Christmas market exhibitors in the corona pandemic: Last Christmas?

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Fences in front of the Christmas markets: "We cannot understand some measures"

Photo: Sebastian Willnow / picture alliance / dpa

Fenced-in Christmas markets, controls at the entrances, mask requirement: the atmosphere at traditional German markets shortly before Christmas is anything but reflective.

Mulled wine?

Only outdoors and fully vaccinated or recovered.

Some immediately refrain from letting the crowds push you to have mushrooms or chops.

“We cannot understand some measures. The Christmas market in Erfurt is closed even though it was planned according to the strictest hygiene measures, «says Albert Ritter, 68, President of the European Showmen Union and the German Showmen's Association, he is currently selling mulled wine himself at the Essen Christmas market. Ritter says that the showmen backed the promises made by politicians that they would no longer want to restrict trade: "Many have trusted to scrape together their last toads - now they are looking down the drain with inadequate bridging aids."

In many places, Christmas markets take place under strict regulations, in some cities in the south and east they have been banned completely. In Hamburg, many markets are breaking down prematurely because of the lack of business. For dealers and exhibitors, this means above all: slow sales or high losses. Or both.

Because just a few years ago at Christmas markets, at least for the food stall operators, everything that shone was gold: According to a survey carried out on behalf of the German Schaustellerbund in 2018, the around 3,000 German Christmas markets had a turnover of 2.88 billion euros.

The money, however, was unevenly distributed: owners of food stalls benefited in particular, while small art dealers earned rather modest earnings.

But part of the truth is also that dealers subsidize craftsmen with higher stall fees.

There is no gold rush mood this year.

SPIEGEL spoke to three showmen and a Christmas market operator about anxious visitors and a lack of income - and why they continue to believe in the Christmas market business model.

"How would you be if you haven't had a salary for two years?"

Lorenz Kalb, born in 1955, is the fifth generation of the showman. Kalb is the first chairman of the South German Association of Traveling Showmen and Traders. He would actually have just

sold Feuerzangenbowle

“How would you be if you haven't had a salary for two years? I was sitting at the lunch table, it was 1:15 p.m. when I heard Markus Söder say on the radio that the Nuremberg Christmas market was being canceled. I almost dropped the fork. I could not believe it. The stand was set up and decorated. An hour before the cancellation, we had an inspection with the market office, where the structure was found to be exemplary - the city leaders also stood absolutely behind us and planned a decentralized Christmas market for a year. What kind of work do you think it is to set up such a stand?

Not allowing this market to take place in the fresh air is unfair for me, it is purely symbolic politics. Especially when I see Cologne and Gladbach playing in front of 50,000 people in the Bundesliga at the same time. I ask myself: is that fair? I think that each country, each municipality can decide for itself. Each of us showmen is more than aware that we have a great responsibility for our guests and that we have to do a top job. Hard controls, we're used to them anyway. 2G, that would have been better than nothing. Bringing people from different walks of life together, that's what Christmas markets can do at this time.

In Berlin, for example, there are currently more than a dozen Christmas markets going on - and I indulge every fellow showman who can stand there. Even though I know that none of the markets are doing normally under the current conditions.

For us showmen, November and December are decisive, immediately afterwards the annual winter break begins with no income. Our regular season begins at Easter and lasts until the end of October, after which the Christmas markets come. A well-running Christmas market season protects me financially well into the summer. I can't complain about the 2020 help, I received 75 percent of my sales from December 2019 as compensation. I am currently receiving bridging aid based on my fixed costs. Added to this are 1,500 euros per month, which were approved as entrepreneurial wages per person in Bavaria. However, that is simply not enough compensation. My wife and I have five employees on short-time work, for whom we are also responsible.

If we do not get comprehensive financial support, analogous to 2020, this 1200 year old culture will be destroyed and the showman who drives his children's carousel into the country and brings joy will no longer exist.

But despite the anger, I know: I don't want to do another job now.

To be a showman is a calling. "

"I won't put my head in the sand"

Sonja Petersen, born in 1967, from Geesthacht has been a showman for twelve years.

She and her husband sell tarte flambée and onion cakes across Germany.

At the moment it is mostly on Christmas markets in Kiel and Hamburg.

“Usually the Christmas markets where I have my stalls are jam-packed.

Now I have sold four tarte flambée here at Kiel Town Hall in the last hour.

Two years ago there were 36,000 for the whole season.

I really notice 2G, it's hard to imagine.

The rents continue to run anyway and run into the tens of thousands.

I don't think it's a secret that I haven't even included my costs here this year.

“If my children hadn't supported me so enormously, if we weren't all there for one another, then that wouldn't have been enough.

Already not this year. "

Sonja Petersen, showman from Geesthacht

I actually earn the money for six months during the Christmas market season, until the time for my food trucks begins in summer.

