Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

Today started with a 3 hour drive to Ansbach,Germany. We checked into our new hotel and did some grocery shopping, bundled up and headed to the Nuremberg Christmas Market. This Market was started around 1628 or at least that’s the first documented market. There are 180 stalls in the main market. Nuremberg to me was a little overwhelming. Each stall was packed to the brim with stuff. It was so cluttered and so much stuff it was hard to see it all. I must admit this Market was NOT my favorite. I enjoyed seeing some of the local homemade ornaments and of course am bringing some home. But overall this Market was just too Touristy for my taste. 

Nuremberg has a couple traditions during the Christmas Season. 

The Zwetschgenmännle, or Prune Men, The Prune Men were supposedly invented in Nuremberg in the 18th century by a wire drawer. Wanting the perfect gift for his children, he only had wire and the plums that grew on the tree in front of his house. Cleverly, he created Prune Men for them, though they ate the prunes from the figurines. These figurines were amazing. They had they for every kind of sport, gardening, sewing, knitting. It was amazing. The heads were walnuts,arms were plums and the center were figs. 

At the end of each isle in the main square you can smell the Nuremberg sausage cooking. These famous pork sausages, spiced with marjoram, were written down back in 1497 they really are delicious. You get 3 im Weggla” (3 sausages in a roll). David and I both got one and devoured it before we took a picture. 

The Lebkuchen (gingerbread) was invented in Franconia in the 13th century and Nuremberg became the most famous exporter of what is now known today as Nürnberger Lebkuchen. 
Durning my research I was told the best homemade Lebkuchen was Lebkuchen-Schmidt. So we found their store and purchased some original and some chocolate ones. 

Right next to the Main Christmas Market, was the best market in Nuremberg in my opinion called the Sister Markets. It was an entire market from Sister cities all over the world selling their traditional gifts from Scottish kilts to Czech wooden angels, Italian cheeses and sausages, Tasty French marmalade, Palestinian olive oil , and even America we were laughing they had pop tarts, Twinkie’s, and Hershey candy bars. 

We ended the night at Kinderweihnacht 
Where we got to see Santa and enjoy the beautiful old merry go round. Although this was not my favorite Christmas market we still had an amazing time with our friends the Ambrus’s. 

We came back to the hotel and made a pasta bar, and a big green salad then stayed up until almost midnight playing scum.