In addition to traditional German food, such as Bratwurst and Knackwurst, which I showed you last week, there was also a bake sale organized by a group of local women. I had a delicious slice of cheesecake!
Pirna's Herbstmarkt also had many activities for kids and families. There were amusement park rides, stalls with arcade games, face-painting, pony rides and an alpaca petting zoo.
The Herbstmarkt tradition began as a celebration of the fall Ernte (ehrn-teh), which means harvest. Farmers and other local artisans traditionally gathered during this time of year to sell crops harvested in late summer and early fall, and local citizens would use this opportunity to stock up on fresh foods and other goods before winter. Today, local farmers still come and sell their fall harvest at Herbstmärkte, the plural form of Herbstmarkt, pronounced hair-bst maerk-te. Modern Herbstmärkte often also include ferris wheels and other amusement park rides and games.
Yes! The Herbstmarkt is connected with the environment because it celebrates the seasonal transition from summer to fall. The Herbstmarkt is also an important place for local farmers to sell their seasonal harvest, and for artisans to sell other seasonal goods, such as scarves and hats, that are necessary for protection against cold weather in the fall and winter. What is sold at the Herbstmarkt depends on what the farmers were able to grow during the late summer months.
