The anticipation was great that this year, after a year of corona-related break, there would finally be Christmas markets in Peiting and Herzogsägmühle again.
But nothing will come of it.
Once again, the pandemic is throwing the organizers through the bill.
Peiting
- Three weeks ago, Wilfried Knorr was still confident that it would work again this year with the Herzogsägmühl Christmas market.
The Bavarian cabinet had just decided to make numerous simplifications for the pre-Christmas events in the Free State.
No 3G rule and no mask requirement in the open air should apply at the Christmas markets, and alcohol should also be allowed to be served.
But if there is one thing you had to learn from the corona pandemic over the past year and a half, it is that the situation can change very quickly.
The decision was made on Monday
The state government has not changed anything in the framework concept so far, but in view of the rapidly increasing numbers of infections, that should only be a matter of time. But Herzogsägmühle and Peiting didn't want to wait for that anymore. Yesterday, Monday, in coordination with the Diakonie company, the decision was made to cancel both Christmas markets, Peitings Mayor Peter Ostenrieder informed the local newspaper when asked. “It is just not possible to display it at the moment,” regretted the town hall chief.
While other municipalities and cities are still considering carrying out the events with stricter rules such as mask requirement and 2G, this was not an issue in Peiting or in Herzogsägmühle.
Both Knorr and Ostenrieder referred to the high level of effort that would result from such controls.
"We would have to cordon off the entire site to do this, that would not be possible," said Knorr.
After all, the Christmas market in Herzogsägmühle, which usually attracts several thousand visitors on the first weekend of Advent, extends practically over the entire village.
Fear of the consequences of a corona outbreak
In addition: The ever-worsening situation on the Corona front is difficult to reconcile with pictures of social gatherings in front of mulled wine stands. In view of the latest developments, the employees' desire for the events has greatly diminished, Knorr has determined. In addition, there was the fear that in the event of a corona outbreak it would no longer be possible to occupy the shifts in the Diakoniedorf facilities.
While the cancellation in Peiting affects the clubs that contest the Christmas market, the end for Herzogsägmühle means the loss of an important market for the products of its own workshops.
They are therefore planning special sales campaigns in the Advent season, announced Knorr.
The handmade products from the pottery, bookbinding, weaving and many other workshops are also waiting for buyers in the MühlenMarkt in Herzogsägmühle, in the Schongauer MühlenMarkt and in the Herzogsägmühler Laden in Weilheim.
Easter market instead of Christmas market?
In Peiting and Herzogsägmühle they are now hoping for the next year that normality will finally return.
Only: Nobody knows for sure, which is why people in the Diakoniedorf think about alternatives.
Knorr: "Maybe we'll have an Easter market instead of a Christmas market."
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