With only three weeks until Christmas, everyone appears to be getting into the festive mood. Smells of mulled wine, roasting chestnuts and German sausages fill the air, meaning only one thing, the Christmas Market has returned.
Set in and around the castle, the Lincoln Christmas Market has been going for 27 years. Beginning with a mere 11 stalls, it now hosts over 300.
As you walk onto the plateau, between the castle and the cathedral, you can see many stalls with the sign “Feucht Frohliche Neustadter (FFN)” on them, selling German wines, sausages and other groceries. The stalls represent the city’s link with Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Lincoln’s twin-town.
Alan Frecklangton, a worker on one of the FFN stalls, said that their wine stall had been going since 1975, and they had been one of the original stalls on the first Christmas Market. “We donate money to charity through wine tastings and these stalls too, long may it continue,” he said.
There is a variety of stalls selling: farm produced cheeses and pickles; an assortment of wines, beers and sloe gin; ostrich burgers and eggs; arts and crafts; puddings and pastries; and the list goes on.
However, if it is not for the great selection of food, or for the search for presents, most visitors to the market will say they have come for the Christmas spirit. Jade Razaq and Sussane Thorburton, both second year Interior Design students said: “We came because it feels all Christmassy.”
While Denise Thomas, a Lincoln resident said: “It’s just the atmosphere, we come here every year just to take it in.” Craig Finch, a first year student, and lifelong Lincoln resident, said: “It’s the vibrant Christmassy atmosphere, it gets bigger and better every year.”
New University of Lincoln students were equally impressed: “I heard really good things about it, and so had to come see it for myself… it is better than I expected, it’s amazing,” said Emily Bond, a first year Advertising student.
Ann-Katrin Albert, a third year international student studying Tourism Management said “I didn’t expect so many people to come, it was really good.” However, she also said that she was not keen on the one-way system as it made the market feel restricted.
The Christmas Market is a highlight of the year for Lincoln and will be running until Sunday, December 6th.
Mike Worne went to the Lincoln Christmas Market to see the preparations before the opening on Thursday (via LSJ News)