, the Zeil.  It, too,was just as festive. The crowds at both places were unbelievable!!!

One night about 50 of us missionaries and youth from the Frankfurt Ward tried caroling
in the center of the Zeil one night.  We got one referral out of the event.
Apparently, the year before they got even more!

Christmas Markets in Germany are truly an experience to be remembered!