Christmas Markets in Cologne

• Christmas markets in Cologne

On 24 November and 23 December, traditionally open Christmas markets in Cologne - at this time the magic of Advent begins with expectation of a miracle, and smells are unique to it - the scent baked apples, cinnamon and glyuvayna envelop everything.

So that the theme of the next few posts will be the approach of Christmas.

could not find the latest statistics, but in 2011, according to official statistics - Cologne ahead of all the German cities for the number of visitors - in the year of its Christmas Bazaar visited 4 million people.

According to some unconfirmed reports in Cologne about 20 Christmas market - five of which are located directly in the city center and all within walking distance of each other - it is certainly a Christmas Bazaar at the Cologne Cathedral, Old Town and Vaynahtsmarkt called village Nikolaus, there even at the Chocolate museum on the River Rhine, with a nautical theme, and there are also unconventional in the real sense of the word.

Each of them has its own theme, its face, its color, its design trade pavilions and each in its own good.

A stay at the Christmas Bazaar and not to drink flavored glyuvayna - it's a lot to lose - it's part of the tradition. He glyuvayn may be red and white wine, and even non-alcoholic - the taste and color, and of course a cup of wine - in each market they are different, usually ceramic containers for 0, 2 liters with thick walls.

Who was the first time on Vaynahtsmarkte probably wonder Pricing: glyuvayn costs about 2-3 euros and 2-3 take as collateral for a mug. If you like a mug and really want to have it as a keepsake - can safely take - you've already paid for it, and you can go back and return the money to you.

Now go back to the previous image - designers have grasped the dynamics of modernity, travel selfie has not been canceled

Christmas one of the most favorite holiday not only children but also adults, what is the magic of Christmas? I posted this question I can not answer it accurately, maybe the fact that even adults are at this time a little child, and at the sight of such a picture, probably, and I believe in miracles.

Event subservient to young and old, and still a question who show more interest!

Across the city are set crib - again, according to some estimates there are about 100 - they are quite different in style and size. Basically they have on each Vaynahtsmarkte, vary in size, material and style of course - this bronze composition at the Cologne Cathedral appears annually in decades. Subject manger popular than anywhere else in Cologne, because in the cathedral the relics of the three Magi, they are always present in nativity scenes.

If desired, you can buy smaller versions for the house as a whole, and individually each figure.

In the old town, on two areas is a Christmas market called "Heimat der Heinzel" - "Homeland Dwarfs."

What is the reason such a name? Cologne is one of the bike, I have already said, but I will repeat again:

There was one old tradition of Cologne, which is embodied later in the literary form of the writer August Kolisch.

The essence of the story is this: Once upon a time, long ago, many foreign visitors Cologne noticed how flowers and fragrant city, meanwhile, kelntsy laze all day and walk ... So what's the secret?

It turns out that the city has lived for many, many gnomes that come to artisans - bakers and other important professions - and did work for them. But there was one "but": no one was supposed to see them, and for many years kelntsy consciously do not violate this rule.

So everything went well and everyone was happy: the inhabitants of the fact that the work was "by itself" and dwarves that had the opportunity to perform it (seen terrible workaholics were).

But he was a tailor in Cologne, whose wife wanted to spy out the gnomes, but she did not succeed. She sprinkled steps dry peas, and deliberately began to loudly go down to the cellar. Dwarves, heard her footsteps ran away, however, having slipped on peas, fell head over heels to the bottom of the stairs. Then came the wife of a tailor, and saw them all together. Tragically inhabitants of Cologne, the dwarves have left the city, and had since then the citizens to do the work themselves. Something like that.

If you look closely, it is possible these funny creatures found throughout VaynahtsMarktu, here and there they watch us.

Of course the Christmas market - it's not just to buy something, but be sure to eat.

Meet interesting characters - those, for example, market workers, looked very stylish!

Not only in the circles of tasty, there are interesting on mugs.

Some souvenirs and Christmas decorations consumer goods, but there are some simple things piece.

While not many guests Bazaar, notably that people with dogs are walking here, once again, I note that liked the styling of the park, on the right is normal "glass cover" which is the entrance to an underground garage - now it looks woodpile of firewood - and not so conspicuous.