As darkness fell, Brita invited us to follow her to the Christmas market in Kitzingen. In addition to the usual delicacies with mulled wine, bratwurst and freshly baked goods, the special motto of the event, which only takes place on the third Advent: Kitzingen shines!

Everyone probably knows the importance of the Advent candle as an important part of Christmas customs.

Now illuminated in the darkness with strong yellow light

Here in Kitzingen there is supposedly the largest Christmas candle in Bavaria, although it is not really a candle. Even before Advent, an additional structure was built on the roof of the market tower in the city centre, which looks like a flame in shape. Now illuminated in the darkness with strong yellow light, you can clearly see the shape of the flame from a distance. Since the market tower below is also brightly lit, here appropriately with red light, the impression of a huge candle actually arises.

When we arrived in the city centre, there was a lot of hustle and bustle in the richly decorated stalls, which were able to fulfil many wishes, from chocolate to jam. There was a broom maker as well as a supplier of stone figures from Spain, and the smell of mulled wine and Feuerzangenbowle was everywhere in the air. So, it's no wonder that many people were drawn to the city centre: an atmospheric, glowing Christmas village.

Daily changing soups and pasta dishes

Crêpes, venison sausages, daily changing soups and pasta dishes, as well as white and red mulled wine and Feuerzangenbowle in the cup.

If you're hungry, there will be roasted almonds and other surprises, according to the organizers. Another attraction for the children this year is the “living nativity scene”. A stage was set up on the market square, where a colorful and varied cultural supporting program rounded off the weekend.

Mulled beer in a mug

As a special, previously unknown specialty, Brita invited people to one of the stands for a cup of mulled beer. The warm cherry beer, which originally comes from Flemings in Belgium and is sweetened a little with honey, is considered a real alternative to mulled wine. Over the years, people have constantly worked on improving the mulled beer recipe. Nowadays, mulled beer is probably a household name at many Christmas markets and some breweries, both domestic and foreign, already offer ready-made mulled beer. However, almost all of them are brewed on the basis of Belgian Kriek. Mulled beer is not always the same as mulled beer.

Here is a recipe for your own production:

1 litre of dark beer
0.5 sticks cinnamon
2 cloves
1 star anise
Grated orange peel
2 tsp brown sugar
100 ml cherry juice

Slowly heat the beer with cinnamon, cloves and star anise in a saucepan - do not boil! When the foam has settled, grate some orange peel (untreated) into it and add the sugar. Let it steep for a quarter of an hour. Just before the end, season with cherry juice.

Please read as well:

Ljubljana - first impressions and historical background

Visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam