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pFret sk[Europe/Radio Liberty:

Russia Declares RFE/RL, VOA 'Foreign Agents'

5 December 2017

The Russta ustice Ministry has declared Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL), Voice of AmericA(VOA), and several affiliated
news services "foreign agents " under new legislation that has
been criticized by Western governments and media-freedom
advocates.

A statement on the Justice Ministry website said that in
accordance with a new Russian law
<DATA 488 38BE>{4446:2}on mass media, it has decided
to list RFE/RL, VOA, Current Time TV, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir
Service, Siberia.Reality, Idel.Reality, Factograph, Kavkaz
Realii, and Crimea.Reality as "foreign mass media performing the
functions of a foreign agent."

The one-sentence Justice Ministry statement did not specify what
potential restrictions the media outlets could face, but
lawmakers have said designated media could be subjected to
detailed financial-reporting requiremen
<DATA 488 BA09>{4446:3}ts and required to label
published material as coming from a foreign agent.
Russia To Consider Further Steps Against U.S. Media

wdsian bill enabling the government to designate any foreign
media outlet a "foreign agent" passed quickly through parliament
and was signed by President Vladimir Putin on November 25.

RFE/©neabnt Thomas Kent said that the broadcaster was aware
of the Justice Ministry's announcemeqf s "received no
detaigAof what this de, ÎtTA 488 E8AD>{4446:4}ation may mean for us."

"We will study all commt<(\nnkdn e the ministry and other
Russian official organizations carefully," he added. "At the same
time, we remain committed to continuing our journalistic work in
the interests of providing accurate and objective news to our
Russian-speaking audiences."

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called
on Russia's Justice Ministry to "immediately reverse its
anti-press action."

"It is reprehen
<DATA 488 9F7B>{4446:5}sible that Russia, which restricts its own
independent, critical media, is now taking action to obstruct the
work of international outlets that provide a vital alternative
news source to Russian citizens," CPJ Europe and Central Asia
Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said in a December 5
statement.

Russian officials have said the law is a "symmetrical response"
after state-funded channel RT -- which U.S. authorities accuse of
spreading propaganda -- was required to
<DATA 488 4D90>{4446:6} register its U.S.
operating unit under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act
(FARA).

U.S. officials say the action is not symmetrical, arguing that
the U.S. and Russian laws are different and that Russia uses its
"foreign-agent" legislation to silence dissent and discourage a
free exchange of ideas.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on December 4
that media outlets designated as foreign agents would not be
stripped of their accreditation with
<DATA 488 F260>{4446:7}the ministry and would be
able to "go ahead with journalistic activity in Russia calmly and
without any hindrances."

However, the State Duma is expected to pass a bill this week that
would bar U.S. media outlets that are designated as foreign
agents from entering the lower house of parliament. A senior
lawmaker in the Federation Council said the upper parliament
house will also consider a ban.

Both chambers are dominated by the ruling United Russia party and
do t
<DATA 488 AD32>{4446:8}he Kremlin's bidding.

The European Union has said the Russia legislation "goes against
Russia's human rights obligations and commitments" and called it
a "threat to free and independent media and access to
information."

Human Rights Watch has condemned the Russian legislation as a
"full-throttle attack on media freedom" and said it was
"tailor-made to be selectively and politically enforced, and to
silence voices they do not want Russian people to hear."

RFE/RL
<DATA 488 ACC7>{4446:9} and VOA are overseen by the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, a U.S. agency that supervises civilian government
broadcasting and media operations. VOA is a federal entity, while
RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit organization funded by a grant
from the U.S. Congress.

With reporting from Interfax, TASS, and RIA Novosti

https://www.rferl.org/a/rferl-voa-foreign-agents-russia-justice-ministry-rt/28897401.html

See also:
https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-parliament-vote-t
<DATA 147 C346>{4446:10}o-bar-voa-rferl/4151368.html
http://bit.ly/2BAgWnN
http://bit.ly/2k0HGa6
http://bit.ly/2Af7oCA
http://bit.ly/2AdDMWj

^r

<CNTL 10 2519>{4446:EOF}
<FILE 44 DCFE>{4446}20171206131124:SWRG25_Russia_media.txt
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<FILE 44 DCFE>{4446}20171206131124:SWRG25_Russia_media.txt
<ID 24 CC97>{4446}KD9XB Arlington VA
<SIZE 17 F32F>{4446}4458 10 480
<DATA 488 0088>{4446:1}




From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:

Russia Declares RFE/RL, VOA 'Foreign Agents'

5 December 2017

The Russian Justice Ministry has declared Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL), Voice of America (VOA), and several affiliated
news services "foreign agents " under new legislation that has
been criticized by Western governments and media-freedom
advocates.

