Page 13 - issue_9-vol_9-Mexican-Gastronomy

Gemutlichkeit at German Christmas Markets

and cloves. Metal tongs (or a metal A companion children’s christmas Hackesche Hofe in Berlin’s Mitte district
grate) are set over the bowl and a market, and an arts and crafts market is a collection of courtyards surrounded
sugar cone soaked in over-proof rum take place nearby. by theatres, restaurants, art galleries and
is set on the tongs. The rum soaked retailers, all in historic old buildings. It
cone is set afire and as it melts, cara- BERLIN is a lively place all year, but even more
melized sugar and rum drip into the Berlin is home to about 60 Christmas so during the Christmas season.
spiced wine. More rum is ladled onto markets. Each one is unique. You can
the sugar until the cone has complete- visit a different market every night of
ly melted and dripped into the bowl. your stay and never see them all. Pots-
damer Platz features a toboggan run and
Each year the „Christ Child“ opens you can ice skate on Alexanderplatz. Ev-
the market in an elaborate ceremo- erywhere you’ll hear music and laughter,
ny. From the begining of December you’ll smell the Christmas season treats,
through Christmas Eve the churches and you’ll be awed by the workmanship
surounding the square are home to of the hand crafted ornaments and toys.
concerts and nativity plays. Carriage
rides and lamp-light parades all add to At Charlottenburg Palace you can expe-
the feeling of gemutlichkeit. rience an old-fashioned royal Christmas.

13 Feuerzangenbowle