Weihnachtsmärkte 2024: Week 2

Another cold, wet week. In December, if you can imagine such a thing…

Freisinger Domberg Advent (church, Fri-Sun all Advent weekends)

When Bavaria’s ridiculous ban on outdoor activities was finally lifted in 2022, the Domberg was under heavy construction/restoration ahead of the celebration of the 1300th anniversary of St Korbinian coming to Freising to found a bishopric. So, this is the first time we’ve been up to the cathedral for Advent in at least five years, probably longer. The stands were all new, and there was a stage for live music. There wasn’t anyone scheduled when we were there, but the big band jazz the night before got nice reviews in the socials.

We went up for lunch, and started with a beer. Lunch was bratwurst created by our neighborhood butcher just for this market, not pictured because I needed two hands to eat it.

There were two exhibitions of Weihnachtskrippen, nativity scenes. Inside the cathedral was a collection assembled by one Pfarrer Huber, who was at St. Lantpert for many years. These came from Africa, Asia, and South America, and were made of relatively inexpensive materials, obviously with love and reverence. The second exhibition, in a 14th-century chapel mostly used for contemporary art, was an art-student competition from 2017. It was exactly how you imagine, with the exception of a metal smartphone cover featuring an image of the Holy Family in a late-Gothic style.

The extra friend in our pictures is Unae-san, an eel from Japan who came to live with us to experience Bavarian culture. We love her.

Weihnachts- und Wintermarkt am Münchener Flughafen (state, on-going)

It wasn’t *exactly* the same as 2022, but most of the stands, bars, and food offerings were the same. The Eisstockschießen was new–it’s a Bavarian game where you hurl rocks down the ice, similar to curling but without brooms. We enjoyed watching people play it while we enjoyed our Glühwein.

For food, I enjoyed a Langos, which is a Hungarian fried bread served with garlic and sour cream–and far, far away from the animatronic moose who plays Wham!. I’m still in the game.