- Title: GERMANY-CHRISTMAS MARKET Nuremberg opens its traditional Christmas market
- Date: 28th November 2014
- Summary: NUREMBERG, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 28, 2014) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** EXTERIOR OF CHURCH OF FRAUENKIRCHE (CHURCH OF OUR LADY) DURING OPENING OF THE CHRISTKINDLESMARKT (CHRISTMAS MARKET) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING BY MARKET STALLS AT THE CITY'S CENTRAL SQUARE PEOPLE ATTENDING OPENING CEREMONY OF CHRISTMAS MARKET ACTRESS IMPERSONATING NUREMBERG CHRISTKIND, RECITING TRADITIONAL PROLOGUE OF OPENING CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (German) ACTRESS IMPERSONATING NUREMBERG CHRISTKIND, SAYING: "My market shall remain young forever, as long as Nuremberg stands, and the memory of that market's fame." (SOUNDBITE) (German) ACTRESS IMPERSONATING NUREMBERG CHRISTKIND, SAYING: "And now the Christkind call to its market, and all who come are truly welcome."
- Embargoed: 13th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAAJR55O9U8DSLECWU7URH9HITA
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- Story Text: Nuremberg's Christmas market, one of the most famous in Europe, officially opened on Friday (November 28) with a traditional ceremony featuring a young woman, dressed as Christkind, reciting a poem from the balcony of the Church of Our Lady on the city's main square.
"My market shall remain young forever, as long as Nuremberg stands, and the memory of that market's fame," the young actress impersonating the Christkind said.
"And now the Christkind call to its market, and all who come are truly welcome," she added.
The event known as the Christkindlesmarkt, marks the start of the Christmas season.
It annually attracts thousands of visitors from across Europe and the world, who enjoy the Christmas spirit as vendors sell traditional gifts such as wooden toys, sweets and cakes in the town's main square.
"This is a birthday present, and we chose to come here because we always saw the opening ceremony on television, with the Christkind and all, and I wanted to see it for myself," said one visitor, Anja Jolitz.
"I am living in Erlangen, the next city, but this is the first time to see opening ceremony in Nuremberg, this is why we are coming with my family," said another visitor, Hoshiaki Oki.
For Christin Marygan, from Washington D.C., the opening ceremony was a great experience for her children.
"Well, actually, we are heading home tomorrow, so we were thrilled to find out that it is actually open today so my kids could both experience the Christkindlesmarkt together," Marygan said.
The first historical mention of the market was in 1628, and by 1737 all of the trades practised in the Bavarian city were represented at the annual market.
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt ends on Christmas Eve, December 24, when Germans traditionally celebrate Christmas. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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