A statement on the Justice Ministry website said that in
accordance with a new Russian law
<DATA 488 38BE>{4446:2}on mass media, it has decided
to list RFE/RL, VOA, Current Time TV, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir
Service, Siberia.Reality, Idel.Reality, Factograph, Kavkaz
Realii, and Crimea.Reality as "foreign mass media performing the
functions of a foreign agent."

The one-sentence Justice Ministry statement did not specify what
potential restrictions the media outlets could face, but
lawmakers have said designated media could be subjected to
detailed financial-reporting requiremen
<DATA 488 BA09>{4446:3}ts and required to label
published material as coming from a foreign agent.
Russia To Consider Further Steps Against U.S. Media

A Russian bill enabling the government to designate any foreign
media outlet a "foreign agent" passed quickly through parliament
and was signed by President Vladimir Putin on November 25.

RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said that the broadcaster was aware
of the Justice Ministry's announcement but has "received no
details of what this design
<DATA 488 E8AD>{4446:4}ation may mean for us."

"We will study all communications from the ministry and other
Russian official organizations carefully," he added. "At the same
time, we remain committed to continuing our journalistic work in
the interests of providing accurate and objective news to our
Russian-speaking audiences."

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called
on Russia's Justice Ministry to "immediately reverse its
anti-press action."

"It is reprehen
<DATA 488 9F7B>{4446:5}sible that Russia, which restricts its own
independent, critical media, is now taking action to obstruct the
work of international outlets that provide a vital alternative
news source to Russian citizens," CPJ Europe and Central Asia
Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said in a December 5
statement.

Russian officials have said the law is a "symmetrical response"
after state-funded channel RT -- which U.S. authorities accuse of
spreading propaganda -- was required to
<DATA 488 4D90>{4446:6} register its U.S.
operating unit under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act
(FARA).

U.S. officials say the action is not symmetrical, arguing that
the U.S. and Russian laws are different and that Russia uses its
"foreign-agent" legislation to silence dissent and discourage a
free exchange of ideas.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on December 4
that media outlets designated as foreign agents would not be
stripped of their accreditation with
<DATA 488 F260>{4446:7}the ministry and would be
able to "go ahead with journalistic activity in Russia calmly and
without any hindrances."

However, the State Duma is expected to pass a bill this week that
would bar U.S. media outlets that are designated as foreign
agents from entering the lower house of parliament. A senior
lawmaker in the Federation Council said the upper parliament
house will also consider a ban.

Both chambers are dominated by the ruling United Russia party and
do t
<DATA 488 AD32>{4446:8}he Kremlin's bidding.

The European Union has said the Russia legislation "goes against
Russia's human rights obligations and commitments" and called it
a "threat to free and independent media and access to
information."

Human Rights Watch has condemned the Russian legislation as a
"full-throttle attack on media freedom" and said it was
"tailor-made to be selectively and politically enforced, and to
silence voices they do not want Russian people to hear."

RFE/RL
<DATA 488 ACC7>{4446:9} and VOA are overseen by the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, a U.S. agency that superviservilian government
broadcasting and media operations. VOA is a federal entity, while
RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit organization funded by a grant
from the U.S. Congress.

With reporting from Interfax, TASS, and RIA Novosti

https://www.rferl.org/a/rferl-voa-foreign-agents-russia-justice-ministry-rt/28897401.html

See also:
https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-parliament-votrgfCÀ7aèi è

 Noã446}20171206131124:SWRGY5_Russia_media.txt<ID 24 CC97>{4446}KD9XB Arlington VA
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<ID 24 CC97>{4446}KD9XB Arlington VA
<SIZE 17 F32F>{4446}4458 10 480
<DATA 488 0088>{4446:1}




From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:

Russia Declares RFE/RL, VOA 'Foreign Agents'

5 December 2017

The Russian Justice Ministry has declared Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL), Voice of America (VOA), and several affiliated
news services "foreign agents " under new legislation that has
been criticized by Western governments and media-freedom
advocates.

