Colors of Magdeburg - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Magdeburg is famous for its amazing historical traditions and holidays. Here, interesting symbols of national culture can be seen at every step. One of the most famous natives of the city is the philosopher and engineer Otto von Guericke who invented a vacuum pump in the middle of the 17th century. Many symbolic monuments are dedicated to the great inventor. Hemispheres are considered the most original and remarkable ones. Today, colorfully painted steel hemispheres can be seen on many streets, and few tourists know about their true symbolic meaning.

In 1654, the inventor conducted an interesting experiment - he made two copper hemispheres, connected them to each other, and removed the air from the ball. Trying to separate the hemispheres, they used the power of sixteen horses, but they failed to violate the integrity of the structure. Such an unusual experiment proved the existence and power of atmospheric pressure. Local residents have preserved the memory of the original experiment to this day.

Exploring the monuments installed in the city often becomes an exciting adventure for tourists. Many of the monuments are artistically decorated with paintings that depict historic sights of the city, and the most original is a monument with a clock. It is a huge stone sphere with numerous dials that display time in different parts of the world. Throughout the year, many interesting holidays are held in Magdeburg. The beginning of autumn is marked by the Kaiser Otton Fest. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

This is one of the youngest holidays that was first held in 2010. The festival is dedicated to historical traditions of the city. Its opening begins with a solemn costumed parade passing through historic streets. The most significant entertainment events take place in the historical district. Special venues for the celebration are set up near the bastion, the old fortress, and the Cathedral. Festival participants can witness knightly tournaments, watch beautiful dance performances, and attend music concerts.

Street performers and jugglers entertain crowds on the streets for several days. A significant part of the festival program is focused on children. Some of the most interesting are performances organized by the local puppet theater. During the festival days, Magdeburg opens a medieval market where visitors can buy beautiful historical costumes in the national style, interesting handicrafts and souvenirs. Visitors to fairs are offered to try traditional regional dishes and delicacies that were popular with locals hundreds of years ago. The Kaiser Fest is a great opportunity to immerse oneself in a unique medieval atmosphere for several days and get acquainted with the popular traditions of local people.

Fans of event tourism will be interested in visiting the city on the eve of the Christmas celebration when Magdeburg changes beyond recognition. The streets are decorated with artistic illumination, thematic installations and special trade zones for fairs are installed throighout the city. Christmas holidays will be a great opportunity to get acquainted with the gastronomic traditions of the region. At the fairs, they sell popular local sausages, sweet pastries and drinks. The first Christmas market was held in Magdeburg back in the Middle Ages. At that time, it was a great opportunity for townspeople to stock up on their favorite products for the winter.

The fair took place on Cathedral Square, but now it is held on Alter Markt, in front of the Town Hall. The fair opens on December 1 and runs until the end of the month, offering a lot of interesting entertainments. Ice slides equipped on the square at this time are very popular among children. The largest ice rink in the city is also available in the same place. Colorful stalls present the best products from all the surrounding regions. Here they sell exquisite meat delicacies, dairy products, fresh pastries, and other Christmas treats.

A mandatory attribute of the fair is mulled wine stalls. Each one offers the popular drink prepared according to a special recipe. One of the main gastronomic symbols of Christmas in Magdeburg is Grünkohl, which is prepared from a special type of green cabbage grown on nearby farms. The cabbage is stewed with various sausages or smoked loin. The recipe for this dish was invented in one of Magdeburg’s butcher shops back in 1924. On Christmas Eve, you'll have a chance to try Grünkohl not only at the fair but also in local restaurants.