Article and photos:Minh Trang(from the Netherlands)
Winter has just begun and my friends are already calling each other on Facebook to go to the Christmas market. How fast. It has been a year in a row. I accepted an invitation to write for Travellive about the Christmas markets in Europe - where I live, but I still feel very excited and thrilled like the first time I experienced these special markets. There is something like waiting, like hoping, like when I was a child, waiting for my mother to come home from the market so I could get a candy or a cake. How warm...
The origin of the Christmas market
Originating around the 13th century, Christmas markets began in Austria and the German-speaking regions of Europe and over time spread to neighboring regions, until now they are all over Europe. The markets are held when the Advent calendar begins, which is four weeks before Christmas Eve, until Christmas Day (December 24 or 25). The Advent calendar, which is Latin for "coming," describes the eagerness of Christians to count the days until Jesus' "coming."
In the beginning, the market was set up in the square around the city's cathedral to attract people to church. Local traders were free to display their goods in small wooden house-like stalls. People went to the market to buy gifts for their children and relatives. The main products of the market were handmade decorations by local craftsmen. Besides, the market was also a place for street artists to perform lively Christmas melodies.
Winter is cold, but market-goers are warmed by local specialties such as grilled sausages, roasted chestnuts and sipping on special, rich wine, then the Gluhwein Christmas market is warmed up.
Today Christmas markets are held all over Europe from late November until Christmas Day. A city may have several markets depending on the number of squares it has. However, the official market is always the one around the cathedral of that city.
Europe - people go to Christmas markets
Christmas is often compared to the season of lights and decorative lights. Perhaps that is why Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark tops the list of the most beautiful and special Christmas markets nominated by CNN and many websites. Coming to Tivoli Gardens, visitors will admire the proud beauty of the art of light elaborately created in the grounds of this famous cultural park. And of course, like other Christmas markets, visitors will be able to shop for exquisite local handicrafts made by local craftsmen. And of course, there are also fragrant food stalls and strong mulled wine.
Unlike the splendor of the Danish Christmas market, the Christmas markets in Switzerland are mentioned in a very typical winter scene of snow-covered mountains, icy lakes, winding roads, up and down. Although not as old as Germany or Austria, Switzerland attracts tourists with very Swiss markets such as the "highest Christmas market" located on Mt. Pilatus, over 2,000m high. This market is especially only open for a few days at the end of November due to harsh weather conditions and geography. Latecomers can visit the Christmas market in one of the cities recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage, Bern. This market is especially open longer than other markets in this country.
Of course, when talking about Christmas, we cannot help but talk about France, the land of artists and romance. And of course, we cannot help but talk about the Christmas market in Strassbourgh, in the Alsace hills, northeastern France. The Christmas market in the square in front of the Strassbourgh cathedral is the largest and oldest market in France, over 400 years old. With the same lights, food and music as thousands of Christmas markets across Europe, the Christmas markets in Alsace are still confident in the very unique characteristics of this land of pine-scented hills.
Winter in the mountains is always a typical scene, but that does not mean that the winter of the Mediterranean city of Spain is overshadowed. On the contrary, the Christmas market in Barcelona tops the list of outstanding Christmas markets, according to the British magazine Time Out. Established around the end of the 18th century, the Barcelona Christmas market is quite young, but has a variety of types from traditional markets to splendid Christmas music parades and grand art exhibitions during the market time.
It would be a shame to forget the Christmas markets in Berlin, Germany, which is fondly called the "capital of Christmas markets" by tourists from all over the world. The Keiser Wilhelm market is said to be the largest and most famous Christmas market in Europe, attracting over four million visitors each year. In addition, Berlin has over 50 Christmas markets spread across this city of nearly four million people.
Talking about Christmas markets, perhaps no pen and paper can describe the liveliness and characteristics of each market, each region across Europe. People go to the market to exchange, buy and sell goods. People go to Christmas markets for a more special exchange. It is the exchange of warm glances, smiles, of joys given and received. The cold winter would probably be even colder without these markets.
More information:
How to get there
+ Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market: located in the heart of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. From Copenhagen International Airport, take train OR 1405 to reach the entrance of Tivoli Gardens in just 15 minutes.
+ Christmas Market at Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland:From Lucern city center station, it takes 20 minutes by train to reach Mt. Pilatus.
+ Bern Christmas Market:right in the heart of the Swiss capital Bern. Switzerland is a small country and Bern is centrally located, so it is easy to take a train or drive to Bern from any city. For example, driving from Zurich to Bern is only about 1.5 hours.
+ Strassbourg Christmas Market, France: Strassbourg is nearly 500km from Paris, a 5-hour drive, but only 2 hours and 20 minutes by TGV high-speed train. Strassbourg Central Station is located right in the city center, so you can just walk to the main square.
+ Barcelona Christmas Market, Spain: located in the heart of Barcelona. From Barcelona International Airport, you can get to the city center by taxi, bus, train and metro. The metro does not run directly from the airport, so you must first take the train (every 30 minutes) to Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gracia or Clot to catch the metro to the city center.
+ Berlin Christmas Market, Germany: located in the capital of Germany, Berlin. Berlin has a very convenient subway network. From Berliner International Airport, take the TXL X9, 109 or 128 buses to the subway (U Bahn) stations to get to the market places. You can refer to the very detailed subway system map at the airport and any U Bahn station.
Link to the Berlin subway system map:
http://www.berlin-airport.de/DE/ReisendeUndBesucher/AnUndAbreise/downloads/LiniennetzBahn.pdf
