You have been seeing pictures of the market on my blog year after year; sometimes they were better than this year (I apologise for the blurry ones which I took with my mobile without really pausing for them, or while being in the middle of a crowd). Some were taken by my sister who patiently waited along with me for our first Holzofen-Dinnede (our favourite Christmas Market food) of the year.
The market opened last night with the usual ceremony: A musical introduction - this time like last year a set of Advent and Christmas songs/hymns/carols, very beautifully sung by an all-male choir from Stuttgart, followed by a short speech from Ludwigsburg's principal Mayor (we have several "minor" mayors, but this one is the most important head of town) and then a quick performance by a group of people dressed up as King Friedrich, his wife Charlotte-Mathilde, a handful of courtiers and some soldiers or guards. The King was played by a different man this year, an actor with a very good speaking voice. In former years, the King never said anything, simply waved gracefully to his subjects, but this year he addressed the people of Ludwigsburg, the merchants coming from far and wide to sell their goods at the market and all the visitors.
Also, the Mayor is new - we only elected him this summer, and he took up his position in September. He is much younger than his predecessor and - unlike him - comes from our town. The speech was unremarkable in that it went along without a hitch (in contrast, the former Mayor involuntarily performed a small stand-up comedy on stage last year).
We enjoyed it all - the lights, the food (and drink), the choir and having a quick look at some of the stalls. I only bought two packs of Christmas cards and will certainly return for a more thorough browse.
It took me ten minutes of Googling to find out what Holzofen-Dinnede was! I found this on a blog called "Nuts and Squirrels":-
ReplyDeleteThis is something from my home region. Italy has pizza, the Alsace has Flammkuchen, and Swabia has Dinnede, a savoury bake with a yeast dough covered in sour cream and any other savoury ingredients you like.
"Holzofen" means that that the "Dinnede" was baked in a wood stove.
P.S. It sounds yummy!
I did describe it in a previous post about the Christmas Market, but I am glad you found this fitting description on another blog.
DeleteIt smells and tastes even yummier than it sounds! I am holding a Dinnede in one of the pictures here; mine was with bacon and spuds (my favourite topping).
And you can see the wood stove in one of the pictures, too. One of its metal doors is open so that you can even see the fire inside.
DeleteI see that you explained what Holzofen-Dinnede is in a comment written on December 5th 2016. Anyway, I wish I was eating one right now!
DeleteMy next one is planned for Friday, when I'll meet with former class mates. Maybe I'll have one on you!
DeleteA proper German market. The one in Leeds we saw on Saturday is truly awful.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I have never been to a Christmas Market in the UK. I keep telling myself I'd like to experience a Yorkshire Christmas one year.
DeleteOne of my hopes is to visit a real German Christmas Market - and when I get there I will definitely try that yummy looking Dinnede. . . . . if there's a vegetarian version!
ReplyDeleteYou look really neat in that beautiful blue coat, and I bet the furry collar was perfect for the evening chill!
I've done nothing much yet for Christmas - have to get through Thanksgiving tomorrow, and then a weekend at the coast follows - perhaps I'll begin to feel more into the holiday season. Right now I'm off to
cook/bake for tomorrow's big meal!!!
Yes, there are several vegatarian toppings; my sister would not eat Dinnede otherwise: Spuds and cream, onions and cream, green beans and cream, and combinations of the three.
DeleteThe coat is my favourite piece of winter wardrobe, but not warm enough for really cold days, as it is not padded. Yesterday, it was relatively mild - I was not even wearing gloves!
As I have told you, it is the Christmas Market that I want to see the most! It looks so festive and jolly. That Christmas tree you are beside, are those real candles? And I must tell you, I love your pale blue coat with the white furry collar, so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay!
DeleteNo real candles on the decorations of the Christmas Market - they would not last long in the wind, plus it would be too dangerous with the crowds of people brushing past all the time.
You have reminded me that at some time years ago I went to a Christmas Market on the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin. I have never seen anything like it in the UK.
ReplyDeleteSomehow Berlin does not come to mind when I think of Christmas Markets, but I guess that is just my personal prejudice against this huge (and somewhat shabby in many areas) city.
DeleteA couple of years ago I visited the Munich Christmas Market. It was beautiful at night with all the stalls and lights and with the singers up on the Town Hall balcony. We were lucky that it was not raining too!
ReplyDeleteMunich can be very picturesque, too, I imagine. If you ever happen to be in the Stuttgart area, let me know - I'll happily be your guide for Ludwigsburg! (I mean it.)
DeleteThat's very kind of you Meike. I may well take you up on that offer!
DeleteThis looks like so much fun! And the Holzofen Dinnede sound delicious....Bacon and spuds certainly sounds like a good choice of topping. Advent begins on Sunday...This year is rushing by at the end.
ReplyDeleteI won't be home for the first two Advent weekends, but I will arrive home late on Sunday nights and make sure to still light the candle(s) for a little while before going to bed.
DeleteFirst of all, Meike….you look great! You're glowing. Your Christmas market looks like so much fun. Gregg and I talk about traveling to Northern Europe one holiday season, so who knows...maybe one year we can visit and go with you. Wouldn't that be fun?!
ReplyDeleteI know that tomorrow is only Thanksgiving in the USA, but I wanted to tell you how thankful I am for your friendship.
Jennifer, that would be so much fun, and I would love to be your guide for Ludwigsburg! There is a good and inexpensive hotel near me where my relatives were staying when they came over from England for my birthday last year.
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words. I, too, am thankful for our friendship.