There are hundreds of Christmas Markets in Germany during the Christmas season. A of the unique one that I visited was in Munich, and it was a Medieval themed Christmas Market. Found in Wittelsbacherplatz, a short walk from Odeonsplatz it is called the “Adventsspektakel und Mittelaltermarkt” (Advent Celebration and Medieval Christmas Market).
Since Christmas Markets in Munich date back to the Middle Ages, it is easy to get in the mood here, with the stalls decorated like a mini-renaissance festival. You’ll see people in period dress and they play their roles well. You may also be treated to dancers or musicians for entertainment.
The stalls sell everything you need to join in, from dresses to swords, to leather goods. But you’ll also find modern souvenirs like ornaments. Or you can enjoy the unique food offering, from mulled mead to roasted pig on a spit! Sadly I went on the last night for this market so things were winding down and they were running out of the more delicious foods. Learn more about the market.
While I love Renaissance Festivals back home, I had one mission while at this market – To get “The Cup of Christ!” I had found a blog that described the clay mugs used by this market to be similar in shape of the “Holy Grail” in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. And so I waited in line for over an hour to purchase the two mugs. Both were 10 Euro each, I can only imagine what the deposit and full cost of a drink would be!
The Holy Grail of Christmas Market Mugs
The first mug is a Feuerzangebowle where a mulled wine similar to Glühwein is placed inside. Then a sugar cube, with rum pored over it is set on the indentation, and set alight. The bluish flame was amazing to see in the dark!
Mugs being set alight. I sadly couldn’t get a good photo of the glow in the dark. It was an incredible sight to see!
The second mug was for mulled hot Mead.
The Mead Mug
Both have the symbol of the market stamped on them, it says “Mittelaltermarkt”(Medieval Market) at the top of the seal and “Münchner” (Munich) at the bottom. In the center is a castle with a Griffin on top of the gatehouse.
I wish I had time to have sampled the drinks, but my family were getting cold and wanted to head home. But these two are my favorite mugs I collected while visiting German Christmas Markets.
Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.
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