Birmingham Christmas Market
The largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria, Birmingham Christmas Market offers a large range of traditional good and gifts and a selection of tempting food and drink. Pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts, and roasted almonds will tempt your tastebuds, all of which can be washed down with gluhwein, weissbeer (wheat beer), or tasty hot chocolate.
Consisting of Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market and the Craft Market, market grew from just 24 stalls to 180 over years . It now covers New Street, Victoria Square and Centenary Square.
The Frankfurt Market offers a wide range of products, including Christmas decorations, handcrafted jewellery, carved wooden toys, sausages, beer and pretzels, while Christmas Craft Market will offer handmade crafts, soaps and candles by local artisans, as well as a wide range of unique and quirky items imported from around the world. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the popular ice rink and big wheel.
At the heart of the Victoria Square, will be a traditional bandstand where musicians will perform every lunchtime and evening. Groups of local carol singers and school children will also be staging special performances throughout the festive period.
Traditional Christmas Stollen
Stollen is a German Christmas cake which dates back to the Middle Ages. The cake’s distinctive shape, which it retains to this day, originates from “the Infant Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes”, who was venerated in Mediaeval Christianity. It is made from flour, butter, raisins, almonds, marzipan, candied peel, water, yeast, salt, spices and rum.
The Glühwein Stall
The Glühwein stall is very traditional at German Christmas markets. It evolved from the idea that wine-drinking should be a pleasurable experience in the winter months as well. Glühwein is prepared from red wine and various spices and sugar. It is heated gently, then cloves and cinnamon are added to give its distinctive flavor. The secret lies in the recipe and especially the proportions of the ingredients.