Adventmarkt in der Kartause Gaming

Yesterday the annual Adventmarkt began in the Kartause. It will run until 9 December. The courtyard of the Kartause is filled with booths selling candles, cheese, smoked meats, hot sandwiches, and hot drinks. The rooms inside the Kartause are filled with Christmas articles. This evening Krampus will be out. He is the counter-part of Santa Clause, and while Santa gives presents to the good children, he beats the bad children. In Advent he (there will actually be many people dressed up as him) runs around chasing children to scare them into being good. I will not put a picture of them on the blog, as they are very ugly. If you must see a picture, type Krampus into Google images and you will get a good idea of what he looks like. Needless to say, we will not be taking Maria to the Kartause tonight, they have no mercy, even on the very little children.

The Adventmarkt is known for having the best Christmas trees around. We got there early to have our pick, as they go very quickly. It's kinda small, but it was easy to get home, and is the perfect size to put on a "bench" right in front of the windowsill. Tomorrow we will begin to decorate it, and we will slowly put more decorations on it in anticipation of Christmas.

While most of the festivities are taking place in the Kartause, we are lucky enough to have a Glühwein booth right outside in the courtyard in front of our flat. In the evenings people gather in the courtyard, and last night a brass quartet was playing Christmas songs throughout the evening.

Glühwein is mulled wine, and in the winter you can get it just about anywhere. Here is the recipe I use to make it:

1 bottle cheap wine (red or white)
1 stick cinnamon
6 whole cloves
2 lemon slices
2-4 Tbs. sugar (adjust to taste, more with dry wine, less with sweet wine)
Cardamon pod (optional)

Combine all ingredients in saucepan and heat over low heat for 1/2 - 1 hour. Do not boil. Taste and add more sugar if it needs it. Strain and serve. You may add a shot of brandy, rum or schnapps if desired.