There are not many days left until Christmas and we are all so excited! If you have not got in to the Christmas spirit yet, I hope that reading about the best Christmas Markets in Europe will help you get there.
I will definitely start with the Leeds German Market. It has transformed the Millennium Square into a German village which consists of more than forty wooden chalet stalls. Within these stalls there are a great variety of Christmas decorations, jewellery and toys for you to buy. You can also taste various German delicacies such as schnitzels and bratwurst sausages, as well as delicious crepes and waffles.
London is undeniably an amazing destination for the Christmas holidays and its many Christmas Markets and fairs can really get you in to the festive mood. The Christmas Market at Tate Modern has more than seventy wooden chalets where you can buy wooden toys, jewellery and much more. You can eat roasted nuts or drink a warming cup of glühwein which is a beverage usually made with red wine, various mulling spices, and raisins and is a traditional drink around Christmas.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a place you should definitely visit. Over two hundred charming wooden chalets of unique gifts, handmade crafts and Christmas decorations can help you find great gift ideas for others. There is a wide range of tasty treats alongside the valuable opportunity to watch some spectacular circus shows and glide around the UK’s largest and most magical ice rink.
Vienna Magic of Advent, situated in front of Vienna’s City Hall, attracts its visitors with the spectacles of the evergreen Christmas tree, the ‘Christkindl’s Workshop’ and the decorated “Cupcake tree”. There is also a great selection of gifts and mouth-watering treats!
In fact, it was in Strasbourg in 1570 that the very first version of a Christmas Market in Europe took place. Since then, it has been called ‘Christkindelsmärik’ which means ‘market of the infant Jesus.’ It is held near Strasbourg Cathedral every year and the warm tradition of an Alsatian Christmas has been continued until today. Therefore, Strasbourg is considered “The Capital of Christmas”.
Leipzig Christmas Market, which is in the beautiful old market square in front of the Town Hall of Leipzig, is one of the largest and most appealing Christmas Markets in Germany. It has around two hundred and fifty stalls and it offers entertainment to visitors, as daily trumpet fanfares and Christmas concerts are held there.
To sum up, visiting a Christmas market is an absolute must if you want to be part of a pleasant and festive atmosphere. It can be a great opportunity to have a stroll with your friends and family, and find some nice gifts to buy- or taste some delicacies that you can’t resist! Let me end with the quote of the day, which is about Christmas spirit: ‘Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas’ (Calvin Coolidge).
Elina Stylianou
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