Berlin's traditional Christmas markets reflect its growing diversity

BERLIN (AP) — The smells of mulled wine, roasted almonds and hot bratwurst are wafting through the air across the German capital again, as the city's more than 100 Christmas markets are opening their doors this week. But the annual tradition that Germans have cherished since the Middle Ages — and successfully exported to much of the Western world — has become a pretty diverse affair, at least in Berlin.

The city of 3.8 million, which takes pride in its tolerance and diversity, offers Christmas markets for pretty much every taste these days. Nowadays, almost 40% of Berliners have immigrant roots, and the city's LGBTQ+ community is considered one of the biggest in the country.

So it comes as no surprise that popular Christmas markets include a LGBTQ+ one offering rainbow pierogi and entertainment by drag queens, a Scandinavian market selling moose goulash and reindeer salami and a market tempting revelers with naughty gift ideas, along with a historical market that takes visitors back to medieval times.

“It’s a lovely atmosphere,” Paul Middleton said of the LGBTQ+ market Christmas Avenue, which is illuminated in the colors of the rainbow.

“It’s great to do something for the LGBTQ+ community and offer something positive in a safe environment where everyone’s welcome, no matter what background,” said Middleton, who moved to Berlin from London three years ago “for love."

Middleton was busy selling gay-themed Christmas shirts next to stalls offering suggestive candles and soaps in neon colors.

The market also attracts heterosexual couples, neighborhood residents and groups of moms with baby strollers, said Sebastian Ahlefeld, a spokesman for Christmas Avenue.

“You can meet lots of friends, relax, enjoy a mulled wine and simply kick off the Christmas season,” said Marco Klingberg, who visited the market with friends on Monday night.

Klingberg, a police officer and member of the LGBTQ+ police organization in Brandenburg, the state surrounding Berlin, pointed out that despite the city's reputation as a gay-friendly city, attacks on members of the community are a concern, and it was great to have a protected environment for celebrating.

“First and foremost, it’s a safe space,” he said.

Security is an issue not only at the LGBTQ+ market, where all visitors undergo a bag check before entering. Groups of police officers were patrolling most markets on Monday night, as memories of a deadly terror attack on a Christmas market eight years ago are still fresh for many Berliners.

On Dec. 19, 2016, an Islamist attacker plowed through a crowd of Christmas market-goers with a truck, killing 13 people and injuring dozens more in the German capital. The attacker was killed days later in a shootout in Italy.

Despite increased surveillance, visitors at the Scandinavian-themed Lucia market in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood were hanging out in crowds on the compound of a former brewery. Kids enjoyed merry-go-rounds while their parents stood in line for Finnish honey and Icelandic mulled wine infused with hard liquor, or chatted and warmed up at fire pits.

“I've been coming here every year since kindergarten times,” said Mathilda Schmidt, 21, pointing to kids cheering as they jumped on a trampoline. She was standing in line with her boyfriend for a bratwurst and potato pancakes.

At Humboldt Forum Christmas market near the Spree river, vendors were offering more exotic dishes including jerk chicken with cooked bananas at a Jamaican food stand, Argentinian empanadas, French salamis and Hungarian langos, a deep-fried flatbread.

While the city's biggest markets are open for weeks and usually close only the day before Christmas Eve, smaller markets often open for a weekend or a day.

They include the Kinky Christmas market in the Kreuzberg neighborhood that invites visitors on Dec. 1 only, seeking those who may find traditional markets “too overwhelmingly contemplative and traditional.” Over 20 stalls will offer sexy “fashion, accessories, jewelry, toys and all kinds of naughty gift ideas,” the city of Berlin says on its website.

While Berliners seem to nonchalantly enjoy the variety of Christmas market offerings, they were fiercely united in their complaint about the increasing price of mulled wine — with one small cup now selling for up to seven euros ($7.36).

People visit the "Lucia" Christmas Market at the district Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Christmas stars for decoration displayed in a shop at the "Lucia" Christmas Market at the district Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

People visit the Christmas market Humbolt Forum on its opening day in the city center of Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

People visits the LGBTQ+ Christmas market "Christmas Avenue" under the tracks of the city train U-Bahn at Nollendorfplatz in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Christmas stars illuminate the top of the tents of the Christmas market at Bebelplatz in the city center of Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

People visit the LGBTQ+ Christmas market "Christmas Avenue" under the tracks of the city train U-Bahn at Nollendorfplatz in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Shirts designed by artist Paul Middleton displayed in a shop at the LGBTQ+ Christmas market "Christmas Avenue" at Nollendorfplatz the for in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Christmas stars illuminate the top of the tents of the Christmas market at Bebelplatz in the city center of Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

TOKYO (AP) — The engine for a new flagship small Japanese rocket burst into flames Tuesday during a combustion test, causing no injury or damage to the outside but destroying the engine and extensively damaging its test facility, officials said.

The second failure in a row raises concern about the progress of the Epsilon S rocket, whose debut flight is expected by March.

The test was conducted inside of the restricted area at Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is investigating, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

An Epsilon project manager, Takayuki Imoto, told an online press conference from Tanegashina that the explosion occurred 49 seconds into the planned two-minute test, causing fire and scattering broken parts of the engine and damaging the facility.

“We are very sorry to have failed to live up to expectations,” Imoto said. He said the cause of the explosion was still under investigation. Project staff are trying to recover broken pieces to analyze and determine the cause as soon as possible to minimize the delay of the program, Imoto said.

He said repairs to the test facility would take several months.

Tuesday’s failure comes just over a year after the explosion last year of another Epsilon S engine during a test, according to JAXA.

Last year’s explosion was related to damage to the ignition systems of the engine and JAXA has since taken the necessary steps, the agency has said.

The triple-stage, 27-meter (88-foot) -long Epsilon S rocket is meant to improve Japan’s position in the growing satellite launch market by using solid fuel for more flexibility and mobility.

Japan’s much larger H3 rocket, failed in its debut launch in February 2023 but has since made three consecutive successful flights, most recently earlier in November.

“Development of flagship rockets such as Epsilon S is extremely important from the perspective of ensuring autonomy of Japan’s space development,” Hayashi told reporters. “JAXA will thoroughly investigate and take steps.”

In this photo provided by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), smoke billows during a combustion test of an engine for new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, in Tanegashima, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (JAXA via AP)

In this photo provided by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), smoke and fire are seen during a combustion test of an engine for new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (JAXA via AP)

In this photo provided by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), smoke and fire are seen during a combustion test of an engine for new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (JAXA via AP)

Smoke and fire is seen during a combustion test of an engine for a new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)

Smoke billows during a combustion test of an engine for new small Japanese rocket Epsilon S at Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP)