Jesserndorf Christmas Market

It is that time of year again, when almost every German city and village plays host to some type of  Christmas Market. Some of the Markets last now through Christmas, while others pop up just for a weekend. Our friends invited us to go with them to a little Christmas Market in a village called Jesserndorf. She said that for her, "Christmas doesn't begin, until we have visited this market each year." We live in a city that is over 1000 years old, but even with that history, the quaint feel of a village Christmas Market is second to none. It is so festive and cozy and filled with all things natural (handmade decorations from wood and pine, hand knit items from lambs wool, homemade waffles, kinder punch and gluhwein). Camden, Mia, and their friend played hide and seek outside in the dark, while we chatted by the fire.  Such a fun evening!

*As as a funny side note (not so funny at the time). Bryan literally saved my life ;-). They have what they call Swedish cut logs. They are tall logs that stand individually up on the end and are cut in a certain way so that the fire burns from the inside out - absolutely gorgeous to look at. Right before  we were about to leave, we were all standing around the fire log, when it completely tipped over in my direction and Bryan pushed me away - quite scary. I thought about liability once again - and how it would be my fault for having stood to close :-) - and rightfully so!

Here is the log that burns from the inside out - really neat. Throughout the evening people stood around these to keep warm.

Christmas music playing...

Mia decorating a candle with flat wax that you cut with cookie cutters to place on the candle

I loved this old barn - look at the Chandelier!

So cozy!!!

Enjoying kinder punch and gluhwein

so "Christmasy"

Gorgeous Nativity Scene

All the kids were running around  playing

I love the half timbered houses in Germany.

This is why people can hang outside in the winter here- there are always these contraptions to keep you warm...

Magical!

And just as the evening was ending... The log that fell on me :-)