Hi, I'm Lukas from DW Travel and I'm in Nuremberg.
The city is famous for its Christkindlesmarkt, that's THE Christmas market!
But as you can see this year, unfortunately, there is no Christkindlesmarkt.
There s just a normal market and almost no people.
Nuremberg was one of the first cities in Germany to cancel its Christmas market
— as early as the end of October, just before the second lockdown.
The Christ Child is part of the tradition of the market. And from up there,
it usually declares the market open every year.
And that's a ceremony watched by thousands of visitors.
People here really miss their usual Christmas Nuremberg.
Even the Christ Child has disappeared from the cityscape.
Well, at least people are thinking about it.
The city is trying to create as much Christmas spirit as possible despite the pandemic.
So what s the mood in town. Are the people her in a Christmassy mood in Nuremberg?
For Christmas times of course we need this feeling, we need the decoration, the lights,
so we try to get the feeling back.
I can see you have a box there in your hands. So what's in the box?
Since we are not allowed to do the market and tourists are not allowed to come — unfortunately —
and that's how we said: well, let's bring the Christkindles Market to the people.
That's why we designed the box.
You will find products and feelings that will bring you the Christkindles Market in your home.
We have tea there, we have spicies that are necessary in order to do the Glühwein,
to enjoy the Glühwein.
Gingerbread of course, a little tiny angel that is special for Nuremberg. So, many, many products.
Next year we gonna have the real Christkindlesmarkt here.
Exactly! We hope to see you all next year on the Nuremberg Christkindles Market.
Instead of markets and crowds of tourists and locals there are so-called "Christmas Islands"
— a few stalls that stand apart.
I'll have a Bratwurst.
I already know the traditional and centuries-old standard of Elisen gingerbread.
Well, at least I have a gingerbread. Lebkuchen!
Delicious!
It reminds me of an extraordinary culinary encounter that I had in the morning.
I haven't seen these before.
Even though I’m wearing a mask I can still smell this gingerbread here.
Delicious!
Despite the so-called "Christmas Islands" there are no stalls offering Christmas items.
Well, there are some exceptions...
for example: the so-called "Krippenursel".
These handmade Christmas nativity scenes from the region
have actually been available for 20 years at the Christkindlesmarkt
and at 15 other German Christmas markets as well.
Even if there are hardly any market stalls, there are at least a few shops with Christmas products.
The craftsmen's yard should be a good place to start looking.
It's already late and light can be seen in many places in the city.
Nuremberg castle — THE landmark of Nuremberg — is also brightly lit.
I don't want to say goodbye without having seen the Christ Child,
because I've heard at least you can see it online.
Well, I'll do that now. And you can too.
Good night and merry Christmas.