By Sara Orlos Fernandes and Konstantin Marrach
The mulled wine is steaming, the rides are rolling, and the smell of roasted almonds is in the air. Some Christmas markets are already open. O you premature, o you dear…
With highs of up to 13 degrees, it’s not easy to think about the glitter festival at the moment.
The mulled wine still sells well at the stands. Others, on the other hand, prefer a cold beer because of the mild weather.
Both will be served with a bitter aftertaste this year, because inflation and the energy crisis have not gone unnoticed by the markets either.
“Electricity prices have tripled,” says showman Thilo-Harry Wollenschlaeger to the BZ. “Of course, the purchase prices are also significantly higher.”
What do we visitors expect more on average? “Prices will increase by around 50 cents,” says Martin Rausch, who runs several stands at Christmas markets. At Potsdamer Platz, mulled wine costs 5 euros this year – and even 7 euros with a shot.
Visitors to the Christmas market at Potsdamer Platz also open their eyes wide when they want to buy roasted almonds. 100 grams cost a whopping 6 euros, with 200 grams there’s a euro discount. But it still costs: 11 euros!
11 euros for 200 grams. This is the bag of roasted almonds that you get at the end Photo: Miriam Krekel
Other operators try not to pass the cost increases on to customers. “We at the market at the Spandau town hall are trying to keep the prices at the level of the pre-Corona years. Because a folk festival must also be popular.”
With a view to the increased energy prices, Wollenschlaeger says: “We switched to energy-saving lamps long ago, and do without fairy lights here and there.”
The showman advises visitors to compare the prices in advance: “Markets on Potsdamer Platz and Breitscheidplatz usually charge more for mulled wine and bratwurst than markets on the outskirts, such as at Spandau Town Hall.”
Winter Magic on Frankfurter Allee opened on November 4th and runs until December 26th Photo: Olaf Selchow
In order to relieve people, the organizers of the “Winter Magic” on Frankfurter Allee distributed voucher books worth 100 euros to the residents.
For the first time, the market with rides will take place here. “It’s good for most people. We hope to be able to stay here permanently,” says the organizer.
