Performers express concern over personal safety should Christmas market events be abolished
Scrooging the Holiday Spirit: Germany's Christmas Markets Face Another Year of Cancellations
Urgent appeals have been sounded out by carnival operators to politicians at both the federal and state levels, pleading for authorization to carry on with the annual Christmas markets this year.
"2020's fairground extravaganzas were scrapped, leaving fairground operators to pin their hopes on this year's Christmas markets," Frank Hakelberg, head honcho at the German Fairground Association, spilled the beans to the Rheinische Post. "If today, a universal ban is imposed on so-called 'special markets,' it would also mark the death knell for the remaining Christmas markets. And that's the kicker - it's all the more gut-wrenching because the industry is idle during January to March, meaning no income. Even worse, with the Christmas markets canceled this year, there'd be no chance to erect a 'winter financial shield' for those months."
This turn of events is particularly baffling given the Robert Koch Institute's assessment of minimal outdoor infection risks. The association is also clamoring for a business continuity allowance. The prolongation of the aid package with 80-90% coverage of fixed costs isn't enough to keep the struggling family-owned businesses afloat - not to mention that not all expenses are covered.
Photo: Christmas market (dts Nachrichtenagentur)
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Insight:
- Germany's Christmas markets were not allowed to take place in 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related health concerns.
- The cancellations were intended to limit virus spread at crowded events.
- The industry faced significant economic and cultural impacts due to event cancellations.
In 2022, when the markets resumed, organizers had implemented adjustments to comply with health requirements, such as expanded spacing between stalls to improve circulation and curb crowding.
"The German Fairground Association has urged both federal and state politicians to consider the financial implications of another year of Christmas market cancellations, as these markets serve as a crucial source of income for the industry during the general-news lean months of January to March."
"Amidst these discussions, various associations, including the German Fairground Association, have advocated for a business continuity allowance beyond the extended aid package, as the current coverage is insufficient to offset the costs and maintain the viability of family-owned businesses in the other sectors of finance and politics."
