Hamburg’s XXX-mas market

Drag acts, stripping Santas, porn karaoke: must be Christmas

Santa Pauli

Porn karaoke: it’s the cornerstone of every Christmas celebration. Like carols, crap jumpers and the ceremonial opening of an advent calendar, the festive season isn’t complete without a screaming orgasm. Christmas only comes once a year, so make it a good one.

At least that’s how the good patrons of Hamburg’s adult-only Christmas market see it. Every year they slip into the festive season with a visit to Santa Pauli, where pretending to have sex with a microphone has become something of a custom.

Always one to respect local customs, I sidle down to the sultry souk, hotfooting it to the Strip Tent, where a beefy doorman looks me up and down before letting me in. This canvas cave of coquettishness is normally reserved for burlesque shows, but tonight the stage is set for a round of porn karaoke; an event of unbridled awkwardness, which I, emboldened by a few steins of the local poison, volunteer myself for.

With conventional karaoke, my tuneless crooning usually prompts groans from listeners, but now it’s me groaning to the audience, panting out an orgasmic soundtrack that synchs with the fleshy adult action being projected onto a screen above me. Judging by the dated hairstyles and cheesy soundtracks, the blue movie must be at least three decades old.

The market brings a whole new meaning to Santa's stockings
Stuart Forster

There’s a creeping sense of embarrassment as I moan into the mic, but the good-natured crowd, who whoop and cheer, carry me through the awkwardness and give me the courage to pant on to a cringe-worthy climax.

Suffice to say I’m getting a real feel for Santa Pauli Market, which is held in the St Pauli docklands, an area long renowned for its louche nightlife, seedy brothels and neon-lit sex shops.

In recent years the authorities have tried to clean up the area and turn it into some sort of entertainment hub – as their Dutch counterparts are doing with Amsterdam’s red-light district – but a seedy underbelly persists: hookers still ply their trade in the sleazy streets, most famously from window brothels in Herbertstrasse.

This lively area was once the first port of call for sailors whose ships had docked. As their vessels were unloaded the salty seamen did likewise. Old-timers lament that it’s no longer a rough and ready red-light district – the rise of the internet and container shipping have brought sanitisation.

Are you balding downstairs? Then help is on hand
Santa Pauli

Nevertheless, Santa Pauli continues to play upon the area’s hard-earned reputation for smut. First held in 2006, it has a distinctly tongue-in-cheek feel, though a supressed sexuality hangs over the winter wonderland.

As with most German Christmas markets, Santa Pauli abounds with hawkers in Alpine huts, who sell all manner of handcrafted gifts: glass dildoes (not for the heavy handed, I assume), nipple clamps and a curious line in pubic toupees.

I pick up one of the hairpieces, which resembles a ginger goatee, and wonder what occasion permits such a garment. Is genital alopecia a problem I’ve hitherto been unaware of?

If so, there’s a toupee to suit every balding bush here: the hairpieces come in a range of cuts and colours, though the ginger specimen I’m pondering is definitely not for me – it clashes with my beard. The mouse brown merkin on the other hand… No, I really shouldn’t.

Assuming the adult toys, porn karaoke, live music and sexy Santas don’t get your pulse racing, the ubiquitous Glühwein surely will. I order a mug laced with a shot of rum to warm me against the chilled air, while pondering my next move. Shall I catch a burlesque show, watch Santa strip or pop back for that pubic toupee? It was my colour.

For all your Christmas shopping needs...
Creative Commons / Ik's World Trip

NEED TO KNOW

Getting there
EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) offer direct flights from Gatwick to Hamburg, and Germanwings (www.germanwings.com) fly direct from Heathrow.

Hamburg Christmas markets
Santa Pauli runs until 23 December and is part of a larger Christmas market, which includes the gay-friendly Winter Pride market in the St Georg district. If you’re looking to sex it down, head to the elegant waterfront stalls of Jungfernstieg and to the HafenCity’s Überseeboulevard.

Where to stay
Hamburg has a decent range of budget accommodation, including the Superbude St Pauli (www.superbude.de), where a double rooms with private bathroom starts at €60 a night. St Pauli also has a number of upscale options, including the East Hotel (www.east-hamburg.de), where rooms cost from €99 a night.

More information
www.hamburg-travel.com
www.facebook.com/SantaPauli.Hamburg

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