A statement on the Justice Ministry website said that in
accordance with a new Russian law
<DATA 488 38BE>{4446:2}on mass media, it has decided
to list RFE/RL, VOA, Current Time TV, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir
Service, Siberia.Reality, Idel.Reality, Factograph, Kavkaz
Realii, and Crimea.Reality as "foreign mass media performing the
functions of a foreign agent."

The one-sentence Justice Ministry statement did not specify what
potential restrictions the media outlets could face, but
lawmakers have said designated media could be subjected to
detailed financial-reporting requiremen
<DATA 488 BA09>{4446:3}ts and required to label
published material as coming from a foreign agent.
Russia To Consider Further Steps Against U.S. Media

A Russian bill enabling the government to designate any foreign
media outlet a "foreign agent" passed quickly through parliament
and was signed by President Vladimir Putin on November 25.

RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said that the broadcaster was aware
of the Justice Ministry's announcement but has "received no
details of what this design
<DATA 488 E8AD>{4446:4}ation may mean for us."

"We will study all communications from the ministry and other
Russian official organizations carefully," he added. "At the same
time, we remain committed to continuing our journalistic work in
the interests of providing accurate and objective news to our
Russian-speaking audiences."

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called
on Russia's Justice Ministry to "immediately reverse its
anti-press action."

"It is reprehen
<DATA 488 9F7B>{4446:5}sible that Russia, which restricts its own
independent, critical media, is now taking action to obstruct the
work of international outlets that provide a vital alternative
news source to Russian citizens," CPJ Europe and Central Asia
Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said in a December 5
statement.

Russian officials have said the law is a "symmetrical response"
after state-funded channel RT -- which U.S. authorities accuse of
spreading propaganda -- was required to
<DATA 488 4D90>{4446:6} register its U.S.
operating unit under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act
(FARA).

U.S. officials say the action is not symmetrical, arguing that
the U.S. and Russian laws are different and that Russia uses its
"foreign-agent" legislation to silence dissent and discourage a
free exchange of ideas.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on December 4
that media outlets designated as foreign agents would not be
stripped of their accreditation with
<DATA 488 F260>{4446:7}the ministry and would be
able to "go ahead with journalistic activity in Russia calmly and
without any hindrances."

However, the State Duma is expected to pass a bill this week that
would bar U.S. media outlets that are designated as foreign
agents from entering the lower house of parliament. A senior
lawmaker in the Federation Council said the upper parliament
house will also consider a ban.

Both chambers are dominated by the ruling United Russia party and
do t
<DATA 488 AD32>{4446:8}he Kremlin's bidding.

The European Union has said the Russia legislation "goes against
Russia's human rights obligations and commitments" and called it
a "threat to free and independent media and access to
information."

Human Rights Watch has condemned the Russian legislation as a
"full-throttle attack on media freedom" and said it was
"tailor-made to be selectively and politically enforced, and to
silence voices they do not want Russian people to hear."

RFE/RL
<DATA 488 ACC7>{4446:9} and VOA are overseen by the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, a U.S. agency that supervises civilian government
broadcasting and media operations. VOA is a federal entity, while
RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit organization funded by a grant
from the U.S. Congress.

With reporting from Interfax, TASS, and RIA Novosti

https://www.rferl.org/a/rferl-voa-foreign-agents-russia-justice-ministry-rt/28897401.html

See also:
https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-parliament-vote-t
<DATA 147 C346>{4446:10}o-bar-voa-rferl/4151368.html
http://bit.ly/2BAgWnN
http://bit.ly/2k0HGa6
http://bit.ly/2Af7oCA
http://bit.ly/2AdDMWj

^r

<CNTL 10 2519>{4446:EOF}
<FILE 44 DCFE>{4446}20171206131124:SWRG25_Russia_media.txt
<ID 24 CC97>{4446}KD9XB Arlington VA
<SIZE 17 F32F>{4446}4458 10 480
<FILE 44 DCFE>{4446}20171206131124:SWRG25_Russia_media.txt
<ID 24 CC97>{4446}KD9XB Arlington VA
<SIZE 17 F32F>{4446}4458 10 480
<DATA 488 0088>{4446:1}




From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:

Russia Declares RFE/RL, VOA 'Foreign Agents'

5 December 2017

The Russian Justice Ministry has declared Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL), Voice of America (VOA), and several affiliated
news services "foreign agents " under new legislation that has
been criticized by Western governments and media-freedom
advocates.

