Strolling between decorated huts, sipping thickly wrapped up mulled wine or admiring nativity scenes – for many, the hustle and bustle of Christmas markets is part of Advent. In some cases it has to be dispensed with this year. Because in many places the motto is: one-way streets instead of turmoil, food to go instead of social gatherings and a mask in addition to a scarf and hat. For some markets that is too much – for them Corona 2020 means the end.
The world-famous Nuremberg Christmas market was canceled on Monday, while several other cities in Bavaria are still preparing for the Christmas market season. In addition to Munich, the Christkindlesmarkt is to take place in Bayreuth. Everywhere, however, the following applies: booth magic with cutbacks. In Munich, where the market is to start on November 23, there is a mask requirement at the stands. So that strollers don’t get too close, the stalls are spread out at intervals of five to ten meters. Alcohol can only be consumed with registration and only in catering areas. Many smaller markets such as in Fürth or Coburg, however, are canceled.
Many Christmas markets in North Rhine-Westphalia are also falling victim to the pandemic. Cologne in particular is hit hard, where the popular markets at the cathedral and in the old town have been canceled. There will be no Christmas market in downtown Düsseldorf either, nor in Aachen and Duisburg.
The people in Essen, on the other hand, can still look forward to their traditional Christmas market in the city center – the start should be on November 13th. Instead of leisurely strolling around with a cup in hand, one is planning with “mulled wine gardens”, reported the Essen Marketing Society. In this way, the market should be safe and nevertheless contemplative. A special detailed regulation: mouth and nose protection must be worn at the stands.
Those responsible for the market in Leipzig do not have to worry about a mask requirement at stalls. Because gastronomic offers such as mulled wine and bratwurst stands are prohibited here. Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) spoke of a difficult decision. But you want to protect the health of the citizens. “And we want them to be able to visit their families for Christmas.”
In addition to Leipzig, the famous Striezelmarkt is to take place in Saxony’s capital Dresden. An expansion of the area and the equalization of trade and gastronomy should make it possible. 40 of the 230 dealers are to move from the Altmarkt to the Elbe, including a step pyramid and historic Ferris wheel.
Preparations are already under way in Magdeburg, the capital of the neighboring state of Saxony-Anhalt. As in many other cities, the area has also been significantly expanded so that the Christmas market now extends through more parts of the city center.
In Erfurt, however, the largest Christmas market in Thuringia does not take place, as does the popular Christmas magic at Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The health and economic risks have become incalculable in view of the increasing number of new infections. “That is no longer justifiable,” said the organizer Helmut Russ, who made the decision “with a heavy heart”.
The Christmas market at Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz, on the other hand, is to take place despite the exceptional situation. Significantly fewer sales stands, more distance between the stalls and plastic sheeting as protection are planned, among other things, said spokeswoman Angelika Grüttner.
Corona is also throwing the Christmas markets through the bill in southwest Germany. The markets in Heilbronn, Freiburg and Karlsruhe have already been canceled, in Stuttgart and Mannheim they are on the brink. Nevertheless, a cozy atmosphere in the city centers should be ensured. “Instead, more festive lighting should put people in the Christmas mood,” said a spokeswoman for the city of Heilbronn.
There have also been cancellations in Hesse – including for the Christmas market in Frankfurt. Wiesbaden, on the other hand, is planning with the Budenzauber, spread over a larger area. The same applies to the Rhineland-Palatinate state capital Mainz.
While many cities have already decided for or against a Christmas market, the planning is not yet complete in many places – for example in Bremen. The Senate will probably make the decision this week, as a spokesman for the economic department announced. In Lower Saxony, too, many Christmas markets are on the brink.
It is also clear that increasing numbers of infections are more likely to lead to further cancellations. This should hit artisans especially hard. For them, the Christmas markets should actually be the lifeline in this already difficult year. (dpa)
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