Magical Christmas Markets

VOCABULARY

Is it too early to write about Advent and Christmas? Not really – in five weeks’ time we will be celebrating Christmas Eve. This information will fill some people with joy and others with dread as there always seems so much to do. However, the time leading up to Christmas can be a very magical one, especially if you are lucky enough to be living in Salzburg. Here we are spoilt for choice when it comes to visiting one of the many Christmas markets and it will certainly put you in the right mood.

Many Christmas markets, in Salzburg, will open next weekend and will attract not only locals but tourists from all over the world, especially after the publicity the city got last year. Salzburg was chosen by CNN, America’s second largest news broadcaster, as one of the best winter destinations in the world.

This time last year, it was difficult to get into a Christmassy mood as it was 22 degrees in the city, which made drinking your first mug of mulled wine rather difficult. However, this year the weather should be more suitable to visit your favourite market.

The Christmas market in the city is great, but can be very overcrowded. That’s why I prefer the smaller markets such as the one in St. Leonhard, where the quaint stalls are set out at the foot of the Untersberg mountain. Don’t miss the picturesque Advent market in Schloss Leopoldskron (where the "Sound of Music" film was shot). It not only offers handmade Advent wreaths, hand-embroidered tea towels, hand-knitted hats or hand-painted baubles and tasty Christmas biscuits but, on 26 November, you can also enjoy a free guided tour around the palace – followed by a mulled wine on the terrace whilst looking out over the lake. Here the proceeds gotoa good cause.

I also love Hellbrunn Advent market and it never disappoints. I love the whole atmosphere there and find the stalls perfect and not full of kitsch. The Krampus display is also amazing. However, many locals will once again be put off by the €3 entrance fee, which was introduced last year, but I think it is a brilliant idea. It is only applicable on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays up to 6pm. Last year, many people complained that the organisers were making enough money out of the visitors, without charging more. But I think that they are missing the point. Hellbrunn is probably the most beautiful Advent market in Salzburg, which attracted thousands of visitors last year. Most of the visitors, including coach loads full of tourists, came at the weekend and many of them just strolled around the market without purchasing anything. The entrance fee has been introduced to spread the visitors out and encourage them to come on another day, when it is free, or to exchange their ticket for a drink.

While you are visiting the beautiful Hellbrunn Park, don’t forget to look at the eightmeter tall Christmas Angel, which was designed by the Salzburg artist, Markus Anders. Needless to say, you can’t miss it. It is made out of white painted steel and the stand alone weighs four tons. It will be illuminated and water from the ponds will be sprayed into the Angel’s dress to give the impressionthat it is moving.

Finally, it is worth making the effort to drive to the Salzkammergut and take the boat on the Wolfgangsee to the different Advent markets in St. Gilgen, St.Wolfgang and Strobl. Where else offers such a treat? This is an unforgettable experience where you can see the 19-meter high, floating peace lantern in the lake or marvel at the life-sized nativity scenes. Here you get the feeling of how Advent was in times gone by, before it became so commercialised. joy – Freude dread – Schrecken leading up to sth. – geht etw. voraus to be lucky enough – das Glück haben to be spoilt for choice – die Qual der Wahl haben mood – Stimmung to attract – anziehen news broadcaster – Nachrichtensender mug – Häferl mulled wine – Glühwein suitable – passend overcrowded – überlaufen quaint stalls – malerische Buden set out – aufgestellt picturesque – malerisch to shoot a film – einen Film drehen Advent wreath – Adventkranz hand-embroidered – handgestickt tea towels – Geschirrtücher hand-knitted – handgestrickt baubles – Christbaumkugeln the proceeds – der Erlös a good cause – ein guter Zweck to disappoint – enttäuschen to be put off – abgeschreckt werden entrance fee – Eintrittsgeld applicable – zutreffend to complain – sich beschweren to charge – verlangen miss the point – den Sinn nicht begreifen to stroll around – herumschlendern to purchase – kaufen to spread – verteilen to encourage – ermutigen needless to say – unnötig zu sagen you can’t miss it – man kann es nicht übersehen the effort – die Mühe such a treat – so ein Vergnügen