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Christmas is all about bringing families together during the most joyous time of the year. The sweet warm smell of roasted nuts lingering through the air does a phenomenal job of bringing my big, chaotic family together. While most of the year all of my sisters and I are busy doing our own activities, the month of December in Germany never fails to bring us closer together.
My family always makes it a point to visit the Thurn and Taxis market in downtown Regensburg. Walking through the market in the soft winter snow feels magical as you are surrounded by a castle. If you are able to omit the feeling of frostbite, then it feels like a real life dream. Each booth is unique to itself whether it be selling decorations, knitted hats and gloves, candy, nuts, or fries. You name it and you can most likely find it there somewhere. Christmas markets feel much more special if you go after the sun has gone down. There is something about the yellow lights in the darkness that bring such a breathtaking scene to one’s eyes. As snow continues to fall, we continue to sip our steaming hot glühwein and nibble on the cinnamon sugar coated chimney cake as we look at the intricate handcrafted Christmas ornaments.
While some may argue that the authenticity of Bavarian Christmas markets is not present at the Thurn and Taxis market, I strongly believe that it is the experiences and memories that truly make any place authentic. What exactly is authenticity at a Christmas market? Every market is unique in its own way. Realistically, no two markets are identical. Spending time with close friends and family is what the season is about. Christmas is a time that only presents itself once a year and every year, the memories continue to be incomparable to the year before.
Christmas in Germany is a completely different experience compared to the traditional American Christmas most of us are used to. Although I do love an American Christmas, there is no glühwein, sugar-coated bread, or ropes of candy surrounding you in America, and where I am from, there is certainly no snow. Though the food is not what makes Christmas special, it is the time spent with family and the happiness that flows from everyone’s heart.