A statement on the Justice Ministry website said that in
accordance with a new Russian law
<DATA 488 38BE>{4446:2}on mass media, it has decided
to list RFE/RL, VOA, Current Time TV, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir
Service, Siberia.Reality, Idel.Reality, Factograph, Kavkaz
Realii, and Crimea.Reality as "foreign mass media performing the
functions of a foreign agent."

The one-sentence Justice Ministry statement did not specify what
potential restrictions the media outlets could face, but
lawmakers have said designated media could be subjected to
detailed financial-reporting requiremen
<DATA 488 BA09>{4446:3}ts and required to label
published material as coming from a foreign agent.
Russia To Consider Further Steps Against U.S. Media

A Russian bill enabling the government to designate any foreign
media outlet a "foreign agent" passed quickly through parliament
and was signed by President Vladimir Putin on November 25.

RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said that the broadcaster was aware
of the Justice Ministry's announcement but has "received no
details of what this design
<DATA 488 E8AD>{4446:4}ation may mean for us."

"We will study all communications from the ministry and other
Russian official organizations carefully," he added. "At the same
time, we remain committed to continuing our journalistic work in
the interests of providing accurate and objective news to our
Russian-speaking audiences."

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called
on Russia's Justice Ministry to "immediately reverse its
anti-press action."

"It is reprehen
<DATA 488 9F7B>{4446:5}sible that Russia, which restricts its own
independent, critical media, is now taking action to obstruct the
work of international outlets that provide a vital alternative
news source to Russian citizens," CPJ Europe and Central Asia
Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said in a December 5
statement.

Russian officials have said the law is a "symmetrical response"
after state-funded channel RT -- which U.S. authorities accuse of
spreading propaganda -- was required to
<DATA 488 4D90>{4446:6} register its U.S.
operating unit under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act
(FARA).

U.S. officials say the action is not symmetrical, arguing that
the U.S. and Russian laws are different and that Russia uses its
"foreign-agent" legislation to silence dissent and discourage a
free exchange of ideas.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on December 4
that media outlets designated as foreign agents would not be
stripped of their accreditation with
<DATA 488 F260>{4446:7}the ministry and would be
able to "go ahead with journalistic activity in Russia calmly and
without any hindrances."

However, the State Duma is expected to pass a bill this week that
would bar U.S. media outlets that are designated as foreign
agents from entering the lower house of parliament. A senior
lawmaker in the Federation Council said the upper parliament
house will also consider a ban.

Both chambers are dominated by the ruling United Russia party and
do t
<DATA 488 AD32>{4446:8}he Kremlin's bidding.

The European Union has said the Russia legislation "goes against
Russia's human rights obligations and commitments" and called it
a "threat to free and independent media and access to
information."

Human Rights Watch has condemned the Russian legislation as a
"full-throttle attack on media freedom" and said it was
"tailor-made to be selectively and politically enforced, and to
silence voices they do not want Russian people to hear."

RFE/RL
<DATA 488 ACC7>{4446:9} and VOA are overseen by the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, a U.S. agency that supervises civilian government
broadcasting and media operations. VOA is a federal entity, while
RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit organization funded by a grant
from the U.S. Congress.

With reporting from Interfax, TASS, and RIA Novosti

https://www.rferl.org/a/rferl-voa-foreign-agents-russia-justice-ministry-rt/28897401.html

See also:
https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-parliament-vote-t
<DATA 147 C346>{4446:10}o-bar-voa-rferl/4151368.html
http://bit.ly/2BAgWnN
http://bit.ly/2k0HGa6
http://bit.ly/2Af7oCA
http://bit.ly/2AdDMWj

^r
 

     C:\Users\Roger\NBEMS.files\FLAMP\rx\SWRG25_Russia_media.txt
     %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\NBEMS.files\FLAMP\rx\SWRG25_Russia_media.txt

From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:

Russia Declares RFE/RL, VOA 'Foreign Agents'

5 December 2017

The Russian Justice Ministry has declared Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL), Voice of America (VOA), and several affiliated
news services "foreign agents " under new legislation that has
been criticized by Western governments and media-freedom
advocates.

