Nurnberg Ostermarkt

Germany just loves to celebrate holidays, well anything really, but the most recent cause for a market and celebration is Easter.  Therefore, like any logical person would do, I headed to Nurnberg, or Nuremberg, to check out the Ostermarkt (Easter Market) with some Army wife friends, Laura and Heather.

The Ostermarkt was not as big as the Christmas Market, but it was in the same downtown square.  I just love the Nuremberg Market Square.

Left: Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church)
Middle: Ostermarkt with all the white tents and people
Right: Schoner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain)

Laura, Justin's commander's wife, told me an interesting story about the Beautiful Fountain.  Apparently, the Beautiful Fountain was going to be a steeple for the top of a cathedral just down the street.  However, during World War II with all the bombing happening around and in Nuremberg the builders decided not to lift the steeple on top of the church, but instead to keep it in the square as a "fountain".  So they covered it with a concrete barrier to protect it.  After the war an iron gate was built around it and a ring was placed on one of the iron bars, now known as the Nuremberg Ring.  Legend has it if you spin the ring it will bring fertility or luck, whichever you need at the time :)

While at the market we were fortunate enough to see and here Our Lady's Church cuckoo clock chime, dance, and move about at noon.

The red dudes in the middle dance around the big red king looking guy while some of the blue dudes play their instruments.  It's really beautiful.

The Ostermarkt had a smaller selection of stalls than the Christmas Market, but it was still fun to look around.  I came home with a German "as seen on T.V." special peeler.  It truly does wonders with an onion.  10 euros special too!  I was looking for a special Easter something, but there was not really much Easter hoopla.  I love my peeler though. 

The food was amazing, as usual.  We had langos (yummmy!) and baumstriezel, which is basically rolled up cinnamon and sugar bread.  I believe at the London Christmas Market they were called Chimney Stacks.

Deliciousness

So there you have it, the fun of a German Easter Market.  Hang out with friends, learn some history, eat AMAZING food, and buy fun kitchen accessories.

Laura and me

Me and Heather

Happy Easter everyone!  

Though the celebrating, holiday markets, and activities are fun, I hope we all remember the real reason we celebrate Easter.  Our Lord, Savior, and Friend laid down His precious life for us, the ones who persecuted, mocked, and crucified Him.  Jesus did not have to do this, He chose to.  This is the best gift of all.  No market could every give me, or anyone, a greater gift of love than my Lord suffering on a cross to wash away all of my sins.  The best part of all?  Death could not keep Him down.  Three days later He rose again!  I hope we all take some time to reflect on the fact that someone, the King of Kings, literally experienced death and hell for all of us so that we could have access to God.  Jesus is our High Priest, and through Him we can have eternal life and experience eternal love.  He wants to draw you to Him, so embrace the never-ending love of the Heavenly Father.  Let's take up our crosses and choose to follow the risen Lord.  He is risen!  Alleluia!