Can’t raise a German kid without giving her the Christmas Market experience! This was our first time, for both me and Nina. The first Christmas after I moved to Germany, I was in my first trimester of pregnancy and felt just horrible. The second Christmas here, Nina was 5 months old and I hadn’t gone out with her that much yet. My third Christmas, we went to a really small one… on the day it was closed. My fourth Christmas here, Christmas markets were cancelled due to the global pandemic. This year it’s still not in full swing yet, some Christmas markets in smaller towns have been cancelled but luckily some in the bigger cities are still happening.
We went to the one in Darmstadt, which is spread out among different squares in the city centre. I figured it would be less crowded that way. Well it was still packed but everyone still respected keeping distance from each other.
This was also our first time tasting Kinderpunsch (and we loved it). It’s a warm mix of spiced juices and fruit tea… perfect for a winter evening. Another typical drink you can get in these markets is Glühwein (mulled wine). It’s warm wine mixed with fruits and spices.
It really is a special feeling to be in the Christmas Market… I imagine it must be more so for those who grew up with it. The fairy lights, carousel music, intoxicating smell of warm drinks and food… it’s just a whole atmosphere of its own. I hope Nina will keep this special feeling of her childhood memories when she visits them later on in life.