Freiburg

As a foreign journalist in an unfamiliar chilly city of Freiburg, nobody needs to tell me Christmas is fast approaching.

You can feel it in the air, you can even smell it in the cozy shops and indeed you can touch it at the Christmas Market.

Yes! A market mainly for shoppers for the yuletide where Christmas merchandise and gifts of all sorts can be found. It is located in the heart of the city where ancient architectural designs blend magnificently with modern aesthetic structures. The market is adorned with Christmas trees and colourful contrasting lightening systems that has not only made it exciting but also offers an ambience of real festive season that is capable of putting every one including the unyielding in the mood.

The shop owners often welcome shoppers to their wares with broad smiles and alluring gestures. Tempting aromas of grilled sausages from food vendors in the market hang over the air while jewellery, Santa Claus garb and variety of wares including sweets for kids are on display in the sheds and shops.

There are also fanciful play grounds for children to hang around while their parents do the shopping. It usually begins in the last week of November and run through the Christmas Eve or some few days after the yuletide. The market is opened daily from about 10am to around 9pm. It signals the beginning of Advent, a Latin word, meaning the arrival; that begins from the First to the 24 December every year.

The fact that Christmas means a lot to the people of Freiburg cannot be ignored neither is the indication that money is not in short supply can be overlooked as expectant shoppers flock from all directions towards the glittering market and depart with bags full of various stuff.

Coming from a Muslim background (Tamale) in my home country Ghana, I am awed by what I see because I have never witness Christians observe the coming of Christmas with such warm anticipation, preparation and glamour.

The history of Christmas market in Germany, I am told, dates back to centuries when regular seasonal markets took place throughout the year. Christmas Markets were a welcome occurrence during the winter. They were happy occasions for weary villagers and added some shine to long cold nights.

And the first Christmas markets were little more than winter markets that lasted few days with traders in some cities displaying their goods out in the streets.

Over the years, each Christmas market has maintained its peculiarities with each specialising on local delicacies and traditional products. Formally only local tradesmen were allowed to sell their wares at the city’s market that has led to the distinctive regional character of today’s markets. Indeed Christmas is an occasion many people around the world look forward to celebrate at this time of year. The occasion provides a platform for both the old and young from all facets of life to wine and dine, reflect and strengthen their spiritual wellbeing and also enjoy spots of fun.

After working all year round, the season offers the opportunity for all to dispense goodwill offers and massages to friends, relations and all. And these traits are surely not in short supply in Freiburg.

And as I moved around, jostling my way through the thickening crowd of shoppers at the weekend with speakers blurring out Christmas carols with some musicians stroking the strings of their guitars to melodious tunes, it dawned on me that Christmas was around the corner and I was going to be part of the yuletide as I have already received some invitations to parties.