Lights, Camera, Freimarkt!

Freimarkt was the perfect opportunity to take a break from school and learn about German traditions all at the same time. Let me tell you more about its history! 

What tradition did I learn about?:

I got to experience Freimarkt, an annual tradition in my host city that dates back to 1035 - almost a thousand years ago! For the last two weeks in October, an otherwise empty lot behind the Bremen train station is transformed into a colorful wonderland featuring music, rides, games, and delicious (but mostly unhealthy) snacks. Last year, the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so people were especially excited to see what lay in store this year. As a result, the fairgrounds were really crowded, and sometimes walking in a straight line was more like completing an obstacle course! But despite this, I had an amazing time. Here's a short list of fun facts about the fair: 

  • The fairgrounds cover 100,000 square meters and attract about 4 million visitors each year
  • The ferris wheel (Riesenrad) is one of a kind: in fact, it's the largest traveling ferris wheel in the world, standing tall at 60 meters (197 feet) and weighing in at 496 tons!
  • Schmalzkuchen is one example of a regional food that's sold at the fair. It consists of fried dough dusted in powdered sugar. I got mine with Nutella! It tastes similar to funnel cake, but it's in bite-sized pieces that are easier to eat.
Why does the community have this tradition?:

Freimarkt translates literally to "free market", and that's how it started - as a place where traders from near and far could sell their products without any restrictions.

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