by Finn, age 8, asks the Christkind do you come down the chimney, or just appear through the door?, about the Pegnitz River, and Nuremberg’s old Christmas market
Dear Christkind,
My name is Finn and I am 8 years old. I live in Nuremberg, Germany, where we have the oldest Christmas market in the whole country, and my mama buys me a gingerbread heart with my name written on it in icing every single year.
First, do you come down the chimney, or just appear through the door?
Second, a geography question: what river flows near Nuremberg?
Third, a school question about my country: why is Nuremberg so famous for its old Christmas market tradition?
I left you stollen and a small cup of hot cocoa.
Love, Finn, age 8, Nuremberg, Germany, Nuremberg, Germany
From the Desk of Christkind
Dear Finn, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you come down the chimney, or just appear through the door?
Neither, really. I simply appear, quietly and briefly, more like a gentle presence than someone using a doorway or chimney at all.
What river flows near Nuremberg?
The River Pegnitz runs right through the heart of Nuremberg, cutting the old town neatly in two, with the market square glowing gold along its banks every December.
Why is Nuremberg so famous for its old Christmas market tradition?
Nuremberg’s Christmas market dates back to at least the 1600s, making it one of the oldest in the world, and over the centuries it grew into a beloved tradition of wooden stalls, roasted chestnuts, and handmade ornaments that families return to year after year, generation after generation.
Frohe Weihnachten, Finn.
Ho ho ho, Christkind
