Animated Christmas Markets announce the festive season in many cities and towns all over Europe nowadays. These Christmas Markets first originated in northern Europe and are immensely popular in countries like Austria and Germany. The Christmas markets signal the beginning of Advent or the season of the Christian Church which announces the coming of Christ. Roman Catholics believe Advent commences on the fourth Sunday before the 25th of December i.e. in the last week of November and hence it is during this period that these wonderful Christmas markets are held in several towns and cities all over Europe. In Sweden, Germany and Austria different colored candles are also lit to announce the start of Advent.
Vienna
This year the famous Christmas Markets of Vienna are to be held from the 15th of December to the 24th of December. You can find a ‘Christkindlmarkt’ on every street corner in Vienna during this season but the most famous of these markets is the one which is held on the magnificent square outside the Gothic Town hall called Rathaus. It is one of the most well known Christmas markets in Europe which is visited by millions of people each year. This market was first created in 1278 by King Rudolph I of the Hapsburg Dynasty and today it consists of more than a hundred wooden huts which are beautifully adorned with colored lights and toffee. Traditional eats like cinnamon flavored mulled wine (glühwein), macaroons seasoned with nutmeg (muskatnockerln), vanilla flavored croissants (vanillekipferl), walnut balls (rumkugeln) are available in abundance at this market at which many traditional, often hand crafted Christmas gifts and decorations are also sold. The Town Hall is dressed up as a giant Advent calendar for the event and the garden surrounding the Town Hall is also illuminated with many enchanting Christmas themed light displays. The Vokshalle located within the Town Hall even hosts a special Christmas Workshop for children where they can learn to make Christmas presents and cookies. The Christmas markets of Vienna also feature much music in the form of choirs and brass bands which perform at the Festival Halls for the season. If you are planning to visit Vienna’s enchanting Christmas Markets this season you might want to try and stay at the Donauwalzer Hotel or the Royal Hotel both of which are ideally located in the city center in close proximity to the Christmas Markets.
Copenhagen
The Tivoli Gardens are the location for the Copenhagen Christmas Markets which are to be held from November 10th to December 30th this year. The oldest amusement park in Europe is usually magnificently dressed up for the event with hundreds of Christmas trees which are adorned with fairy lights and set up all over the park. Many of the rides and attractions are also similarly illuminated as are the stalls of the Christmas market. The Christmas market at the Tivoli Gardens consists of more than sixty stalls that sell locally made arts and crafts which attract many shoppers from all over Europe who come to the Tivoli Gardens to do their Christmas shopping while they enjoy the many attractions located here. These stalls also sell traditional Danish eats like spiced apple dumplings and glögg, the Scandinavian mulled wine which is flavored with spices. The lake at the Tivoli Gardens is also transformed into an outdoor ice skating rink and there are pony rides and many other attractions for children visiting Tivoli for the Christmas season. Stay at the Grand Hotel Copenhagen or the Phoenix Hotel to enjoy the complete Christmas experience at Tivoli.
Prague
Christmas is a big event in this Czech city which hosts its biggest annual Christmas Markets in the Baroque Old Town Square as well as the Wenceslas Square. This year these markets along with smaller ones at Namesti Republiky and Havelske Trzist will be held from December 5th to the 23rd. All these markets feature small huts that sell traditional handicrafts and decorationslike wood carved puppets, jewelry, toys etc which make great stocking fillers. It is customary to sip the local version of mulled wine called svaree vino as you make your tour of the huts of Prague’s Christmas markets. If you plan to visit Prague during the Christmas season do check out the attractive rates being offered by the Radisson SAS Alcorn Hotel which is located in the heart of Wenceslas Square.
Brussels
The Belgian city of Brussels also hosts traditional Christmas Markets on its Grand Place and Place Sainte Catherine. These Christmas Markets usually consist of beautifully decorated wooden huts that are specially set up for the event. These huts sell many traditional Christmas decorations and lights like all other Christmas Markets. The highlight of the Brussels Christmas markets are its many food stalls which are a veritable gastronomic delight with their many stands that dish out mounds of French olives, Belgian chocolates, plates of moules and steamed snails, croustillons(Belgian doughnuts) and traditional festive eats like ‘speculoos’(gingerbread cookies). The Christmas Markets of Brussels will be held this year from 28th November to 28th December and if you need a hotel for your stay in Brussels at this time be sure to check out the attractive rates being offered by the Plaza Hotel in Brussels for the season.
Nuremberg
Germany’s most famous Christmas market is held in the city of Nuremberg. The origins of this market which features more than two hundred stalls can be traced back to 1628. The Christmas market at Nuremberg is known not so much for its stocking fillers but for its wide array of delicious foods which include the seasonal favorite Glühwein along with traditional specialties like Nürnberger Bratwurst which is a spicy sausage, Lebkuchen a traditional spicy gingerbread, sweet almonds and Zwetschgenmännle (the little prune people). The market this year will be held from the 28th of November to the 24th of December. Do check out the special rates being offered by the InerCity Hotel in Nuremberg if you plan to visit Nuremberg’s beautiful Christmas Market this season.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 at 12:01 am and is filed under Europe, Shopping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I love the little gift shops in Prague, I hope I can make it back there next December.