A tourist site says:
The Christmas fairs and markets of Germany are unique. If you’re tired of commercialism taking over this holiday period and would like to get right away for a real traditional Christmas you might consider heading to Germany where gifts are not mass-produced but craftwork of real quality.
Here you can buy all kinds of Christmas merchandise and gifts, especially traditional things such as crib figurines, toys, wood carvings, marionettes, candles and lambskin shoes. Many are difficult to resist – as will be the glass of delicious mulled wine you are offered and the baked apples that are very welcome on crisp winter days.
(My italics). That is the trouble. By the eiusdem generis rule, the expression ‘all kinds of’ followed by ‘crib figurines, toys, …’ etc. excludes things that would not fit in that list, such as computer games, plastic reindeer heads, the new Hannibal Lecter novel, MP3 players and mass-produced confectionery – even though some might associate these with Christmas.
Here is Lord Rooker speaking in the House of Lords on the eiusdem generis rule (Romain says Auslegungsregel der Beschränkung eines Sammelbegriffs auf Gegenstände der aufgezählten Art):
As I understand it – I am not a lawyer – No, I am not, but I say to my noble friend that sometimes I have a little more common sense than the lawyers and I do not use as many words as they do. I apologise for that but I cannot read in long paragraphs. However, I am reliably informed that in the definition of conditions of service is the word “includes”. That is an important word, as are the words that follow it. So far as concerns the lawyers, it means that only certain things may be added to the list of pay, allowances, hours of duty or leave. The list is not as long as a piece of string.
I sought expertise because I was wondering how on earth to pronounce eiusdem generis. I am sure the lawyers say that this is the same kind of thing; in other words, that the word “includes” means that only things of the same kind can be added to a list.
Here’s a Christmas market in the German style outside Winchester Cathedral.
The Cathedral will source the very best exhibitors to fill the chalets, to satisfy and inspire the most discerning shoppers. Professional artists, craftspeople or international exhibitors would be most welcome. The variety of stalls will include gifts for all tastes and budgets. From traditional wooden Christmas decorations from England and Germany to gifts from Provence, Danish hand-blown glassware, fine linens, studio pottery, knitwear, silk screen designs and much more.
Only for the discerning, but (to quote the first site) an odd way of ‘getting away from commercialism’.
Btw, non-natives might note the ‘hand-blown glassware’ (mundgeblasen). Blowing is obviously a variable activity.
Thanks to kalebeul.
