00:00 It is that time of the year and Team Meet the Germans has just landed in Nuremberg,
00:05 the city with one of Germany's most famous Christmas markets. And we are here also to
00:10 meet a living legend, the Christkind.
00:16 Here in Nuremberg, the Christmas market is known for the Rauschkultengel, Lebkuchen,
00:21 the city's special Nürnberger Rospbratwurst and of course Glühwein.
00:27 And it is very popular among tourists from all over the world.
00:30 I'm from Lebanon.
00:31 Romania.
00:32 India.
00:33 Japan.
00:34 St. Louis, Missouri.
00:35 From Turkey.
00:36 I'm from India.
00:37 From Amman.
00:38 USA, Utah.
00:39 Finland.
00:40 And what do you like the most about this Christmas market?
00:42 Glühwein is nice, the roast is nice.
00:45 Sausage.
00:46 The setup here is very nice.
00:48 The traditions, the colors.
00:50 The nuts that you have here.
00:52 I just love going in and out of all the different stalls and seeing people having a good time
00:56 together.
00:57 I like the Lebkuchen here.
00:59 It feels magical.
01:00 The smells, the sights, the people.
01:04 It's just wunderbar.
01:07 Among locals, the market has been popular for more than four centuries.
01:12 As early as 1616, the minister of this church had to cancel his afternoon sermon because
01:17 nobody showed up.
01:19 He complained that everybody was away at the market buying Christmas presents.
01:22 So, what sets this market apart from all the other Christmas markets in Germany?
01:31 The hint is in its name.
01:33 Also known as Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, this market derives its name from the symbolic
01:38 figure of the Christkind, a traditional gift bringer in southern Germany and other parts
01:42 of Europe.
01:43 The Christkind is said to have been created by the religious reformer Martin Luther in
01:47 the 16th century.
01:50 Many descriptions imagine the Christkind as a non-gendered infant.
01:53 But since the 1930s, the Christkind has been portrayed by young women here in Nuremberg.
01:58 Could I qualify?
02:00 Nope.
02:01 And here's why.
02:02 To compete for the Christkind's position, the applicant should either have been born
02:05 in Nuremberg or have lived here for a long time, must be at least 16 years old but no
02:10 older than 19, must be at least 160 centimetres tall and not afraid of heights, and the Christkind
02:17 must be willing to work irrespective of the weather.
02:20 That I could definitely do.
02:23 The selection of the Christkind is also quite tricky.
02:26 Nurembergers first vote for their favourite contestants and then the jury chooses the
02:30 winner.
02:31 The selected Christkind then serves for two years.
02:34 For 2023 and 2024, the Christkind is 17-year-old Nelly Lunkenheimer, whose hobbies include
02:41 playing tennis and the piano.
02:43 Why did you apply for the role of the Christkind?
02:46 I think the role of Christkind is a really nice honorary position.
02:50 You get to meet so many people, you give people a lot.
02:53 You greet the people, you greet the children and their eyes light up.
02:57 And I simply realised that I wanted to play this part.
03:00 It suits me and I really enjoy it.
03:02 What are your tasks?
03:05 I go to lots of daycare centres, nursing homes and lots of homes for the disabled.
03:11 I visit many other Christmas markets and then I accept wish lists from the children.
03:16 I recite my world-famous speech, listen to Christmas carols and bring the magic of Christmas
03:21 to all.
03:22 How do you feel with a costume on?
03:25 When I put on the costume, I immediately feel Christmassy.
03:27 I just have to smile.
03:29 I'm happy to greet people straight away.
03:31 I think my posture is also a bit more upright, maybe because of the crown.
03:36 So I'm immediately in the Christmas spirit.
03:40 Visiting a Christmas market is a traditional activity for many Germans in December.
03:44 But there are more.
03:45 Ice bathing is cool and walks in the forest in winter, everything having to do with cold
03:50 weather.
03:51 I like the Advent calendar and the time with my family.
03:55 Mulled wine and lots of it.
03:59 And decorating is important.
04:00 The Christmas tree for sure.
04:03 I think it's nice to have the Advent wreath at home.
04:07 Coming together with family from all over the world, eating together, celebrating Advent,
04:12 but also going to church and praying together.
04:16 Having more time at home and making presents there.
04:19 Happy holidays!
04:20 [Music]
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