Species celebrates 53rd onion market: tradition meets young challenges

Species celebrates 53rd onion market: tradition meets young challenges

The 53rd onion market in the city of Artern attracted many visitors last weekend who enjoyed a festival full of regional specialties. Around 10,000 people flocked to the festival site to discover the treats and goods offered. At around 200 stands, local onion farmers and retailers from near and far presented their products. The highlights included traditional onion and garlic braids as well as a variety of spices, vegetables, fruit and special delicacies such as onion and bacon cake.

During my short visit to Nordhausen I was surprised by the lively atmosphere. It was obvious that the canteen in the surrounding restaurants were already well filled, many were waiting for a free place. Despite the busy hustle and bustle, it was difficult to compare this market with the Artern onion market, which has its own character. This festival not only works as a market, but also as a folk festival and also serves as a foretaste of the upcoming onion market event in Weimar.

challenges and traditions

Some changes shaped this year's event. Construction sites around the town hall and the church meant that the usual parking spaces could not be used as in the past. These infrastructural changes apparently had no major influence on the number of visitors, which indicates the continuing popularity of the market. Nevertheless, it became clear in conversations with the dealers that there are problems with young talent: The majority of the providers are over sixty years old, and there is no interest among the younger ones to go into this traditional business.

Another interesting aspect of the festival was a visit to the nearby church, where I discovered the impressive organ, which was brought from Eisleben to Artern in the 1970s. Such historical treasures underline the cultural importance of this market for the region.

Overall, the high number of visitors shows that the onion market in Artern is not only a place for trade, but also an important cultural event that brings together the community and receives the traditions alive. The event remains an important link for regionality, even if it faces challenges that need to be mastered in the future. Details of this incident are still sparse, but reports www.myheimat.de was.