By Balmina Sehra
USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs
STUTTGART – The Stuttgart Christmas Market made its comeback, Nov. 23, as locals filled their mugs with Glühwein and shuffled into the Alte Schloss (Old castle) for the opening ceremony.
The crowd squeezed into the courtyard and the Old Castle’s overflowing balconies as the ceremony began with the Hymnus Chorknaben (Hymnus choirboys) singing Christmas songs.
Frank Nopper, lord mayor of Stuttgart read a story about the Christmas Truce, which took place on December 24 -25 in 1914. Based on true events that took place during World War I. the two sides laid down their weapons on Christmas day and spent the short peace together in No-man’s-land.
Nopper added that Christmas was a holy season and that people at war should follow the example of the Soldiers in 1914. The crowd cheered in approval.
The ceremony ended with the choir urging people to sing, Oh du Fröhliche (Oh, how Joyful) Stille Nacht (Silent Night) with them. Some people in the crowd sang loudly with the choir, whilst others sung quietly or mumbled out the words. “I really missed this,” a lady in the crowd said to her husband. “People awkwardly singing Christmas songs together.”
The Stuttgart Christmas Market will be open until Dec. 23.
