Hello everyone,
greetings from Munich, Germany.
As we immerse ourselves deeper into the festive season, let's explore some more cherished German Christmas traditions that add magic and joy to this time of year.
Christmas Markets: Festive Delights and Cheer
No exploration of German Christmas traditions would be complete without mentioning the iconic Christmas markets. These enchanting markets, known as "Weihnachtsmärkte," pop up in towns and cities across Germany. Larger cities have multiple Christmas markets that run all of December. Laden with twinkling lights, wooden stalls selling handmade crafts, ornaments, and delectable treats like gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, and Glühwein (mulled wine), these markets evoke a true winter wonderland ambiance. Last weekend we strolled through 3 of them.
Christmaspyramiden: A Whirl of Tradition
One of the most enchanting German decorations is the Christmaspyramiden, a beautifully crafted wooden pyramid adorned with intricate carvings. Traditionally, these pyramids are adorned with figures depicting nativity scenes or festive themes. As candle flames gently spin wooden blades, the pyramid rotates, creating a mesmerizing display of light and movement.
Räuchermänchen: Aromatic Ambiance
Raeuchermaenchen, or smoking figures, are small wooden figurines that emanate delightful scents when a smoldering incense cone is placed inside. These figures come in various shapes, often resembling Christmas characters, animals, or even cozy cabins. They originate from the Erzgebrige. As the incense burns, it releases a fragrant aroma, adding to the festive atmosphere and evoking a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Most often they hold a pipe and the smoke billows out of the mouth of the character, and if it’s a cabin the smoke comes out of the chimney.
Krampus Rennen: Unconventional Festivity
While Christmas is often associated with Santa Claus and his benevolent gifts, some regions in Germany celebrate a more unconventional figure – Krampus. Krampus Rennen, or Krampus Runs, involves people dressed in elaborate, frightful costumes parading through streets. This tradition, originating from Alpine folklore, features these horned creatures scaring onlookers as a way to ward off evil spirits during the holiday season. That was so much fun and I couldn’t stop smiling.
Recipe: Candied Almonds
Candied Almond, or Gerbannte Mandeln, can be found everywhere during this time. Often times we buy these at the Christmas Markets to keep our hands warm. They are served in triangular paper bags and they fit perfectly in your hand. :)
I wish I could send you the smell of these! So good!
Candied Almonds Recipe
Ingredients:
1 and 3/4 cups Almonds (about 7 ounces)- you can use any other nuts too
1/2 to 1 cup white sugar (or a mix of white and brown sugar)
3 to 7 tablespoons Water (depending on the amount of sugar used)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
In a large skillet, combine water, sugar, and cinnamon while the skillet is still cold.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once the sugar water is boiling, add the almonds.
Let it simmer over medium heat until the water evaporates gradually. This process will melt the sugar and darken it, forming caramel threads. After some time, the sugar will become crumbly and coat the almonds. Take care not to burn the sugar while caramelizing it by stirring continuously at a moderate temperature.
Once the sugar sticks to the almonds and starts to liquefy again, remove the skillet from the heat and spread the almonds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a suitable alternative.
Let the finished almonds cool slightly and enjoy them warm or completely cooled.
Please note that the measurements have been approximated from the given grams to cups, and the range in sugar and water is provided based on personal preference for sweetness and consistency of the caramelization process. Adjust the quantities as desired to achieve the desired taste and texture.
Enjoy these sweet, crunchy treats as a delightful addition to your holiday celebrations!
As we delve into these unique traditions and flavors of the German holiday season, may your homes be filled with warmth, joy, and the spirit of togetherness.
I wish you all a magical holiday season!
If you want to bake some German Christmas Cookies, I have a collection of 24 recipes here:
If you are looking for gift ideas I have listed new classes here:
Warm regards,
Chef Pascal