Christmas Market in Frankfurt Germany

Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt Offers More Than Glühwein

Dec 17, 2008

More than 200 stalls fill the city's medieval center all the way down to the river Main. Frankfurt Christmas market is one of the biggest and most attractive in Germany.

In terms of visitor numbers and size, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of the biggest Christmas markets in Germany. More than three million guests are expected this year. The opening ceremony of the 2008 Christmas market took place on the Römerberg plaza's newest stage with German pop singers and the city mayor. With Frankfurt's historic city center as a backdrop, this might also be one of Germany's most beautiful places to celebrate the Christmas spirit.

Carillon of 35 Bells

Among the main attractions on the Römerberg plaza is the 30-meter-tall Swiss Christmas tree decked with more than 500 lights. This is also a good place to meet if you get lost. One of Frankfurt's oldest churches, Alte Nikolaikirche, on the Römerberg dates back to 1290, and is famous for its carillon of 35 bells. It sounds daily at 9.05, 12.05 and 17.05h. In medieval times watchmen stood in the church tower looking out for fires in the city's narrow streets and signaling to ships as they came up the Main river.

Ancient Tradition

The Frankfurt Christmas market tradition is documented as far back as 1393, when ecclesiastical mystery plays were held on the Römerberg. The original mystery play was presumably based on a historical encounter in 941, when King Otto the Great and his brother Heinrich reconciled after a long period of estrangement. Heinrich apparently dropped to his knees before his brother outside of the chapel after Christmas mass.

Best Place to Buy Holiday Gifts

Until the 1870s Frankfurt parents used to buy Christmas presents exclusively at the Christmas market. Wooden wagons and soft dolls were popular then, later rocking horses and hobby horses came along.Today artisans still offer wooden toys and hand-carved animals for nativity scenes. Elaborate wood crafts from the Erzgebirge, a mountain range on the border between Germany and the Czech Republic, are especially popular. There are nutcrackers, incense smokers, colorful music boxes, candle arches and Christmas pyramids, along with many miniature wood figures.

Frankfurt Specialties and Treats

There is no shortage of food at the market. Barbecued meats and sausages, waffles, potato pancakes and the German Christmas goose are offered, but also specialties from neighboring countries, like Dutch poffertjes (batter treats), Hungarian langos (flat bread) and crepes and Quiche Lorraine from France. "Brenten", "Bethmaennchen" and "Quetschemaennchen", tiny marzipan-filled treats, are typical Frankfurt Christmas confectionary. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frankfurt's renowned poet and author, would regularly receive Christmas parcels with "Bethmaennchen" from his mother, when he lived in far-away Weimar. The famous German mulled wine, Glühwein, is available everywhere.

Highlights for Children and Concerts

Several carousels will make young children happy. There is one with horses and a very special Christmas-theme merry-go-round. Advent concerts take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5pm on the Römerberg stage. Among the performers are the German American Community Choir, the choir of the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Police Choir. Everyone can join in to sing Christmas carols at Liebfrauenkirche (Our Lady's Church) every evening at 7:30pm (November 29 -December 21).

The copyright of the article Christmas Market in Frankfurt Germany in Germany Travel is owned by Christine Welter. Permission to republish Christmas Market in Frankfurt Germany in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.