My savings, including the 9,000 euro emergency aid from 2020, have long been gone.

Of course it's sad, but I'm an optimist.

If my children hadn't supported me so enormously, if we weren't all there for each other, then that wouldn't have been enough.

Not anymore this year.

My neighbor sells toys on the next stand, I just brought her two vegan tarte flambée.

She looked so hungry and didn't sell anything.

I help everyone.

With my stands and my food trucks, I'm much more flexible than hoteliers or restaurateurs who are tied to their location.

They have it much worse.

And what if all of this is no longer worthwhile after twelve years?

Then maybe I'll leave for Australia - but I'm not getting in there right now, right?

I have so many passions.

I'm not burying my head in the sand. "

"It is financially not worth it for us or for the exhibitors"

Monika Flocke, born in 1953, runs the "Market of Hearts", the Christmas market at Cologne Cathedral.

It is considered to be the most visited in Germany.

Last year it was canceled, this year it takes place under 2G rules and with a mask requirement.

»In our best times - roughly estimated - five million people visited our Christmas market.

This year it will probably not be more than half.

Financially, it is not worth it for us or for the exhibitors that we organize the Christmas market.

I am currently working almost as much as in the years before the pandemic, around 50 to 60 hours a week.

There are fewer visitors, but there is also more to be organized, for example to ensure that the corona measures are adhered to.

We have employed additional control staff for this purpose.

We are running the Christmas market for the eleventh time, and a few dealers have been there from the start.

130 are usually exhibiting with us, and we usually even keep waiting lists.

This year it was more difficult, about ten exhibitors dropped out in advance: A relatively large restaurateur, as well as a glass dealer with beautiful Christmas baubles, I really felt sorry for that.

For some, however, it was too uncertain whether and how the market could take place at all.

Fortunately, we were ultimately able to rent out every stand.

As far as I know, many of the exhibitors are entitled to corona aid, such as bridging aid III Plus.

In the event of a drop in sales of at least 30 percent, at least the fixed costs will be reimbursed.

As an operator, we will probably fall harder because the majority of our costs are event-related.

That means: We pay for the construction, the giant fir, the decorators, the garbage disposal.

However, the corona aid does not cover all of that, as far as I understand.

But I have to deal with that even more intensively.

»One thing is clear: a Christmas market with so few visitors must not be repeated.

Neither we nor many of the dealers would be able to cope with that. ""

Monika Flocke, Christmas market operator from Cologne

We planned relatively well in advance, as in previous years.

We only held back for a long time with the stage program.

But of course we were also prepared in the event that the market failed again.

We have reassured ourselves with our service providers that they will be available before December 23, the last day of our market.

Almost two weeks ago we thought that we would have to close now.

One thing is clear: a Christmas market with so few visitors must not be repeated.

Neither we nor many of the dealers would be able to cope with that. "

"Everyone has to see where he is"

Paul Müller, born in 1986, works as a beekeeper in Lohmar in the Rhein-Sieg district.

At the Christmas market at Cologne Cathedral, he is now selling honey and mead for the second time.

»I generate a large part of my annual turnover through my sales at the Christmas market.

When it was canceled last year, it was of course tough.

For a short time we were able to sell Christmas gifts to companies - that kept us alive.

I started making honey mead three months ago.

At the time I was hoping that the Christmas market would take place normally.

Now I can't get rid of the mead because there are fewer visitors.

I cannot yet say how high the loss will be this year.

Sometimes I stand here for an hour without selling a jar of honey.

The visitors who come are more afraid.

This year we have our booth near the stage - actually a great position.

But now I've already noticed a couple of times that people don't want to come closer.

Too many people are standing around the stage.

Some also come for ten minutes, try the honey - and then only buy a small jar for 2.90 euros.

I can understand that, but unfortunately our effort is not worth it.

Nevertheless, I am glad that the visitors are allowed to try it in a corona-compliant manner at all.

If that were to go away, I would probably have to shut down.

I'm currently preparing everything from 6:30 in the morning, the market starts at 11 a.m.

I'll be home at ten or eleven in the evening, seven days a week.

I can't afford personnel.

It doesn't matter that the work is exhausting, as it was in 2019.

What's frustrating: it's so unproductive.

I have the same effort, but I take in a lot less.

In addition, I cannot assess whether the market will really remain open until December 23rd or whether it will have to close tomorrow.

I notice this depressed mood with other exhibitors as well.

Everyone has to see where they stay - because we are all financially dependent on this business.

I learned from my fellow dealers that we are entitled to corona aid.

I haven't dealt with that yet, there just wasn't time.

Over Christmas I'll take a few days off, look at the figures, talk to my tax advisor and see how things go for me. "