So, this is Christmas!
By Sunitha Srinivasan
It’s Christmastide…and what have you done? Well, if you live in Bangalore there’s a good chance that you attended the NürnbergMesse Christkindles Markt – a German Christmas market on the weekend of the 30th of November in the gorgeous Jayamahal palace ground. This was probably the first of its kind that Bangalore had ever seen, and what an outstanding success it was!
True to the traditions of German Christmas markets, this one began at the start of Advent— the preparation period for the birth of Christ. It is typically around a month or, more precisely, four Sundays before Christmas. In Germany, the days of Advent are marked off on special Advent calendars. Basically, as in the case of all major festivals, the anticipation heightens as the great day draws closer and events like Christmas markets add greatly to the festive cheer.
Christmas markets – essentially open-air street markets, held during Advent, originated in the German-speaking part of Europe during the Late Middle Ages. The first Christkindl Markt in Germany was in Bautzen in Saxony in 1384. The forerunner to the Christmas markets was a Krippenmarkt (a market specializing in cribs—intricate displays and figurines depicting the Nativity scene, illustrating Christ’s birth) held in Vienna in 1298. The early Christkindl markets sold only meat. However, by and by, they began selling most things that a Christmas shopper desired – seasonal delicacies, crib ornaments, decorations and gifts…. Continuing this cherished tradition, the Bangalore market boasted around ninety vibrant stalls, each offering a delightful array of treasures perfect for indulging oneself or surprising a loved one with a thoughtful present. There were toys, clothes, candles, home décor, and ……..and……and! Of course, there were also the food stalls selling traditional German Christmas treats – sausages, gingerbread, mulled wine, pretzels…. now why on earth would you wish to travel to Europe over Christmas? If one were to labour a point…. okay the snow was missing, but Bangalore’s rain Gods more than made up for that by pelting buckets that weekend. Fortunately, that did nothing to prevent the enthusiastic crowd of close to seven thousand from enjoying themselves to the hilt!
The verdant green lawns in the Jayamahal palace ground had been laid out with tables, perfectly resembling a German beer garden, where people could enjoy the food and drink that they bought from the various stalls. A beautiful old tree that has graced these grounds for decades seemed happy to be the centre of attention. It had been festooned with beautiful domed lamps that swayed gracefully in the wind. At night its charm was accentuated by the green lights placed on it and of course, the ubiquitous fairy lights strung all over made the whole area an enchanting wonderland! Perhaps the highlight of the decorations was the Christmas tree a glorious creation of hand-crocheted squares – around three hundred of them laboriously fashioned and then joined to create a tree almost twenty feet high.
Interestingly, in Germany, Santa Claus – that beloved round figure all dressed in red that is such an integral part of the Christmas season in most parts of the world, has been rather relegated to the background. Of course, he is honoured on December the 6th – the date of his death, but he does not bring the Christmas gifts to German children on his Reindeer sleigh. That is the prerogative of the Christkind……but that’s getting ahead of our story. Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas of Myra was a Christian bishop of Greek descent from Anatolia in modern-day Turkey during the Roman Empire. He had acquired a reputation as a miracle worker, and a generous benefactor to the poor, which earned him the title of Santa Claus a word that evolved from the original Saint Nick over the centuries.
During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries, Martin Luther promulgated the idea of the Christkind – the child Christ to be the giver of gifts. The date of presenting Christmas gifts was also shifted from the 6th of December to the 24th – a date more in keeping with the birth of baby Jesus. Interestingly, in the Nürnberg Christmas market, the Christkind is traditionally an angelic-looking young girl. In keeping with this practice, Bangalore had her own Christkind. A lovely young lady all dressed in white with the mandatory golden crown. Despite the inclement weather, she walked around every part of the market, handing out gifts to the kids, taking selfies with people, and generously spreading good cheer.
What would Christmas be without its carols? Traditionally German Christmas markets feature a delightful mix of live and recorded music, seamlessly blending German classics with English favourites. The Bangalore Christmas market had the Yuletide Singers, who gamely sang all the well-loved Christmas carols despite the rain being a damper. In true Bangalore spirit, the crowd joined in, and the joyful music reverberated across the ground heralding the Christmas season in the best possible way!
Photo credit: NürnbergMesse India
