CHRISTMAS IN MARTIN LUTHER COUNTRY
Holiday Spirit in Thuringia
As the 500th anniversary of the beginnings of Protestant Reformation draws nigh, Christians around the world are taking a new look at the events and shifts in belief which forever changed the world in 1517. A renewed interest is growing in the monk turned revolutionary, Martin Luther. The regions of Thuringia and its neighbor Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany where he lived and preached a half-millennium ago now refers to itself as Luther Country and Christmas is the time of year when the era of the Protestant reformer comes most to life with half-timbered gingerbread houses sprinkled with fresh snow; children singing carols in the narrow streets of cobblestone, stained glass windows aglow in ancient churches, and the aroma of roasting sausages hanging in the air:
This beautiful region or forests and farmland encompasses a wide range of fascinating churches and museums that are perfect for anyone interested in culture or history. In the towns most connected to the famous cleric, some so much they get call themselves “Luthercity”, Lutherstadt Eisleben, Eisenach, Erfurt, and Lutherstadt Wittenberg, the the medieval houses and the old churches where he worshipped and preached would still be familiar and the traditional food of the region would still taste as it did. The Thuringian bratwurst is one of Germany’s favorite sausages, served hot with mustard on a crusty roll, Luther would also have eaten Baumkuchen, a delicious light cake. Several of the Christmas Carols sung on the street are ones he wrote.
In the weeks before Christmas, running from late November up until Christmas Eve, the time of the Christmas Market (weinachtsmarkt) are one on the most special times to visit this wonderful part of Germany, when holiday spirit can join the search for the roots of religion. The authentic and atmospheric markets delight with wooden stalls decorated with aromatic pine boughs and lights, hand-carved toys, hand-blown glass tree ornaments, and traditional sweet cakes and chocolates.
Among the most beautiful and popular Christmas markets is in Erfurt (November 26 to December 22), where the 163 year old traditional Christmas Market covers the grand Cathedral Square (Domplatz) with 200 booths and a fun fair Erfurter-Weihnachtsmarkt. In Lutherstadt Wittenberg (November 28 to December 22), the statue of Martin Luther watches over the Christmas market and the famous castle church where he nailed his 95 Theses to the church doors (see Luther’s Wittenberg) Lutherstadt-Feste.
At Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Luther battled the devil and begun his translation of the Bible into German (see Wartburg Castle), the castle’s medieval Christmas Market (November 30-December 1; December 7-8 and 14-15) features knights and craftsmen, minstrels and candle makers, street performers and lantern makers, as well as holiday music performances at the castle. © Bargain
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See Also:
THE LUTHER ROUTE - WALKING & CYCLING
ST PETER AND ALEXANDER TREASURY
DRESDEN'S "OUR LADY" FRAUENKIRCHE
MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS MARKETS
IN GERMANY
AUERBACHS KELLER - GOETHE & LUTHER IN LEIPZIG
