- Title: German Christmas markets get creative as prices hit new highs
- Date: 5th December 2024
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 3, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VISITORS AT CHRISTMAS MARKET AT MEMORIAL CHURCH IN CENTRAL BERLIN MAN DRINKING MULLED WINE SIGN WITH PRICES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MULLED WINE VARIOUS OF STAND SELLING CHRISTMAS BEVERAGES (SOUNDBITE) (German) CHAIRMAN OF THE BERLIN ASSOCIATION FOR TRADITIONAL FESTIVITIES, MICHAEL RODEN, SAYING: "One problem, of course, is the costs we have all around us - the energy costs, the administrative costs, the market prices - everything that has happened in the economy today and that prices are getting higher. And the production of individual goods has also become very expensive. If you import from abroad these days, so to speak, the container prices have become very high. So, the economy all around is clearly not so good, especially for the traders, I would say, and for us too, of course. But prices are rising in all variants, in all sizes and at all levels. And that has to come to an end, otherwise such a nice event might be doomed to die, because then it would no longer be possible to organise it." VARIOUS OF MARKET VISITORS DRINKING CHRISTMAS BEVERAGES SIGN WITH PRICES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF MULLED WINE GLASSES ON TABLE SIGN READING (German) "FRESHLY ROASTED ALMONDS" ROASTED ALMONDS STAND SELLING TRADITIONAL GERMAN GINGERBREAD (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM SICILY, FRANCESCO DI GIORGI, SAYING: "That's the point - it's (prices) very high. And I notice that all the prices have 20-15% more than last year, for instance. So it's very difficult to buy something. For instance, one cup of chocolate is seven euros - it's too much, you know, it's just a cup of chocolate. If a family has two kids, it is very heavy, you know." (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR OF CHRISTMAS MARKET, EVA HENSCHKE, SAYING: "No, so when I go here, I do buy something. But you have to pay a bit of attention to the prices." (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR OF CHRISTMAS MARKET, REGINE (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING: "It feels like everything has become more expensive, starting with mulled wine, of course. You can see that when you walk past. And some other delicacies or things that you might otherwise have indulged in - you do have to think about them. So I think that overall everything has become a bit more expensive. But still, the atmosphere is always nice and it's a pleasure to stop by - and as I said, you do end up buying a thing or two." MEMORIAL CHURCH / CHRISTMAS MARKET VARIOUS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS MARKET CALLED "WEIHNACHTEN AN DER SPREE" VARIOUS OF MAN IN SANTA CLAUS COSTUME RINGING BELL, TALKING TO GUESTS AND SINGING WITH THEM GUESTS QUEUEING (SOUNDBITE) (German) MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FARO GROUP, FABIAN LAU, SAYING: "We've always said: crises make you creative. And in the middle of the pandemic, we realised that all our indoor Christmas parties would be cancelled. We said: ‘Then let's just have a Christmas market instead’. However, we also said that it was difficult to calculate, so we would try it out as an all-inclusive concept. And that worked out really, really well." VARIOUS OF MULLED WINE STAND (SOUNDBITE) (German) MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FARO GROUP, FABIAN LAU, SAYING: "The prices have remained relatively stable for us. The cheapest ticket costs 29 euros for two hours. And if you want to stay for a whole five hours, you only pay around 45 euros. And most guests drink and eat considerably more than that, so it really is a win-win situation for everyone." VARIOUS OF GUESTS EATING (SOUNDBITE) (German) MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FARO GROUP, FABIAN LAU, SAYING: "(We have) very, very few tickets left. Demand is extremely high every year. We are already around 90 percent sold out for all days until Christmas." VARIOUS OF CREPE BEING MADE AND SERVED (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS MARKET, SIMONE HERLITZ, SAYING: "I think it's good, yes. So, you don't have to get your wallet out every time - constantly putting in and out - and so on, I think that's good." (SOUNDBITE) (English) VISITOR OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS MARKET AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, CJ, SAYING: "I think the concept is cool. I think it changed the way people go to Christmas market, because usually they just go there for a Gluehwine (mulled wine). They just go there for something. And now with the all-inclusive ticket, I think people just come here with empty stomach and they just want to try everything." VARIOUS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS MARKET
- Embargoed: 19th December 2024 13:32
- Keywords: Berlin Christmas Christmas market Germany all-inclusive economics energy prices holiday season mulled wine winter
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001459904122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: For Eva Henschke, Germany's Christmas markets are a chance to temporarily forget about the colder, darker days with a hot mug of mulled wine or eggnog and a bratwurst off the grill.
But more so than in years past, she has had to keep a careful eye on costs when deciding what festive bite to indulge in.
"When I come here, I buy something. But you have to pay a bit of attention to the prices," Henschke said at the market next to the preserved World War Two ruins of Berlin's Memorial Church where it was established in 1948.
As costs for festive treats at traditional Christmas markets hit record highs in Germany, traders are unwrapping new strategies, such as all-inclusive tickets and special themes, to keep attracting locals and tourists alike.
"Crises make you creative," said Fabian Lau, managing director of FARO Group. Lau and his team founded Germany's only all-inclusive Christmas market.
For those who want unlimited mulled wine and as many German specialities as possible without worrying about costs, the Christmas Market at the Spree offers all-inclusive tickets starting from 29.90 euros ($31.48) - for those willing to go after 8 p.m. and during the week. A ticket at peak time, during the weekend, will set any wannabe merrymakers back 45.90 euros.
Lau said demand for the tickets is "extremely high," with over 1,000 sold daily and 90 percent of them already snapped up for this Christmas season.
"I think it changed the way people go to the Christmas market," said CJ, an international student in Berlin visiting the market. "With the all-inclusive ticket, I think people just come here with an empty stomach."
Other creative ways organisers have come up with to draw customers include a market catering to dogs, with a dog show and treats for four-legged visitors, as well as unique locations such as an abandoned spy tower and a former airport hall.
In old and new markets, Germany's favourite Christmas beverage, Gluehwein (mulled wine), now sells for a record 5 euros per mug in Berlin, a 50 percent rise from the pre-pandemic 3.25 euros.
"One problem, of course, is the costs we have all around us - the energy costs, the administrative costs, the market prices," said Michael Roden, chairman of the Berlin association for traditional festivities. "Prices are rising in all variants, in all sizes and at all levels," he added.
Sedat Sarikurt, a mulled wine vendor at the Memorial Church, hiked his prices by 50 cents compared with last year, despite initial concerns about selling fewer drinks due to higher costs. However, he noted that tourists and locals are still buying mulled wine.
Market visitor Regine is among them - she clearly noticed that the prices have gone up, but "the atmosphere is always nice and it's a pleasure to stop by - and as I said, you do end up buying a thing or two."
(Production: Oliver Barth, Daria Shamonova) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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