by Leon, age 7, asks the Christkind do you have a long white beard like Santa? (No, right?), about the Pegnitz River, and Nuremberg’s old Christmas market
Dear Christkind,
My name is Leon and I am 7 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 have a long white beard like Santa? (No, right?)
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 a small mug of gluhwein for the grown-up elves, and milk for the reindeer.
Love, Leon, age 7, Nuremberg, Germany, Nuremberg, Germany
From the Desk of Christkind
Dear Leon, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you have a long white beard like Santa? (No, right?)
No beard at all, correct. I am usually pictured as youthful, golden-haired, and quite unlike the bearded figure you may be picturing.
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, Leon.
Ho ho ho, Christkind
