Around 65 costumed actors from the Faust III theatre group and the Pirates Action Theatre wander through the castle gardens as a real life figurine cabinet, peddling their wares together with dozens of exhibitors from the region and are also, of course, available for some fun. In these times of selfies, even Sherlock Holmes and Florence Nightingale cannot avoid a photo or two, but when they must, then in the proper style. In front of the stairs leading up to the castle, a Victorian maid is fiddling with a “historic” camera. “So,” she calls to the patiently waiting family, “watch the birdie now, please!” As if on command, a small wooden bird pops out over the box – and press. “It didn’t flash, did it?” Again. “Yes, yes,” murmurs the Christmas ghost, draped in chains, who is having a meal break. “That’s how it is with new-fangled inventions.”

A few steps further, with the castle illuminated in red, green and blue in the background, a Victorian couple line up with an accordion and songbook and strike up the historic Christmas song “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Engaged by Helge Kirscht, the father of the Seven Mountains Music Night, the costumed group of musicians are adding to the Christmas market for the first time this year. The singers have even set up in the freezing dusk at the valley station of the Drachenfels train, where a waiting time of 20 minutes or longer should be planned for.

There is a large crowd around the numerous heat lamps and mulled wine stands, which adorn every corner of the grounds. The range of goods on offer is impressive: there is classic British fish ‘n’ chips and tea from steaming kettles, along with German almond biscuits, flammkuchen and jewellery from the Siebengebirge. The hot potato soup from the JVA Siegburg “Knastladen” was especially popular.

A mug of fragrant mulled wine in hand – or punch for the little ones as the case may be – it is on to the mobile stage, where the “Faust III” company is performing its very own creative version of the Dickens classic. First Scrooge as a rocker, and then angry suffragettes even jump into the scene: “Rights for women. Go, go, go!”

Scrooge does not want to know anything about justice. And now it is up to the ghost of Christmas future to get Ebenezer to see reason. But given the irresistible charm the “unique Christmas season” radiates at Schloss Drachenburg, how can Scrooge remain hard hearted for long? Original text: Neal Graham. Translated by Kate Carey.