Gluhwein time


Springing up in city centres all over the country right now are so-called ‘German Markets’ – a new trend that sees people huddling in the rain around small wooden huts selling overpriced sausages and gluhwein.


It’s actually an innovation I quite approve of. When I lived in Germany in the days before they exported their markets, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this nice ‘old-fashioned’ and sociable way of celebrating Christmas, meeting up with friends at a stall after work for a quick drink, and often wondered why the British hadn’t followed a similar path. Of course, Christmas markets become rather more alluring when they are standing in a pretty bohemian square and dusted with twinkling snow, rather than plonked in the middle of a concrete shopping centre and assaulted by rain and tumbling plastic carrier bags.


I hope that this sudden influx of a tiny bit of ‘german culture’ may go a little way towards helping the british get over their neglectful shunning of Germany as a cultural and holiday destination, because I don’t think most british people have any idea what a lovely country it is, and how remarkably similar we are in character (loathe as we are to admit it). For years Germans have been visiting Britain in a spirit of friendliness, and perhaps its time for our middle classes to overturn their irrational predjudices, leave their french holiday home enclaves, (which are, after all, full of annoying french people) and look to buying property in the Bavarian Lakes.





4 comments:

Gareth Williams said...

Germany used to be the favourite destination of the Chianti-swilling types. But the little matter of a couple of world wars damaged the brand as a leisure destination.

I too love a wurst and a gluhwein. But Germany's biggest problem for the modern lotus-eater is surely a lack of warm, wurst-free beaches.

worm said...

haha yes the beaches are certainly full of often ill-advised sausage display, but I think its another commonly held percerption that germany is somehow colder or at least identical in climate to the UK, when in fact during the summer it is always a good few degrees warmer - In bavaria where I lived, there are (artificial) beaches around the many beautiful lakes and also next to the rivers. Also the northern area of coast in the baltic has its own microclimate and is often beautifully warm throughout the entire summer

Gareth Williams said...

What were you doing in Bavaria? Working? BTW if you're ever in London and have time for a drink give us a shout?

worm said...

me and 2 friends set up and ran a nightclub/dj promotion and guerilla marketing business in Munich, as when I was in london, I shared a flat with some dj's from there. I was there for over 2 years partying hard and fraternising with the frauleins - unfortunately I had to stop all that and 'get a real life' for some reason or another that escapes me now!

I am london every six weeks or so, always in the shoreditch area which is near you so I will let you know next time Im down!