Reading N°02

I) Read the text carefully and answer the questions. Use a dictionary to find the meaning of new
words.
German Christmas Markets – Customs and Traditions
The history of Christmas street markets in Germany dates back to the Middle Ages, and historic crafts
have always been an important feature. Many of the things we traditionally associate with celebrating
Christmas originated in Germany - for instance, glass Christmas decorations were invented in South East
Germany, and tinsel is also a German invention. It is traditional for German Christmas markets to set up
their stalls at the start of Advent, the four week period leading up to Christmas Eve, and then to trade
continuously from that point onwards until the twenty fourth of December.

Christmas markets in Germany are as varied as Germany itself, and there are many regional differences
between them. One of the oldest German Christmas markets is the Striezelmarkt at Dresden, which dates
back to 1434. The name of the market is derived from a very famous type of Christmas cake called Stollen,
which is sold at the market. Regional arts and crafts such as wooden candle arches (schwibbogen) featur-
ing intricate carved scenes are very popular in Dresden and other markets close to the Ore mountains, as
are revolving pyramids and nutcrackers. Dresden's Striezelmarkt has more than two hundred and fifty
stalls and it attracts up to two million visitors every year.

The Christmas markets close to the North Sea have a special Hanseatic flavour. At the Christmas street
market in the historic city of Bremen, stalls are adorned with twinkling fairy lights and charming traditional
decorations. Set against the backdrop of the historic Bremen town hall and Roland statue, tourists stock
to the market during December to shop for gifts and tuck into traditional fare such as gluhwein, (hot,
spiced wine, served in a mug) bratwurst (German sausage), baked apples, cinnamon biscuits and fried fish
specialities. Visit the schlachte-zauber (stalls near the river bank) to discover the Germany of Mediaeval
times. With over a hundred and seventy stalls, there are plenty of things to do and see.

Nuremberg Christmas market is probably the most famous Christmas market in Germany, as well as being
one of Germany's biggest Christmas markets. Nuremberg's Christmas market dates back to at least 1697,
and attracts more than two million visitors annually. Around twenty five thousand people flock to the
opening ceremony to await the arrival of the Christmas angel, who recites a traditional welcome speech
to launch the proceedings. The market features around 200 stalls selling a wide range of traditional foods
and local crafts. Local specialities include Lebkuchen (spicy cookies, similar to gingerbread), hand-made
angels crafted from gold foil, and Nuremberg plum people, tiny decorative figures crafted from dried
plums, figs and walnuts.

(1) How long has the Nuremberg market been opened by a Christmas angel?

(a) since the nineteen thirties

(b) since the sixteen nineties
(c) The video doesn't say

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(2) Which of these things are always a feature of the Nuremburg Christmas market, according to the
video?

(a) hand-made angels crafted from gold foil

(b) hand-made figures of Father Christmas
(c) hand-made Christmas crackers patient

(3) A new Christmas Angel is appointed every year. False or true?

(a) False
(b) True
(c) It doesn’t say

(4) Advent coincides with …?

(a) The Christmas shopping season

(b) the month of December
(c) the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve

(5) Where were glass Christmas decoration originally invented?

(a) South East Germany

(b) South West Germany
(c) North East Germany

(6) What is Bratwurst?

(a) a type of sausage

(b) a type of dance
(c) a type of bread

(7) Who recites the prologue at the opening of Nurnberg Christmas Market?

(a) The Christmas Angel

(b) Father Christmas
(c) The Christmas Fairy

(8) Where does Stollen Cake come from?

(a) Dresden
(b) Nurnberg
(c) Lübeck

(9) Where do the Christmas markets have a Hanseatic feeling?

(a) near the North Sea and the Baltic

(b) in the mountains

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 (c) in Southern Germany

(10) What is Glüwein and how is it served?

(a) a drink which is served hot, in a mug

(b) type of soup which is served cold, in a mug
(c) a drink which is served chilled, in a glass

(11) Which of these things are always a feature of the Nuremburg Christmas market, according to the
video?

(a) hand-made angels crafted from gold foil

(b) hand-made figures of Father Christmas
(c) hand-made christmas crackers

(12) What are Christmas candle arches (schwibbogen) traditionally made from?

(a) pottery
(b) cake
(c) wood

II) Write the Spanish meaning of the following words

(13) backdrop .
(14) fare .
(15) figs .
(16) flock .
(17) plum .
(18) stalls .
(19) tinsel .
(20) tuck .

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