Fall is here in Germany! I love watching the leaves change colors on my daily walks to school, and I'm also enjoying the cooler weather after an incredibly warm summer here. In Germany, there are also special traditions associated with seasonal changes. One way that Germans celebrate the changing of the seasons is through outdoor markets where local vendors sell seasonal items and food.
This week, I learned about the Herbstmarkt (hair-bst mark-t), which means fall market. The Herbstmarkt is a tradition in many German towns, including Pirna, the town where I work. This weekend, I decided to visit Pirna's Herbstmarkt and I had a wonderful time sampling food and browsing the unique vendor stalls. The Herbstmarkt usually takes place in the town square because it is a central location where vendors have plenty of room to set up their goods, and it is also a convenient location for the local citizens to get to.
As I was walking through the market, I saw a wide variety of goods for sale. Some vendors were local farmers selling seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as Kürbis (kur-bis), which means pumpkin and Zwiebeln (zveeh-beln), which are onions. Others sold handmade goods, such as knit gloves, felt accessories and baskets.
