Christmas market in Frankfurt opens despite Corona
D.he word that was used during the construction of the Frankfurter Christmas markets heard most often is “hope”. Hope that the Christmas market can take place as planned, and that the income that has already been firmly planned and sorely needed does not break away.
The virus is invisible, and here on the Römerberg, too, the threat cannot be seen with the naked eye: there is hustle and bustle everywhere, people hammer and screw, sweets are draped in displays, fairy lights are hung up, and some stalls have already started sporadically with sales . The Christmas market is scheduled to open on November 22nd.
Mask requirement on the Christmas market
In conversation with the showmen, however, the precarious situation is tangible. “There haven’t been any events for two, many years have been very bad,” says Jürgen Spahn, who is currently setting up his stand on Paulsplatz. Many investments will already earn, a cancellation would mean a great loss. “Some would break.” The Christmas market accounts for the lion’s share of annual sales for everyone here.
Despite rising incidences, the city has so far given assurances that the Christmas market will take place as planned. Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD) The Christmas market will be there for everyone and without a mask requirement and distance requirement. “
“We’re already shaking,” says a saleswoman who wants to remain anonymous. “Of course we are worried,” she says with a view to Bavaria, where Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) canceled all Christmas markets on Friday. “Hesse and Frankfurt are something special,” adds.
“They’re scared, they need money.”
Showman Nicole Eisermann is also concerned, but the anticipation outweighs her: “We have a good hygiene concept, we hope for the best.” The financial blow to the office is also mentally difficult: “We then have to fall back on the state. If there is no help then, I see black for the industry, ”said Eisermann.
Nobody is assuming a rejection here, if you could save yourself the construction. But some are more certain than others. Ludwig Levy, chairman of the Frankfurt Showmen Association and known here as “Second Fish Levy”, is forward-looking: “We work well with the city and the health department and have improved the rules again.” But he also has concerns: Ten people work on his stand, “they’re scared, they need money.”
Despite the uncertain situation, the mood among the stand operators is generally positive, including Mike Roie, a sixth generation showman. This year he has adapted his snack stand precisely to the location between Römer and Paulsplatz. “We have a strong partner in the city who supports us.” He also praises the hygiene concept, which has already made this year’s Dippemess a success. The Christmas market accounts for 40 percent of his annual turnover, “almost 100 this year,” adds. A rejection would cost him at least 100,000 euros, he estimates. But he can’t waste time thinking like that at the moment, Roie became a father six weeks ago. Because he and his wife have to be on site at all times, Roie has set up small containers at Roßmarkt, where one of the two can look after the daughter. So on Monday the seventh generation of Roies will be there at the Frankfurt Christmas market.