Success story Bad Kohlgruber Christkindlmarkt: 40,307 euros for a good cause
Created: 04/12/2022, 20:19
Big rush: The Bad Kohlgruber Christkindlmarkt lasts less than three hours.
In this short time, many visitors enjoy the atmosphere and community.
© reindl
The Bad Kohlgruber Christkindlmarkt has been around since 1972.
The proceeds for the good cause back then: 39.72 marks.
50 years later, more than 40,000 euros have been raised.
Bad Kohlgrub - The lights are off, the hustle and bustle is gone.
As soon as peace has returned after the Christmas market in Bad Kohlgrub and all the coins and bills have been counted, co-initiator Franz Urbin picks up the phone.
Year after year he announces the proceeds, so to speak the conclusion of the market summarized in a single number.
This year: 40,307.01 euros.
Money that benefits people with disabilities and their families - for 50 years.
Once again, an entire village campaigned to make this number particularly high.
In a few Christmas hours together.
It all started in 1972.
Mayor Franz Degele knew the proceeds of that time down to the last penny: 39.72 marks.
The income grew, by December 2021 a total of more than 1.36 million euros had been collected.
This amount is set to increase further.
“Open your wallets!” Degele appealed to the visitors.
"Please leave the money, it's for a good cause," said District Administrator Anton Speer.
The member of parliament Florian Striebl (free voters) praised the 50-year-old Christmas market in the highest tones.
He is "something very special" and "a light of joy" in dark times.
Patron Harald Kühn: The Christkindlmarkt, a "fabulous success story"
When patron and CSU member of parliament Harald Kühn - he spoke of an "amazing success story" - opened the market, it seemed to have been open for a long time.
Officially, it only lasts about two and a half hours, but even before the start there was a great rush around the town hall and Lampl-Tenne.
The visitors browsed, laughed, feasted on one of the diverse culinary stands, chatted, enjoyed the sounds of the band, the fellowship and the Christmas atmosphere.
And of course they shopped.
For example at the stand with the mistletoe branches, at the one with homemade jams, at the oil and vinegar creations and at the handicrafts.
Because at the Christmas market in Bad Kohlgrub there are only handmade things.
Knitted pot holders, sewn aprons, Advent arrangements, candle holders, woodwork, decorative stars or playful things like children's swings.
Geodes were also offered, which an ancient device would break open, revealing the sparking interior of the rock.
As usual, there was also a raffle with handicrafts as prizes.
The organizers stayed true to other traditions: the Sauschatzen, the Kasperltheater and the Christkindlmarkt-Café, this time in the Lampl-Tenne.
At first, Urbin had hoped that the market would “be like it has been in previous years”.
It last took place in 2019.
Then Corona came.
A hope that was certainly fulfilled in view of the many people and the wonderful number in the end.
