Roasted chestnuts, steamed hot wine and wood chalet music covered in synthetic snow: the Landshut Christmas market in southern Germany has all the same accompaniments as ever.
But this year, visitors enjoy the attractions and smells of the classic Christmas market from inside their car due to precautions to prevent the spread of the Covid-19.
Every night, after dark, several dozen cars enter the Christmas market’s drive-in, its occupants and socially distant inland.
In the Christmas market of Landshut, in southern Germany, the most important thing is there, but you have to pick them up in a car Photo: AFP / Christof STACHE
Once they walk through the doors, they have to wait for a worker dressed in a Christmas mask and hat to knock on their window and offer them a menu of savory delicacies of their choice, such as pancakes, sausages and roasted chestnuts.
After orders, you can move on to the next cabin candy, such as cotton candy or gingerbread hearts.
“We are encouraged by fast food chains,” smiles Patrick Schmidt, 31, a market organizer and owner of the Zollhaus Landshut restaurant.
A Christmas market in one of Berlin’s main squares is among those advancing with adjustments in general practices to comply with covid-19 Photo precautions: AFP / Tobias Schwarz
“We try to recreate the Christmas atmosphere a little bit, although this year is more confusing. “
The market is a path to your company through “a complicated period,” he said.
A worker wears a protective mask at a stall at the Landshut Christmas market drive-in cinema Photo: AFP / Christof STACHE
As Germany fights a momentary wave of coronavirus infections, recreational and sports facilities were ordered to close, while restaurants and bars can offer takeaways.
Restrictions also come with limits to social gatherings and have been a blow to germany’s approximately 3,000 annual Christmas markets.
Markets have been an annual collection in Germany since the 15th century, when artisans and bakers received a special permit to sell their products in the city squares as Christmas approached.
The landshut marked has been open since mid-November Photo: AFP / Christof STACHE
But many German cities have cancelled their Christmas markets altogether this year, despite massive currency losses: markets attract around 160 million visitors a year and generate revenues of 3 to 5 billion euros ($3. 6 billion and $5. 9 billion), according to the BSM provision of the job trader industry.
To keep the spirit and economy of Christmas alive, cities across the country have developed artistic initiatives.
In Berlin’s Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district, small groups of cottages were spread over several streets, and food and drinks may not be served on site.
The world-renowned Nuremberg Christmas market cancelled this year, but was controlled to organize an online edition of its classic opening ceremony.
And in northwestern Germany, the city of Kalkar also offers a Christmas market through the car.
Landshut’s market has been open since mid-November and is testing with locals, according to Schmidt. “Last Saturday we had 500 cars,” he said.
And not only are they there for the hot wine, served in thermo vials to keep it warm, many come with the total circle of relatives in tow.
“I’m here for the restaurants because I miss them,” Markus Renneke, 55, said when visiting the market with his wife. “And I think it’s a wonderful idea. “
Sandra, accompanied by her teenage daughter Laura, is here for this special “environment” of the Christmas market.
“You have to put some time aside and there are no stalls that promote anything but food, but that’s fine,” he says as a waitress arrives with two grilled sausages.
His “starving” daughter still can’t begin to get into her hot dog before the last stop: the cash register.
Once installed, visitors can return home enjoying the brilliance of the hot wine, with the exception of designated drivers, of course.