AS a foreign journalist in an unfamiliar chilly city of Freiburg, nobody needs to tell me that Christmas is fast approaching. You can feel it in the air; you can even smell it in the cosy shops, and indeed you can touch it at the Christmas Market.
Yes! A market mainly for shoppers for the Yuletide, where Christmas merchandise and gifts of all sorts can be found. It is located in the heart of the city, where ancient architectural designs blend magnificently with modern aesthetic structures.
The market is adorned with Christmas trees and colourful contrasting lighting systems that do not only make it exciting, but also offers an ambience of real festive season that is capable of putting every one, including the unyielding ones in the mood.
The shop owners often welcome shoppers to their wares with broad smiles and alluring gestures. Tempting aroma of grilled sausages from food vendors in the market fill the air, while jewellery, Santa Claus garb and a variety of wares, including sweets for kids are on display in the sheds and shops.
There are also fanciful play grounds for children to hang around, while their parents do the shopping.
It usually begins in the last week of November and run through the Christmas Eve or a few days after the Yuletide. The market is opened daily from about 10am to around 9pm.
It signals the beginning of Advent, a Latin word, meaning the arrival, which begins from December 1 to 24 every year.
The fact that Christmas means a lot to the people of Freiburg cannot be ignored, neither is the indication that money is not in short supply be overlooked as expectant shoppers flock from all directions towards the glittering market and depart with bags full of various stuffs.
Coming from a Muslim background (Tamale) in my home country Ghana, I am awed by what I see, because I have never witnessed Christians observe the coming of Christmas with such a warm anticipation, preparation and glamour.
The history of Christmas market in Germany, I am told, dates back to centuries when regular seasonal markets took place throughout the year. Christmas markets were a welcome occurrence during the winter. They are happy occasions for weary villagers and they also add some shine to long, cold nights.
And the first Christmas markets were little more than the winter markets that lasted only a few days with traders in some cities displaying their goods out in the streets.
Over the years, each Christmas market maintained its peculiarities, with each specialising in local delicacies and traditional products. Formerly, only local tradesmen were allowed to sell their wares at the city’s market, which had led to the distinctive regional character of today’s markets.
Indeed, Christmas is an occasion many people around the world look forward to celebrating at this time of the year. The occasion provides a platform for both the old and the young from all facets of life to wine and dine, reflect and strengthen their spiritual bonds and also enjoy some fun.
After working all year round, the season offers the opportunity for all to dispense goodwill offers and massages to friends, relations and all.
And these traits are surely not in short supply in Freiburg.
And as I moved around, jostling my way through the thickening crowd of shoppers at the weekend hearing speakers blurring out Christmas carols with some musicians stroking the strings of their guitars to melodious tunes, it dawned on me that Christmas was around the corner, and I was going to be part of the Yuletide as I have already received some invitations to parties.
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