You can find their stores in almost every major German city.
My first stop at the market was to try the “3 im Weggla,” a regional specialty of 3 Nürnberger Rostbratwurst in a Brötchen (small bread) with mustard. There are many rumors about why the Nürnberger Bratwurst are so small. One legend states that they were made small so prisoners in the city’s dungeon could be fed through drilled holes in the wall. My favorite explanation is that they were made small so that innkeepers could continue to sell them through the keyholes of their inns even after closing time. Regardless of the story, though, it was delicious!
Around the market, you’ll see many lights and pictures of the market’s famous Christkind, an angel with blonde curly hair and robed in white and gold. Every two years, the city of Nürnberg hosts a competition to elect a new Nürnberger Christkind for a two-year term. It is a highly competitive process with certain eligibility requirements. For example, the Christkind must have either been born in Nürnberg or have lived there for a long time. They must also be under 1.60 meters and be at least sixteen years old but no older than nineteen. A jury chooses twelve candidates from the application pool. Nürnberg residents will then have the opportunity to vote for their favorite candidates. The six most popular applicants will then be interviewed by the jury who will select the final winner. Every year on the Friday before the first Advent, the Christkind stands on the balcony of the Frauenkirche and reads a prologue to open the market.
