ZDF.reportage The Christmas Makers - Love, lights, gingerbread
For many Germans, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. For the "Christmas makers", however, preparations for the festivities begin months in advance. Gingerbread is baked, Christmas markets are set up and Christmas trees are decorated. After all, Christmas is the most important time of the year for many retailers.119.5 billion euros were spent by Germans during the 2022 Christmas period. For Walter Heiselbetz from Nuremberg, preparations for the festive season begin months before Advent. "Here in the factory, it's actually Christmas almost all year round," he says.
As a gingerbread baker, he is responsible for the Germans' undisputed favourite Christmas biscuit. Around 87,590 tonnes of gingerbread, honey cake and Printen were produced in Germany in 2022. A gruelling job: hot ovens, heavy tubs of dough. Now, just before Christmas, the gingerbread bakers around Walter Heiselbetz are baking in three shifts. In terms of visitor numbers, the Christmas market in Cologne is the most popular in Germany: over four million people come to Cologne every year to visit the market. Between the mulled wine stalls and sausage stands, the "Cathedral Patrol" of the Cologne Public Order Office ensures security and order every day. Now, during the Advent season, deputy head of the duty group Julian and his team have a lot more work than usual. "There's always something going on," says Julian, "we've significantly increased our staff during the Christmas period and there's an extra shift between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m."
At the Christmas market, Julian and his colleagues are inspectors, first aiders and information providers all in one. Nowhere else in the city are Cologne residents and tourists more crowded at this time of year. However, Christmas is not a happy holiday for everyone. Many families in Germany simply cannot afford Christmas. For many, there is barely enough money for a decorated tree, a delicious Christmas dinner or presents. One in five children in Germany is at risk of poverty. In order to bring joy to poor children and young people at Christmas, Bianca Sommerfeld and the employees of the Berlin SchutzengelWerk pack around 2,000 gift bags containing around 16,000 items: Books, toys, cuddly toys and sweets. For many children, the bulging bags are the only present they receive on Christmas Eve. A "ZDF.reportage" about the people who make Christmas the best holiday of the year...
Broadcasting on 17th of December 2023 at 06.00pm, on 21st of December 2023 at 01.00am on ZDF + on 18th of December 2023 09.05pm on TV Suisse PLUS
Music: POPVIRUS Library