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Frohe Weihnachten! Part One
Part 5: Christkind - Christ Child
 

It is Christ child, or Christkind, who opens the annual Christmas markets in Nuremberg with "its", or rather "her" prologue.

The people of Nuremberg vote for the Christchild every two years. Girls from Nuremberg who are between 16 and 19 years and are not smaller than 1m 60cm and who have absolutely no fear of heights can apply. The young ladies do not necessarily have to have been born in Nuremberg, but should have been living here for a long time. The applications are published in the daily Nuremberg papers and readers choose their favorites. The final choice is made by a jury, which comprises the heads of the press, tourist and market offices, the director of drama, the previous Christchild and media representatives. The candidates then have to read the Christ child's prologue and recite a poem of their own choice to the jury. They also have to answer questions on Nuremberg, so not only knowledge is judged.

Here is an extract from the Christkind's prologue:

..."In every year, four weeks before the time
When Christmas trees we decorate, and everyone awaits the feast,
Here on this square, just as of yore, this market does appear,
Which up and down the country they call Christmas Markt.
This little town is built from wood and canvas
Its splendor's short, will soon be gone,
But yet it is eternal. My market is forever young,
As long as Nuremberg does exist, as long as you remember it"...

Previous page > Christkindlesmarkt - Christmas Markets > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

More of this Feature
Part 1: Xmas in Germany
Part 2: Christmas Tree
Part 3: Advent
Part 4: Christmas Markets
Part 5: Christ Child

Related Resources
Christmas Dishes
Christmas Stories
Sylvester, or New Year's Eve

   
 
 

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