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Berlin: A Quiet Evening at the Wonderful Christmas Market at Red City Hall

The Christmas market at Red City Hall includes everything a Christmas market should have, and more than that. It even has an ice rink and good music.

Berlin, November 23rd, 2022 (The Berlin Spectator) — Many Berliners do not seem to be aware of the fact that Christmas is coming closer rapidly. Why else would one of the nicest Christmas markets on this planet be this empty? Well, o.k., it was a Tuesday evening. People were working and studying. Besides, the first Advent has not even passed. This Christmas market, the one at Red City Hall, will definitely fill up.

‘Super Reaper’

This is what Jonathan O’Reilly believes. At his little stall, the Irishman offered his Crazy Bastard Sauce, a series of incredibly spicy sauces he produces at his little factory in Berlin’s Kreuzberg borough. His sauces, including the most spicy ‘Super Reaper’, can wake up the dead. And they definitely are a great Christmas gift. O’Reilly, the only Irish hot sauce producer in Berlin, ran the stall himself because he trained sales employees at the Christmas market yesterday evening.

The giant wheel is 164 feet high. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

But he was not the only expatriate on the premises. A Peruvian gentleman sold scarfs and similar products close to the northern entrance. A few steps away from him, an Iranian lady and an Iraqi colleague made Middle Eastern flatbread with seasalt, garlic and other ingredients. So, is this a very international Christmas market? Absolutely. This is one of the good aspects about this particular one.

Ice Rink

The three Mexican tourists our reporter ran into, and the other visitors, seemed to be enjoying themselves at this spot. Several Berlin landmarks can be seen from here, namely Red City Hall, which is right next door, the TV Tower, the upper part of which disappeared in the fog on Tuesday, and the Neptune Fountain. This market was set up around it.

Pros and amateurs invaded the ice rink. Photo: Imanuel Marcus

Apart from the giant wheel which measures 50 meters (164 feet) and gives people the opportunity to see the whole thing from above, swing carousels and an ice rink make this a special place. Here, excellent ice skaters and individuals who fell every ten seconds were very active, to truly nice music. There are no stupid “ooomph ooomph ooomph” sounds at the Christmas market at Red City Hall. Instead, they play a good mixture of nice Christmas melodies, jazzy, soulful and classical music sounds.

Delicious Ingredients

Oh! We almost forgot the treats. Yes, they offer all the hot wine punch (‘Glühwein’) anyone could want, all kinds of liquor and more harmless beverages. The food might not be quite as good as it is at the Christmas market at the State Opera, but nobody will starve here either. Steak sandwiches and sausages, anyone? Bon Appétit.

Those sweets look even better. Mexican churros, the obligatory candied apples, or those with a chocolate coating and roasted almonds are available all over the place. So is this specialty from Rothenburg ob der Tauber known as ‘Ballen’. They are tennis ball-sized spheres with all kinds of delicious ingredients, including pistachios or ‘champagne-truffle filling’.

Juicy and Authentic

The best sweet treat of them all? Go to the stall at which this guy sells Christstollen, a traditional German Christmas cake. He offers the real thing, namely ‘Dresdner Stollen’. Forget all of those variations available at supermarkets. This is the most juicy and authentic version. And do visit the Christmas market at Red City Hall. There are no complaints here.

Related features:

Berlin: The Fourth Christmas Market

Berlin: The Last Visit to the Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace

Christmas in Germany: Advent Wreaths, Gingerbread and Fire Extinguishers

Berlin: Christmas Market at State Opera Offers High Quality Food and Nice Atmosphere

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