The Scents of Christmas

I've always felt it was amazing that just a scent can invoke so many memories from decades ago, even if I hadn't been thinking about that particular point in time. 

Fresh cut grass brings instantly to mind, sitting on the monkey bars with my best friend when we were about 12, eating watermelon. 

Freshly mowed hay will bring back memories of the hours spent in the barn with any of my horses, now long past over the Rainbow Bridge. 

The smell of rising yeast bread from my grandmother's kitchen, or the scent of fresh baked cookies, awaiting eager hands to grab them up to devour them. 

Holidays often have special scents, reserved for just that time of year, and Christmas time is one of the most robust flavors that envelope us and surround us, recalling old memories to the fore front and making new ones every year. 

In December of 2023, I traveled to Germany and visited many of the Christmas markets there and experienced Sensory overload! And I loved every minute. 

In Germany, Christmas takes on a whole new dimension. At the markets you will find stalls of handmade crafts, fresh baked goods, glühwein and sausages!

Glühwein is a warm mulled wine and each market or maker sport various recipes, and all are delicious!  Red wines, White wines, brand or other liquors added, all evoke a warm spicy fragrance sure to warm you in and out. 

Another great thing about indulging in glühwein at the markets, you can choose to keep the mug. These mugs are changed every year and each market has it's own.

If you are not into mulled spiced wine, you can also have hot chocolate and many also serve kinderpunch-a non-alcohol hot drink-And yes I indulged in all! 

Last year I brough home ALL of these! Not all were glühwein, some were hot chocolate and some were kinderpunch. 

I was almost at the end of my tour when I discovered that all I had to do was ask and I could just buy the mug of my choice! 

As I said, there are any number of 'family' recipes to make your own glühwein or kinderpunch so I won't post any here. My suggestion, pick out two or three to try and go for it!

 Of course, another German favorite in our house is stollen. This sweet bread is very heavy and full of various dried fruits but not a fruit cake. 

Dresden is well known for it's stollen and I bought several kinds at the markets there. I also bought stollen at Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Nuremburg! I think I must have brought back 10 pounds of this tasty Christmas treat! 

My grandmother was German and I use her recipe when I make this traditional bread. I admit, the cranberry orange from Dresden was absolutely lovely! 

Christmas cookies? Candy? YES all can be found at the Christmas Markets. At one market there was a baker that had squares of the best brownies right next to the fudge. You can bet I indulged. 

Germany of course is well known for it's various sausages. I had lunch at this corner booth behind the Pied Piper. The smell of the cooking sausages wafting out and around the markets rival that of the glühwein and hot chocolate. The sizzling sausages are so wonderful. I can't tell a knockwurst from a wurst so I just point to the one I want on the girl!  Go to the market on an empty stomach and be ready to eat and drink your way as you shop. 

At the markets in Berlin, they have something that translates into three fingers- this is a sandwich made up of three small sausages, much like the breakfast links we have in the U.S. VERY Tasty. 

Christmas is always a magical time. Being in Germany amplified that special season. The European Christmas markets are an unforgettable adventure. Book now for the 2025 season. You can also book the 2026 season. Consider joining me in England for an English market experience, a Dickens of a time!