Christmas market in Magdeburg: A festival in the shadow of the attack

Christmas market in Magdeburg: A festival in the shadow of the attack

The anticipation of the Christmas market in Magdeburg is palpable, but the shadows of the past remain present. On November 20th, eleven months after the devastating attack in which a man driving a BMW X3 claimed the lives of six people and injured over 300, the Christmas market opened on the Old Market. Dirk Eckermann, who works on the tourist train, has not only business but also emotional memories associated with this place, as his father built the train in 1969. “The tourist train has a very personal connection for me,” he says.

Eckermann and his wife run two stalls at the market, the Champignonpfanne and the tourist train. For them, the Christmas market is not simply a business, but a symbol of resistance against the perpetrator. Despite various opinions, the city council decided to hold the market in the city, but with adapted stands to take the victims and their families into account.

Emotional divisions in the city

But not everyone in Magdeburg is enthusiastic about the market being held. Doreen Majchrzak from the emergency pastoral care describes a clear division: On the one side are those who want to put the attack behind them, on the other are those for whom the wounds are still fresh. These emotional conflicts are also reflected in the upcoming trial against the assassin, which begins ten days before the market opens and will stir up many people in the city.

The psychological consequences of the attack continue to be felt by many of those affected. Some have difficulty getting enough sleep or feel anxious about crossing crosswalks. According to Prof. Martin Walter from the German Center for Mental Health, it is crucial that affected people and their relatives are informed in good time about therapeutic offers. There are a variety of contact points that offer support to treat the often invisible consequences of trauma.

Criticism and art as expression

Mayor Simone Borris reported over 1.5 million euros in donations for the victims of the tragedy and highlighted the positive feedback on the events organized to support those affected. Nevertheless, there are also critical voices regarding communication with the victims. In the city, grief and processing are a constant companion. Bastian Lomsché, dramaturg at the Magdeburg Theater, has created a play called “Three Minutes” in which he addresses the consequences of the attack. However, this announcement also caused controversy, forcing the theater to call in the police.

In Magdeburg there is a wide range of reactions to the upcoming event. The city remains in a state of shock and many are sinking into denial mode. Nevertheless, the Christmas market is approaching - a chance for citizens to come together and show solidarity. The festival is just around the corner and Magdeburg is trying, despite all the adversities, to regain a bit of normality.