Snow was still covering the streets of Multimix City and Christmas was getting closer and closer. Grandma and Grandpa had come for a short visit and Gini and Karl were excited to see them.
"Let's go for a walk!" suggested Grandma. "We haven't been to the Christmas market yet this year."
"Yes!" Karl said, practically hopping like a penguin on skates.
As soon as they arrived, the crowd nearly swept them off their feet. Multimix City was bustling! People were everywhere and the stalls were blinking with lights and gadgets. Smartphones, digital cameras, and wide-screen TVs were all being advertised with loud megaphones.
Karl squinted. "Are we at a Christmas market or a spaceship launch?!"
Gini giggled. "Maybe both. But none of this really feels like Christmas... it's all about buying stuff."
Luckily there were also stalls with food. Hot dogs, French fries, fish, and - oh joy - roasted almonds! Karl's eyes grew as round as Christmas baubles. "We should buy almost the whole stand!" he whispered, and they almost did.
They wandered downtown where the decorated shop windows showed sleighs, reindeer, snowmen and animated Santas dancing around to Christmas Carols. It was more quiet here and suddenly the Christmas spirit felt real. Gini and Karl started singing along so loudly that a passing cat jumped in surprise.
Back home they curled up by the open fireplace with Grandma and Grandpa, drinking steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Grandma began to tell stories about Christmas markets when she was a child.
"Back then," she said, "the Christmas market wasn't about gadgets. People sold hand-made gifts, roasted almonds, mutzenmandeln and other homemade Christmas cookies. The smell of joss sticks and candles filled the air and everyone just enjoyed being there."
Gini's eyes sparkled. "Mutzenmandeln... we must try those!"
They quickly checked the kitchen, and - lucky penguins - they had all the ingredients at home. Soon, the kitchen was packed with helpers wearing flour-dusted aprons, laughing as they rolled and shaped the little cookies. Karl tried to balance one on his head like a penguin hat. "Ta-da! A cookie crown!"
At last, the mutzenmandeln were ready. Candles on the Christmas wreath flickered softly, the electric lights were switched off and the fire crackled warmly. They poured fresh hot chocolate, nibbled on cookies, and felt their tummies and hearts glow.
Papa Antoin sat down at the piano and began playing Christmas Carols. Gini picked up her recorder and everyone sang as loud and joyfully as they could - even Karl, who occasionally squawked like a penguin instead of hitting the right note.
"What a perfect Christmas day," Gini sighed happily.
"And remember," Karl added, with a cheeky grin, "if anyone tries to eat your mutzenmandeln without asking, you have full penguin permission to chase them... waddling style!"
And so the day ended with music, laughter and enough cookies to feed a small penguin colony.
Copyright © 2004-2025 Katja Socher, tuxgraphics.org