A statement on the Justice Ministry website said that in
accordance with a new Russian law on mass media, it has decided
to list RFE/RL, VOA, Current Time TV, and RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir
Service, Siberia.Reality, Idel.Reality, Factograph, Kavkaz
Realii, and Crimea.Reality as "foreign mass media performing the
functions of a foreign agent."

The one-sentence Justice Ministry statement did not specify what
potential restrictions the media outlets could face, but
lawmakers have said designated media could be subjected to
detailed financial-reporting requirements and required to label
published material as coming from a foreign agent.
Russia To Consider Further Steps Against U.S. Media

A Russian bill enabling the government to designate any foreign
media outlet a "foreign agent" passed quickly through parliament
and was signed by President Vladimir Putin on November 25.

RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said that the broadcaster was aware
of the Justice Ministry's announcement but has "received no
details of what this designation may mean for us."

"We will study all communications from the ministry and other
Russian official organizations carefully," he added. "At the same
time, we remain committed to continuing our journalistic work in
the interests of providing accurate and objective news to our
Russian-speaking audiences."

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called
on Russia's Justice Ministry to "immediately reverse its
anti-press action."

"It is reprehensible that Russia, which restricts its own
independent, critical media, is now taking action to obstruct the
work of international outlets that provide a vital alternative
news source to Russian citizens," CPJ Europe and Central Asia
Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said in a December 5
statement.

Russian officials have said the law is a "symmetrical response"
after state-funded channel RT -- which U.S. authorities accuse of
spreading propaganda -- was required to register its U.S.
operating unit under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act
(FARA).

U.S. officials say the action is not symmetrical, arguing that
the U.S. and Russian laws are different and that Russia uses its
"foreign-agent" legislation to silence dissent and discourage a
free exchange of ideas.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on December 4
that media outlets designated as foreign agents would not be
stripped of their accreditation with the ministry and would be
able to "go ahead with journalistic activity in Russia calmly and
without any hindrances."

However, the State Duma is expected to pass a bill this week that
would bar U.S. media outlets that are designated as foreign
agents from entering the lower house of parliament. A senior
lawmaker in the Federation Council said the upper parliament
house will also consider a ban.

Both chambers are dominated by the ruling United Russia party and
do the Kremlin's bidding.

The European Union has said the Russia legislation "goes against
Russia's human rights obligations and commitments" and called it
a "threat to free and independent media and access to
information."

Human Rights Watch has condemned the Russian legislation as a
"full-throttle attack on media freedom" and said it was
"tailor-made to be selectively and politically enforced, and to
silence voices they do not want Russian people to hear."

RFE/RL and VOA are overseen by the Broadcasting Board of
Governors, a U.S. agency that supervises civilian government
broadcasting and media operations. VOA is a federal entity, while
RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit organization funded by a grant
from the U.S. Congress.

With reporting from Interfax, TASS, and RIA Novosti

https://www.rferl.org/a/rferl-voa-foreign-agents-russia-justice-ministry-rt/28897401.html

See also:
https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-parliament-vote-to-bar-voa-rferl/4151368.html
http://bit.ly/2BAgWnN
http://bit.ly/2k0HGa6
http://bit.ly/2Af7oCA
http://bit.ly/2AdDMWj

^r
 

From Deutsche Welle:

Christmas market in Germany begs visitors to stop coming

Thousands of visitors caused chaos as they flocked to the
idyllic forest market in Velen near the Dutch border, a
village of only 75 people. Some 85 million people visit
Germany's Christmas markets every year.

Elizabeth Schumacher
7 December 2017

A Christmas market in the German town of Velen has had to implore
visitors to stop coming after a heavy influx of tourists
descended on the tiny village near the Dutch border.

"As a result of the massive rush of visitors we must cancel this
event!" organizers from Velen's small hamlet of Landgut Krumme
wrote on Facebook, "the Christmas market in the forest remains a
market for visitors from the area!"

The post asked that people from outside the region find another
place to get their mulled wine and holiday handicrafts: "Thank
you for understanding."

Tourists from all over Germany and neighboring countries,
especially Belgium and the Netherlands, flock to the country's
December markets to enjoy drinks, treats and the festive
atmosphere.
 

Looking at the pictures both on social media and those promoted
by the tourism board of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia,
where Velen lies, it is not difficult to see why people would
converge on the community's Christmas market.

