Der Weihnachtsmarkt : The Christmas Market

With the beginning of Advent, Christmas markets all over Germany open. In plazas and squares, bakers and crafters and artists set up shop. Heidelberg hosts several markets in four separate squares in the old city, and it is really lovely and picturesque.

This stand is selling traditional Nutcrackers and wooden ornaments.

Of course there are Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and candy sellers everywhere.

Besides from Christmas fare, there are also beautiful crafts for sale, like this lovely pottery.

This brilliantly lit shop is selling Glühwein, a spiced mulled-wine that's only drunk at this time of year.
It is powerful stuff! I like the taste, but, really, I should stay far away from it!

This man is carving a wooden bowl. His shop sells all sorts of wooden

serving platters as well as stools and tables - all hand carved by him!

This is the bowl and ladle I bought from him. I love it that I know

who made this and that I can see his knife patterns all over the bowl.

I wish that the States had more of a market culture. Sure, there are farmers markets and craft markets, especially in large cities, like New York, but we're still much more dependent on Target and supermarkets. Not that I don't love Target! But, there is lots to be said about buying direct from a grower or crafter or artist and enjoying the walk around a city square.

Merry Christmas!

It's been a veritable elf's workshop here. I had the mad idea of hand-making a bunch of gifts this year. Rewarding but also incredibly time consuming. Here are some cookies I baked and decorated last night.

And I've also taken to making some bath stuff. This project, a sugar scrub, was super easy.

Just organic cane sugar, grapeseed oil, essential oils, and some fresh rosemary sprigs.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Cheer

I should be studying for my exam right now - I have a qualifying exam on the history & method of New Testament interpretation tomorrow. I just thought I'd share some of the decorating around here:

You can't see it as well, since it's dimly lit, but the little tree in the middle is a rosemary topiary, decked out with mini Christmas ornaments. It smells lovely!

The sign in the middle is a Löwenbräu beer sign. It's supposed to make the place feel a bit more like a bräuhaus.