ADVENT CALENDAR December 18th - the Christmas Market in Fellbach

Advent and Christmas in Germany would not be complete without a visit to a Christmas market. There are the big and famous ones of course: Nuernberg comes to mind, Munich and Ulm too. Austria has its share of lovely ones as well. Families go and shop for Christmas presents - candles - decorations - trinkets - and of course to eat a Wurst or a sweet Dampfnudel, drink Gluehwein (without alcohol for the kids...) and maybe catch some caroling.

Many towns and small cities have a little market in the town square, and today you and I are going to stroll through the one in Fellbach, a little town right next to Stuttgart.

A first market stall. This would be a nice place to start with the shopping. I bought some little stars made from stainless steel - nice and twinkly!

The back wall is decorated lovingly. You can see a star like the ones I bought...

The Witches Cauldron - here Gluehwein is sold - both with and without alcohol...

All around the market are Christmas trees. Each one is decorated with ornaments made by the students of a different school.

A basket weaver's stall. He and his wife make all things woven from willow and co. and sell them here each year. They also have a little store. They are "Russian Germans" meaning they are of German ancestry and came to Germany after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989. At that time, Germany opened its borders to all those from the Eastern part of Europe who could claim German ancestry through parents, grandparents, great-grandparents... Many came, thinking the streets would be made of gold and flowing with milk and honey. Sound familiar? Those who were prepared to work hard prospered. This couple did.

Chairs, and even a basket for a cat!

And lots of baskets for bread - or knitting - or...

More baskets, and doll chairs...

Small doll buggies

Brushes and short brooms

Next to this stall, two young girls are playing Christmas carols on their violins.

Another tree

Roof of a stall

All kinds of Christmas decorations!

And more...

These dolls have a place on their insides where you can place an incense cone and burn it. It smells nice and looks as though they are smoking...

candle carousels

Lights with a crèche

Hanging decorations

Candles, and red felt trees...

Another type of carousel

An empty crèche, waiting for the figures.

And here are the nutcrackers! A Christmas market would not be complete without them!

There are several stands with sweets too. This one is the "Almond King."

He sells different kinds of candied almonds...

Lebkuchen hearts...

chewy sweets...

chocolate covered fruit

and candy apples.

Around the corner is a stall with practical things: an assortment of brushes

needles and thread for sewing and darning...

Suspenders and little "tea eggs"...

and pocket knives.

Now more sweets: Marzipan

Chocolate-covered apples

The next stall has candles

cards and more candles

simple wooden blocks

tissue paper roses

and a couple of beautiful outdoor lanterns.

Further on there are even some Santas!

It's a cold day - mittens are selling well!

So are wool hats.

Lebkuchen and homemade jam.

It is getting dark. Here are some reindeer...

Time to go home! As we leave, a choir is singing Christmas Carols on a little stage...

We haven't looked at the calendar yet! Here is number 18...

Looks like the three kings are coming...

Have a magical day!