Frankfurt Pealing of the Bells - Christmas Eve
If you are going to be in Frankfurt or in a town near-by on Christmas Eve, make sure you are down in the city center at the Roemer at 17:00. At this time, 50 bells from 10 of the downtown churches will ring together for 30 minutes. This is 70 tons of metal ringing away, but all in harmony. Frankfurt has been doing this since 1954, and it happens four times a year - Christmas Eve, the 1st Advent Sat, the day before Easter, and Pentecost.
It is fun to be there and walk around to hear the difference in the sound of the bells. "Gloriosa", the big, almost 12 ton bell at the Kaiserdom, is the 2nd largest bell in Germany and she makes quite a bit of noise. She was one of the few bells in Germany to survive being melted down for the war.
It is traditional for Frankfurt families to go downtown to the Roemerberg to hear this. Many then go on to church services or home for their big dinner and gift giving.
* P.S. - I just edited this to reflect the date and time change from Advent to Christmas Eve.
Jo
Frankfurt, Germany 11/5/09
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Jo, how I wish I could be there to listen to the bells! I lived in Wiesbaden for five years and never knew about this. Thank you for telling us about this. Anna
If you go to this website, you can hear a sample of the bells ringing. It is nothing like being there and listening to it in person, but it gives you a tiny taste.
http://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=3828&_ffmpar[_id_inhalt]=54370
The Christmas market opens on the 25th here in Frankfurt too.
Here is the program for the rest of the Frankfurt Christmas Market if any one is interested:
Carillon of Alte Nikolai Church Daily at 9:05, 12:05 & 17:05
The Tower Horns - Balcony of Alte Nikolai Church Wed. and Sat. at 18:00
Visit by Saint Nikolas Sun 6 December, from 17:30 hours, Roemerberg stage
Advent concerts - "International Christmas" Every Fri, Sat, Sun at 17:10, Römerberg stage 27.11. Polizei Choir Frankfurt e.V. 28.11. Korean Choir 29.11. German American Community Choir 04.12. Neeber School Choir 05.12. Die Trenkwalder 06.12. Neeber School Choir 11.12. Christ the King Choir 12.12. Svenskton 13.12. Coro Dello Zecchino 18.12. Herchenröder Quartett 19.12. Rödelheimer Neuner 20.12. Die Trenkwalder
Christmas market featuring various Franfurt artists Paulskirche 27.11. - 22.12.2009, daily 11.00 - 20.00 Uhr Roemerhall 04.12. - 22.12.2009, daily 11.00 - 20.00 Uhr
Advent and Christmas songs 28.11. - 19.12., 19:30 hours, Liebfrauen Church
Advent & Christmas music at Alte Nikolai Sat.& Sun. 17:00-18:00
Take a ride on an historical steam train Sat. 05.12 & 12.12., 13:00 - 17:00, river embankment Eiserner Steg bridge Sun. 06.12. & 13.12., 10:45 - 17:00, river embankment Eiserner Steg bridge
Thank you so much for the info! It will be my first Christmas season in Frankfurt. Sadly, I will miss the bells this time. :-( But the other Christmas events I will definitely seek out.
Frankfurt - Gateway to Europe, 60 Years of Americans in Hessen A really special exhibit has opened at the City Archives this past week. From now until 31 Jan.you can go see the history of the Americans in Frankfurt and the state of Hessen from 1945-2005. This is an amazing exhibit with tons of photos, video recordings from everyday people and soldiers, fascinating films, and lots of memorobilia items.
The exhibit follows the time line of the initial march into Frankfurt by the American Army, the occupation of the IG Farben building as headquarters for Eisenhower, the Berlin Airlift that was based out of Rhine Main Airbase, life of the everyday soldier serving in Hessen, the building of barracks and housing for families, Elvis Presleys stint as a soldier in Friedberg, the visit of JFK to Frankfurt, the riots against America in Viet Nam, and ending with the draw-down and closure of the many bases in Hessen.
I really recommend seeing this piece of history while you have the chance.
Karmeliter Kloster on Munzgasse Open M-F from 10:00-18:00 and S & Sun. from 11:00-18:00 Entrance fee is 4 euro.
While there, you also have the possibility of viewing the Joerg Ratgeb frescos in the Refectory where the exhibit is located and also in the Cloister area. This Medieval artwork is a must-see in Frankfurt. http://www.stadtgeschichte-frankfurt.de
Is there any site online that has past ringings in order for us to hear them?
Would love to be there. It has to be awesome.
The website to hear the bells is on my 2nd post.
If you are going to be here, then you might also be interested in going to the Swedish church Christmas Market that weekend. Chance to try some reindeer meat or get really cool Swedish gifts. http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=253897
Another option is going to a concert on Sat. or Sun. in the Justinus church in the neighborhood of Hoechst. Built in 850, it is one of Germanys oldest churches. http://www.justinuskirche.de/
Jo, Thanks so much for this info! I lived here for 4+ years, am back again, and never knew this. Can't be there T-giving w/e, going to A-dam, but is the Swedish Market only that weekend? That sounds great...
Yes, Swedish Market is only this weekend.
Next weekend though, there is a Medieval Christmas Market in Offenbach, which is only about a 10 min. ride on the S-bahn. Looks really fun.
http://www.dammer.info/html/bilder_offenbach_2007.html
Thanks for the notice. I'll have to check it out when I move to Mannheim next year.
Offenbach... if you enjoyed walking thru the streets of Kunduz, you'll love spending an afternoon in Offenbach ;-)
Well it is being held on the grounds of the Buesing Palace in Offenbach, so that should be nice. Actually, if I was in Offenbach, I would go to the Leather Museum. Thats an interesting one!
If you are here for Christmas, here are some options for what to do on Christmas Day, the 25th.
* Swan Lake by the St. Petersburg Ballet at the Jahrhundert Halle in Hoechst. The link to order tickets is in German, but watch the ballet video, it is quite exciting if you have the music on too.www.rbi-konzerte.com
* La Boheme at the New Opera House - La Boheme What is open on Christmas Day.
* Turm Palast - English language Films. Usually very busy on Christmas Day Turm Palast Program
* Museum of Modern Art - Jack Goldstein exhibit
* The Archeology Museum - Bayeux Tapestry exhibit
* Deutsche Architecture Museum
* The Liebieg Haus Sculpture Museum
* The Staedel (classical art) - Botticelli Exhibit is a must see. People are flocking in from all over Europe to see this.
* The Historic Museum
* Senckenburg Museum of Natural History
* The Palmengarten (Botanical Gardens)
* The Zoo
Buy a Frankfurt Welcome Card. For 8.70, you get to ride the trains, etc. all day and get 50% off of the museum entrance. A group would be 15 euro for one day.
Yup, that'll be great. I'll be there, although I can also hear it from my patio at home. But standing in the heart of downtown does make a difference... Would be interesting to hear it from the roof top of the Maintower but a) I assume it'll be closed that time on Christmas eve and b) I bet it'll make Alaska feel like Southern Florida ;-)...