德國的圣誕市場是慶祝一年中最快樂的季節(jié)的比較好方式

德國的圣誕市場是慶祝一年中最快樂的季節(jié)的最好方式

Christmas celebrations take place around the world, but in Germany, Christmas markets fill dozens of cities with joy, laughter and the holiday spirit.

世界各地都在慶祝圣誕節(jié)，但在德國，圣誕市場充滿了歡樂、歡笑和節(jié)日氣氛。

Themed booths line the busy streets, and city squares are filled with crafts and foods matching the festive season.

主題攤位排列在繁忙的街道上，城市廣場上擺滿了與節(jié)日相匹配的工藝品和食品。

Rows of stalls make up the Munich Christmas Market in the Marienplatz, or city center. The beautiful New Town Hall, or Neues Rathaus, looms above it. (Photo: MNN)

Large markets pop up at the end of November in cities including Munich, Berlin, Nuremberg, Dresden, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. However, almost every town has its own market.

11月底，慕尼黑、柏林、紐倫堡、德累斯頓、法蘭克福和斯圖加特等城市就會出現(xiàn)大型市場。然而，幾乎每個城鎮(zhèn)都有自己的市場。

They are known as Christkindlmarkts, a concept that originated in Germany before spreading to other countries. They typically appear during the four weeks of Advent.

它們被稱為圣誕市場，這個概念在傳播到其他國家之前起源于德國。他們通常出現(xiàn)在降臨節(jié)的四周里。

Now, cities like Dortmund and Cologne see nearly 4 million visitors during just a handful of weeks. Christkindlmarkts aren't just a staple of German communities; they're some of the largest tourist attractions in the world.

現(xiàn)在，像多特蒙德和科隆這樣的城市在短短幾周內(nèi)就接待了近400萬游客。圣誕集市不僅僅是德國社區(qū)的主要活動場所;它們是世界上最大的旅游景點之一。

View of the Marienplatz Christmas Market from St. Peter's Church. (Photo: MNN)

Food & drink

食物和飲料

It wouldn't be a Christmas festival in Germany without cases of decadent pastries, food stands offering delicious seasonal dishes and drink stalls with steaming mulled wine.

在德國，如果沒有頹廢的糕點、提供美味時令菜肴的小吃攤，以及配有熱氣騰騰的熱紅酒的飲料攤，就不會有圣誕節(jié)。

Bakeries are stacked with fresh bread and traditional cakes in the morning, and they also include seasonal selections of Stollen and Lángos.

早上，面包店里堆滿了新鮮的面包和傳統(tǒng)的蛋糕，也有斯托倫(Stollen)和蘭戈斯(Langos)的季節(jié)性選擇。

On the left you can see fresh Langos without toppings, and on the right is a stand full of stollen. (Photo: MNN)

You can't walk too far without finding fried confectionaries like Schmalzkuchen and Baumstriezel to warm you up.

你不可能走得太遠而找不到像Schmalzkuchen和Baumstriezel這樣的油炸糖果來使你暖和起來。

While Schmalzkuchen are like mini doughnut puffs covered in sugar, Baumstriezel (also called chimney cakes) are tall and hollowed out circular pieces of dough coated with cinnamon and sugar.

Schmalzkuchen就像裹著糖的小甜甜圈泡芙，而Baumstriezel(也被稱為煙囪蛋糕)是又高又空的圓形面團，外面裹著肉桂和糖。

These cooks are making Baumstriezel, otherwise known as chimney cake. (Photo: MNN)

Other Christmas market favorites include Dampfnudel and Marzipan. The first is a fluffy piece of bread or dumpling covered in warm vanilla sauce or jam. Marzipan are circular sweet balls made of ground eggs, almonds, sugar and honey.

其他圣誕市場上最受歡迎的食品包括豆奶布丁和杏仁蛋白軟糖。第一個是松軟的面包或餃子，上面覆蓋著溫暖的香草醬或果醬。杏仁蛋白軟糖是由碎雞蛋、杏仁、糖和蜂蜜制成的圓形甜球。

Of course Germany doesn't forget to cover a variety of items in chocolate. Schaumkuss are marshmallows dunked in different flavors of chocolate and toppings. There are also many stands with chocolate-covered fruit skewers called Fruchtspieße.

當然，德國人也不會忘記用巧克力覆蓋各種物品。棉花糖是浸在不同口味的巧克力和配料中的棉花糖。也有許多站在巧克力水果串稱為Fruchtspieße。

A stand with chocolate-covered fruit or Fruchtspieße, in Munich. (Photo: MNN)

There are plenty of places to balance out your sweet tooth with more savory and hearty fare.

有很多地方可以讓你用更美味更豐盛的食物來平衡你對甜食的喜好。

You can find a large variety of sausages or wursts to try, but the staples include Bratwurst, Weisswurst and Currywurst. A common lunchtime favorite is the meatloaf-like Leberkäse, which translates to "liver cheese," even though it doesn't contain liver or cheese.

