Weinachtsmarkt und Auf Wiedersehen

 Christmas in Europe is truly one of a kind. Come mid-November and markets are propped up all over cities. These markets, which offer food, drinks and all kinds of Christmas gifts, are called Christmas Markets or "Weinachtsmarkt" in German. Over the last month, I have been to Christmas markets in Germany, France, Switzerland and Portugal. While they were all different, all Christmas markets have delicious crepes, churros and waffles, as well as a hundred different kinds of cheese and chocolate. However, what is really unique about these markets is the hot wine, or "Glühwein" in German. It is prepared by heating wine up and adding spices to it. While I have enjoyed the food and drinks at Weinachtsmarkt, what I love the most about them are the lights and atmosphere. Once the lights are turned on after sunset, Christmas Markets look absolutely gorgeous! That is also when they get the most crowded, but it's still worth it. There are also a lot of talented live performers who play amazing music for tips. Germany in particular, has some beautiful Christmas Markets, including the one in Freiburg. However, the best Christmas Market I have been to was the one in Strasbourg, France, right across the German border. It was huge and absolutely beautiful!

Although Christmas Markets also exist in the US, they are nothing like the ones in Europe, which makes them all the more special. I am not entirely sure why there aren't a lot of Christmas Markets in the US, but walkability in cities may have something to do with it. European cities are a lot more walkable than American cities, as a result of which there are a lot more people outside in the streets. This makes it a lot more likely for people to stop by at Christmas Markets on the way back home from work or just during an evening stroll in the city. Population density of cities may be another factor. Since European cities are generally more densely populated than American cities, Christmas Markets are a lot more likely to draw more customers and hence be successful.

Going to different Christmas Markets was definitely one of my many memorable experiences this semester. The food and drinks, paired with the decorations and atmosphere, made the holiday season a whole lot better for me.

Looking back, my time in Freiburg was as close to perfect as it could possibly get. I fell in love with the beautiful city, and made some special friends while I was there. I explored different places and countries and tried so many new things. The whole experience taught me so much and helped me grow as a person. And of course, I had the time of my life doing so.

I would like to thank Professor Eric Klaus, Amy Teel and everyone else at the CGE for this opportunity of a lifetime. I am going back to HWS with memories that will last forever.







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