- Title: GERMANY: NUREMBER'S CHRISTMAS MARKET OPENS
- Date: 26th November 2004
- Summary: LV CHILDREN SINGING CHRISTMAS CAROLS WIDE OF BALCONY WITH CHRIST CHILD SV ORCHESTRA PLAYING
- Embargoed: 11th December 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NUREMBERG, GERMANY
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Economy,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVACSTJE0L71HSXZE7GEAYD68IZO
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Nuremberg's famous Christmas market opens.
Nuremberg's Christmas market, one of the most famous in Europe, has officially opened as the christ child appeared outside the Frauenkirche church, accompanied by an orchestra playing Christmas carols.
On the eve of the first weekend of Advent, marking the start of the Christmas season, dozens of decorated stalls on Friday evening (November 26) invited visitors to enjoy the Christmas spirit as vendors sold traditional gifts such as wooden toys, sweets and cakes.
The smell of mulled wine, or Gluehwein (pron.: gloo-vine) and the famous Nuremberg bratwursts (German sausages) filled the air in the towns main square, the Hauptmarkt, as several thousand young and old Christmas shoppers strolled through the alley of stalls.
The first historical mention of the market was in 1628, and by 1737 all of the trades practiced in the Bavarian city were represented at the annual market.
This year, vendors at some 200 stands sold everything from Christmas decorations, candles, toys and the traditional bratwurst and mulled wine.
Traditionally, the christ child recites a poem to open the market. The role is played by a young woman between 16 and 18 years old. She must be a native of Nuremberg and is chosen biannually by the readers of a local newspaper.
Her speech is delivered from an open gallery at the top of Frauenkirche, facing the market square. This years Christ child is 18-year-old Christin Strauber who had her second -- and last -- appearance in this popular role.
The Nuremberg Christkindlmarkton Christmas Eve, December 24, when Germans traditionally celebrate Christmas. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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