Tucked inside an idyllic forest northwest of Dortmund, the market
also boasted a "living Nativity" scene and locally-made
delicacies.

But this proved too popular for Landgut Krumme, which local
newspaper Westdeutsche Allegemeine Zeitung wrote has only 75
inhabitants. On the first weekend of advent, thousands gathered
in the hamlet, blocking the small streets for several kilometers
in every direction.
 

According to the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, a daily from Cologne –
the site of Germany's most-visited Christmas markets – the number
of foreign guests to the markets more than doubled over the past
few years, and each year a total of about 85 million visitors
make their way to the holiday staple.

The tradition of Christmas markets in Germany-speaking countries
dates back to the Middle Ages, with the oldest thought to have
started in Vienna in 1298 and the most famous being Nuremberg's
"Christkindlmarkt."

http://www.dw.com/en/christmas-market-in-germany-begs-visitors-to-stop-coming/a-41688030


Sending Pic:225x151C;


 

Von der Deutschen Welle:

Weihnachtsmarkt in Deutschland bittet die Besucher, nicht mehr zu kommen

Tausende von Besuchern verursachten ein Chaos, als sie zu  einem idyllischen

Waldweihnachtsmarkt bei Velen strömten.

Diese Gemeinde (Landgut Krumme) nahe der niederländischen Grenze hat nur 75 Einwohner.
Rund 85 Millionen Menschen besuchen Deutschlands Weihnachtsmärkte jedes Jahr.

Elizabeth Schumacher
7. Dezember 2017

Ein Weihnachtsmarkt (nahe) der deutschen Stadt Velen hat  flehentlich Besucher

gebeten, ihre Anreise abzubrechen,  nachdem es zu einem starken Zustrom von Touristen
auf das winzige Dorf in der Nähe der niederländischen Grenze gekommen ist.

"Als Folge eines massiven Ansturms der Besucher müssen wir das Ereignis absagen"..

und:   "der Weihnachtsmarkt im Wald bleibt ein Markt für Besucher aus der Gegend!"
schrieben die Organisatoren von Velen's  kleinem Weiler   (Weiler=kleines Dorf)

vom Landgut Krumme auf Facebook.

In dem Posting bat man darum, dass die Menschen von außerhalb der Region sich einen

anderen Ort aussuchen sollten, um ihren Glühwein und Kunsthandwerk zu bekommen: "Danke
für Ihr Verständnis".

Touristen aus ganz Deutschland und den benachbarten Ländern, insbesondere

Belgien und der Niederlande, strömen auf die Dezember-Märkte des Landes,

um Getränke und  Leckereien zu genießen  und sich an der festlichen Atmosphäre

zu erfreuen.
 

Mit Blick auf die Bilder sowohl in den sozialen Medien als auch auf die vom

Touristenverband des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen beworbenen, wo Velen liegt,

ist es nicht schwer zu verstehen, warum Menschen auf den Weihnachtsmarkt

dieser Gemeinde geströmt sind..

Versteckt in einem idyllischen Wald nordwestlich von Dortmund,  rühmte sich

der Markt auch für eine "lebendige Krippe" - Szene und einheimische

Köstlichkeiten.

Aber dies erwies sich als zu populär für das Landgut Krumme, welches laut lokaler
Presse, der Westdeutschen Allgemeinen Zeitung,  nur 75 Einwohner hat..

Am ersten Adventswochenende versammelten sich Tausende
in dem kleinen Dorf und blockierten die schmalen Straßen über mehrere Kilometer
in alle Richtungen.

Laut dem Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, einer Tagszeitung aus Köln -
dem Gebiet, in dem es die meist besuchten Weihnachtsmärkte Deutschlands gibt –

hat sich die Zahl von ausländischen Gästen auf diesen Märkten in den vergangenen Jahren

mehr als verdoppelt. Und jedes Jahr machen sich insgesamt rund 85 Millionen Besucher
auf den Weg zu den  Feiertags-Begehrlichkeiten..

Die Tradition der Weihnachtsmärkte in deutschsprachigen Ländern
stammt aus dem Mittelalter. Der vermutlich älteste Markt begann in

Wien im Jahre 1298 und der berühmteste ist wohl der "Christkindlmarkt."

in Nürnberg.

 

  Ending song:

  https://www.midomi.com/index.php?action=main.track&track_id=100642113351263106&from=voice_search

  Barry and Beth Hall - Patapan