你可以品嘗到各式各樣的香腸，但最常見的有臘腸、小香腸和咖喱香腸。午餐時最受歡迎的食物是肉糕狀的Leberkase，意為“肝奶酪”，盡管它不含肝臟或奶酪。

Bratwurst, Weisswurst and other types of sausage in Munich. (Photo: MNN)

Leberkäse is like meatloaf sandwich. (Photo: MNN)

Other popular dishes include Reibekuchen (potato pancakes), Flammkuchen (mini pizzas), Kaesespaetzle (similar to mac n' cheese) and Schupfnudeln (finger-like potato noodles covered in bacon and sauerkraut).

其他受歡迎的菜肴包括Reibekuchen(馬鈴薯煎餅)、kuchen(迷你披薩)、Kaesespaetzle(類似于通心粉奶酪)和Schupfnudeln(手指狀的馬鈴薯面條，上面覆蓋著培根和德國泡菜)。

Of course, you can't go wrong with a fresh large pretzel or the hot flavored almonds called Gebrannte Mandeln.

當然，新鮮的大椒鹽卷餅或味道濃烈的杏仁是絕對不會出錯的。

Kaesespaetzle, or German cheese spaetzle, at a food stand in Munich. (Photo: MNN)

Most booths offer you a festive cup to drink from that you can keep or return to get a deposit back. This way it can be a souvenir or a perfect prop for a social media post. The best part? Less waste and no plastic!

大多數(shù)攤位會提供一個節(jié)日用的杯子，你可以留著或拿回來拿回押金。通過這種方式，它可以成為一個紀念品，也可以成為社交媒體帖子的完美道具。最好的部分?更少的浪費和沒有塑料!

One of the many festive stands where you can get Gluhwein and beer. (Photo: MNN)

Entertainment & crafts

娛樂和工藝品

The city squares and surrounding streets are filled with the festive buzz and energy from the crowds of people making their way through.

城市廣場和周圍的街道充滿了節(jié)日的喧鬧聲和人群的活力。

There will often be special dances going on, with residents in full costume and people singing their favorite Christmas songs in all kinds of languages.

通常會有特別的舞會，居民們穿著盛裝，用各種語言唱著他們最喜歡的圣誕歌曲。

And if you're a Christmas tree lover, most markets come complete with some of the largest trees you'll ever see, decorated from top branch to stump with bows, lights and ornaments.

如果你是一個圣誕樹愛好者，大多數(shù)市場都有一些你見過的最大的樹，從頂部的樹枝到樹樁都用蝴蝶結(jié)、燈和裝飾物裝飾。

This is the towering Christmas tree in Munich's Marienplatz square. (Photo: MNN)

Mixed in with the food and beverage booths are homemade crafts created rom all different kinds of materials.

與食品和飲料攤位混合的是自制工藝品，由各種不同的材料制成。

There are stained glass creations, trains for collectors, every type of ornament possible, nativity scenes and almost anything you could dream of to decorate your home.

這里有彩繪玻璃作品、專為收藏家設計的火車、各種可能的裝飾物、耶穌誕生的場景，以及幾乎任何你能想到用來裝飾你的家的東西。

Handcrafted wood carvings, snow globes and molded candle holders are popular as well. There's also a large variety of jewelry made from all types of local materials and stones.

手工木雕、雪花玻璃和燭臺也很受歡迎。還有各種各樣由當?shù)馗鞣N材料和石頭制成的珠寶。

Handmade snow globes at the Marienplatz market. (Photo: MNN)

Candleholders with molds of various Christmas scenes. (Photo: MNN)

Variations on the market theme

市場主題的變化

While there are staples you'll find in just about any market, some take on special themes to make their festivities stand out.

雖然你可以在任何市場上找到你需要的東西，但是有些人會選擇一些特別的主題來突出他們的節(jié)日。

Tubingen celebrates the holiday season with a week-long chocolate festival. Munich opens up a special medieval market with different crafts and meats.

圖賓根以為期一周的巧克力節(jié)來慶祝節(jié)日。慕尼黑開辟了一個特殊的中世紀市場，出售不同的工藝品和肉類。

Other countries have deep histories with Christmas markets as well.

其他國家也有著悠久的圣誕市場歷史。

Cities like Salzburg and Vienna in Austria host huge Weihnachtsmarkts or December markets. (They also held some of the earliest holiday markets in recorded history.)

像奧地利的薩爾茨堡和維也納這樣的城市擁有巨大的12月市場。(他們還擁有一些有歷史記載的最早的假日市場。)

This is a large Christmas market in Vienna, Austria. (Photo: MNN)

In addition, cities in France, Spain, England and Switzerland are well known for their memorable Christmas markets across Europe.

此外，法國、西班牙、英國和瑞士的城市也以其令人難忘的圣誕集市聞名于歐洲各地。

You can’t go wrong with venturing to a Christmas market in general, but heading to Germany may truly be worth your time and money.

一般來說，去圣誕市場是不會出錯的，但去德國可能真的值得你花時間和金錢。

The United States inherited a lot of its Christmas tradition and spirit from Germany, and the kind people you'll meet along the way will make that Stollen or Glühwein taste that much better.

美國從德國那里繼承了很多圣誕節(jié)的傳統(tǒng)和精神，一路上你會遇到很多善良的人，他們會讓你的圣誕大餐更加美味。