Oldenburg Weihnachtsmarkt

Authored By:

Katherine B.

Today, my friends and I decided to go to the Oldenburg Weihnachtsmarkt, or Christmas Market. We each sought out something to eat and spent the afternoon recovering from a grueling exam. 

Surrounded by wooden huts, Christmas lights, and a variety of coniferous plants, I felt like I had walked into a storybook. In the US, I was fascinated by Christmas Markets. Now that I'm here, I can assure you that they are worth the hype. 

From an anthropological perspective, I think Christmas makes a lot of sense. The serotonin that comes with Christmas songs and twinkling lights compensates for the grey weather we've been having. As my dad put it when I expressed these thoughts to him, "In the darkest time of the year, the lights bring cheer."

It's only November, but I'm already in love with Christmas in Germany. Oldenburg feels a little cozier, and I'm excited to experience more traditions.