The magic of the Christmas markets returns with the Advent season. The scent of mulled wine, roasted almonds and gingerbread spreads everywhere. Festively decorated stalls and fairy lights create a magical atmosphere.
But there is even more Christmas magic to discover in Rheinhessen - musical or creative traditions, often revived every year by enthusiastic musicians and Christmas fans. This is handmade music, convivial get-togethers, the joy of the beautiful moment - it is precisely these events that make you forget the hustle and bustle of the pre-Christmas period for a moment.
Christmas music - to listen to and sing along to
One "Breathing space during Advent" promises the Protestant Church Alzey with ever-changing musical performances every Saturday in Advent. This should succeed in the beautiful ambience of the Nikolaikirche. On November 30, music for flute and piano by Mozart, Pergolesi and Donizetti can be heard. The Alzeyer Chamber Choir will be singing Advent and Christmas music on December 7. On December 14, you can enjoy the rarely heard combination of piano and organ. Brigitte Frey (vocals) and Hartmut Müller (organ) will conclude the concert on December 21.
Every year on the 3rd Advent, the Protestant trombone choir Flonheim to the traditional tower blowing . Following the ecumenical service, Christmas sounds will be heard from the church tower in Flonheim and food and drink will be provided for the audience on the market square in front of the church.
One of the festive highlights of the Worms Christmas time is that Tower blowing on the 4th Advent. The Worms baroque wind players play music at lofty heights on the Magnus Church and Worms Cathedral. Numerous people gather on the square between the churches, listen to the music and join in with the Christmas carols. If you want to sing along, you can download the lyrics in advance from the Worms Tourist Information website. Both churches are atmospherically illuminated and open to visitors on this evening. After the tower blowing, at around 7.30 pm, the "Cathedral shines in the glow of 1000 lights". This is also the motto of the concert with Advent organ music that will then be played.
Christmas decorations thought big
It is a landmark visible from afar anyway - the Bismarck tower near Ingelheim. But during Advent, it goes one better and transforms into an oversized Advent candle that traditionally shines over Ingelheim and far into the Rhine Valley - a shining landmark in the dark season. And a magical experience for people who don't know the tower and then see the red candle in the dark while driving between Bingen and Ingelheim! With a celebration on Sebastian-Münster-Platz, the "Ingelummer Kerz" ignited annually.
Equally impressive but definitely worth a closer look is the Pyramid at the Mainz Christmas market. In addition to the chubby-cheeked angels, there are also figures from Mainz's past and present to discover. The clever Det from the Mainzelmännchen is there, and we immediately have his "Gud'n Aamd" in our ears. The figure of the Mainz footballer touches all loyal fans of the 05 team, because it has an eventful history. It is actually a "substitute player": its predecessor was stolen from the pyramid in 2009 and only returned to the Mainz 05 office around a year later in a desolate state. The current wooden player, however, has been in the best of health for years now - lucky for him! Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of letterpress printing, should not be forgotten either. The guardsman of the Ranzengarde heralds the 5th season. There are even more of these figures - the pyramid is a hidden object on five floors 😉. Whether it's soccer, carnival or a TV favorite: the Christmas pyramid brings together everything that is close to the hearts of many Mainz residents - and certainly the rest of Rheinhessen too.
In many places in Rheinhessen, you only have to step out of the door in the evening during Advent and follow the lights. Festively decorated and illuminated Advent window conjure up a cozy atmosphere in the streets. In Saulheim For example, various clubs, businesses, daycare centers and private individuals design the windows every year. The first window is ceremoniously presented on December 1st - accompanied by chicken soup, mulled wine and children's punch. The windows are always opened at 6 pm and are then illuminated every day from 5 pm until the Advent window tour.
Even in the small wine-growing community of Vendersheim it has been a tradition since 1999 that 24 beautifully decorated Advent windows shine during Advent. The Vendersheim countrywomen, who start this campaign every year, also decorate a large Advent wreath, which can be seen at the old weigh house. On December 28 at 5:00 pm, the countrywomen invite you to the traditional tour from window to window. The start and end point is the festively decorated village square, where guests will once again be treated to delicious food and drink.
Not yet a tradition, but so special that it should become one: The Advent calendar of the Landesmuseum Mainz does not give us chocolate, but works of art. Every evening, as darkness falls, a new work of art from the museum's collection lights up in the windows of the Landesmuseum Mainz from December 1 to 24. Masterpieces from the beginnings of culture to modern art - a small gift every day.
