Andlau is one of the villages just a stone’s throw from here. It is about 2 ks in that direction. Barr is about 3ks in another direction, Mittelbergheim, .5ks (yes!) in yet another direction, and Itterswiller 2.5 the other way. Easy distance to walk between them, and I have, but there is not really provision for walkers. The roads are edged with ditches before the vineyards start. So if traffic appears and one has to get off the road, one is in a ditch.
This weekend, Andlau had its Christmas Market. It is a bigger village than Eichhoffen, rating such facilites as a post office and a tabac (tobacconist/newsagent), though not quite of sufficient size to have any sort of bank or ATM. There were crowds, cars parked every which way, (orderly parking never a strength here), and rugged up people with rugged up babies traipsing into the village centre. There are very few tourists around now, so most would have been from all the neighbouring villages. They must each go to the others’ markets. I don’t know how the sales go, as this one and one other I went to here were offering much the same type of goods – hand embroidered table ware, pottery, soaps, ceramic Christmas-tree decorations etc. The food outlets were doing brisk trade, but that is always the case. I bought a couple of decorations for the Christmas table; but other things I would have liked to bring home were too large or heavy. There was a heavy emphasis on wreaths – for doors and tables – greenery embellished with red berries and nuts and spices and quartered oranges etc. The Advent Wreath is big here too – table wreath with four large candles, which are lit progressively as the four Sundays of Advent pass. Some were quite spectacular. And they were really selling.
I made my first acquaintance with St Nicholas. He was wandering about, dressed up like an Archbishop, handing out sweets to the children. One little girl solemnly refused a sweet, saying he had already given her one - obviously out to make the right impression for Christmas.
St Nicholas was accompanied by a small person in sackcloth and ashes who trailed behind and looked miserable (as you would of course). This was a mystery to me, but well solved by Wikipedia. He is the sinner, to show what happens if you are not good, I suppose. Must keep things in perspective.
Musical diversion was provided by four trumpeters – of the type usually seen out on the hunt. They set themselves up on opposite sides of the square, and played antiphonally, though, it has to be said, not very tunefully. Flamboyant costumes did compensate somewhat.
I love seeing how babies are rugged up here for the winter. There are all sorts of garment arrangements to keep them warm. Dogs also do well. They have graduated from baby breast slings in the summer to leather shoulder satchels lined with fur. Just a little head peeking out the top.
Oh, And HATS!!!
And just for interest – last night our very own City Homicide popped up on the TV, dubbed in French. Such comedy!
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