Stille Nacht

Woodcarved Nativity : Freiburger Christkindlmarkt : Freiburg, DE

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Christmas Market Fun

On a whirling swingy thing : Freiburg Christkindlmarkt : Freiburg, DE

There's something at the Christmas market for children of all ages. For the little kids, there are carnival rides and for the big kids, there's Glühwein (FR: vin chaud; EN: mulled hot wine) and hot Christmas punch. Having never ridden on those whirling swingy things (that's the official technical term, by the way. Whirling swingy things), we decided to give it a, erm, whirl.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee! : Freiburger Christkindlmarket : Freiburg, DE

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Freiburger Christkindlmarkt

Puppets and small toys : Freiburger Christkindlmarkt : Freiburg, DE

Mind-bending puzzles : Freiburger Christkindlmarkt : Freiburg, DE

I skipped from the Freiburger Münster right over the Freiburger Christkindlmarkt and went straight to a glacier. Well, I'm bringing it back to Freiburg for the next day or so. Here are a couple of shots from the Christmas market in Freiburg. After the disappointment that was Colmar, Freiburg was great! We spent five hours--count 'em: FIVE HOURS--visiting the booths and a couple of shops in this quaint little town at the edge of the Black Forest.

Woodcarvings made of olive wood from Israel : Freiburger Christkindlmarkt : Freiburg, DE

 View of the market from inside the Freiburg Rathaus :
Freiburger Christkindlmarkt : Freiburg, DE

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

100 Strangers: Lena Welsch

Lena Welsch : Freiburger Christkindlmarkt : Freiburg, DE

It's been a while since I posted a 100 Strangers photo. This is Ms. Lena Welsch of Freiburg, Germany. She was staffing one of the many booths at the Christmas market. Her market stall features items made out of felt and range from trivets to hats, purses to dresses, and slippers to mushroom lapel pins. Like many of the vendors in Freiburg, Lena speaks excellent English. We enjoyed bantering back and forth in both English and German and really had fun talking to her. In the end, we bought a trivet from her--those flat, multi-balled items in front of her. If you have a chance to go to the Freiburger Christkindlmarkt, be sure to stop by her booth.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Basel Christmas

Shopping for wood-carved ornaments : Basel Christmas Market : Basel, CH

Glass ornaments : Basel Christmas Market : Basel, CH

I love how the towns around here decorate for the holidays. I especially love all of the outdoor Christmas markets with their unique gifts, hot Christmas punch, and festive moods. Here are a few pictures from around the Gross Stadt in Basel, Switzerland. Last weekend, we covered three Christmas markets: Basel, CH; Colmar, FR; and Freiburg, DE. I'll feature photos from each over the next day or so. And for the record, the Christmas markets in the German-speaking countries are the best. Colmar was suppose to be one of the must-see markets of Europe and it was a dud.

Even the local cigar shop is festive : Basel, CH

Basel Rathaus and Tree : Basel, CH

P.S. The snow is real. We had a nice dusting that lent a chill and even more festive air to the whole scene. It was lovely! To see a few more photos from around Basel, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10