Germany Cancels World Famous Christkindlesmarkt Amid Pandemic

The entire globe has felt the effects of this year’s pandemic. COVID – 19 which was classified as a pandemic on March 11 of this year is still going full speed ahead in many parts of the world. Countries such as France and Spain have topped over one million cases. The United States is nearing 2.5 million deaths, and Ireland has recently enforced another nationwide lockdown. The increased growth in cases all across Europe has forced Germany to cancel their world-famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.

Germany Cancels World Famous Christkindlesmarkt Amid Pandemic

Nuremberg Mayor Marcus König recently announced that the Christkindlesmarkt is cancelled for the whole of 2020. Local authorities had hoped to be able to move forward with the markets by enforcing strict distancing measures. But after further thought, they came to the conclusion that organizing large gatherings simply could not be justified.

Mayor König states “This decision is very difficult for us.” … “After much deliberation, and in order to protect the population, we have come to the conclusion that the Christmas market will not take place this year.”

The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is one of Germany’s oldest and most beloved Christmas fairs. The annual extravaganza dates back to the mid-16th century and has been a centrepiece of German holiday tradition ever since. For the past 500 years, families have flocked to the decked-out stalls for holiday goods, mulled wine and perfectly spiced gingerbread. It’s been such a special time of year in fact, that the only time it’s ever been cancelled was during World War II. At the height of the war, Germany put Christkindlesmarkt on hold until 1948. The first post-war shindig was one for the books, too. Nuremberg was largely destroyed in the war, and much of Germany was still grappling with the effects of the split between East and West. The revival of the Christkindlesmarkt gave way to a new chapter in Nuremberg and Germany as a whole.

It’s not the first German tradition to be put on pause this year

The cancellation of the Christkindlesmarkt is yet another nail in the coffin of null and voided events this year. In April authorities decided that the annual Oktoberfest celebration, which takes place in late September and early October, would be off. Another Deutschland tradition that hasn’t had a cancellation since WW2.

Germany is currently addressing the nearly 500,000 cases and 10,000 plus deaths with a second lockdown. The partial lockdown will go into effect on Monday, November 2. German Chancellor Angela Merkel states it will be a “less intense” version of the initial lockdown in Spring. Other European nations are following suit. Poland is entering into a “red zone” lockdown and France is heading in the same direction. Additionally, Belgium has become a hotbed for the virus. The country is currently facing the largest per capita death rate in Europe at nearly 11,000 fatalities.