The Christmas Season is just amazing. It’s the time when we all get prepared to celebrate the holiday of the year. But the main question that comes to mind is the one about how to get cute gifts for everybody and at the same time not to get exhausted. I guess the traditional Christmas markets in Europe are just serving for this purpose. They are a mixture of annual fairs and a local gift markets, which mostly includes handmade souvenirs and jewelry. Another fun thing about these fairs is the fact that you can get some of the gifts for free as taking part in various competitions. Today we shall present you 10 best Christmas markets in Europe.
1.Greenwich Christmas Market
When being a rather popular place in England it is holding one of the best Christmas markets which start in December 9. All of the ceremony is being accompanied with mulled wine and live music and all of this lasts until Christmas. Organizers promise a lot of surprises, wonderful gifts that are not ashamed to be put under the tree or in stockings obedient kids. A special attention needs to be paid on the fashion jewelry for the women.
2. Christmas Fair in Zurich, Switzerland
This traditional Christmas fair is one of the largest, if not the largest covered fairs in the Europe. But this doesn’t mean that this place is boring and left without any fun. It might be hard to believe, but under the roof this fair became the house for more than 160 wooden stalls and a huge Christmas tree, decorated with five thousand Swarovski crystals. Opened on 27 November, the market operates until the official Christmas Day of December 24.
3. Christmas market in Leeds, Yorkshire, England
In the small town of Leeds located in England, is one of the largest “German-style” Christmas markets in the UK, which means- here you are being awaited by dozens of booths filled with handmade toys, jewelry and all sorts of delicacies so typical of UK: fried cakes, candied fruits, soups, and grilled sausages. And be careful when visiting a real beer cellar: tasting good German beer is very easy to get carried away. The fair runs from 13 November up to 20 December.
4. Christmas Fair in Mechelen, Belgium
From 18 to 20 December in the town square between tall Gothic towers will be fair, where you can buy typical Belgian gifts, drink warming mulled wine in the evening still and listen to performances by singers and musicians. This place cannot be called an ideal fair place with its offers, but the atmosphere and the spirit of Christmas are definitely guaranteed. So this might be slightly called to be a best way of resting after the Christmas gift-buying.
5. Christmas Festival of Padstow, Cornwall, England
This pre-Christmas festival devoted only couple of days and they are rather various each year. Clearly, in a town where the restaurants with renowned chef Rick Stein, any holiday brings joy, first and foremost, gourmets and sybarite. A novelty in 2009 will be a skating area of 3000 sq.m, where you can get rid of all the stress and just get relaxed. And after the sports, guests can warm up with hot chocolate and the hot cakes in the cafes or bistros, located nearby.
6. Christmas Fair in Tallinn, Estonia
Another medieval type of fair can be simply called this Baltic treasure. This colorful occasion is usually held on the main square, which is constructed by 64 wooden benches. Felt hats, pickled cabbage, carrots, ceramics, hand-stitched quilts and many other interesting things will be submitted to the singing of choirs, performances of poets and musicians. This promises to be something unforgettable. This market is open till Orthodox Christmas, so wander along its rows can be even after the New Year as the latest holiday is being celebrated in January.
7. Fête dé Noué, Jersey
Christmas parades, holiday entertainment, a demonstration of old classic movies, working till late night shopping – all this can be seen from 26 November to 20 December at the festival in Jersey. This seems to be not just a Christmas holiday but simply a way of getting acquainted with the population here and their culture. If you find yourself in the vicinity, be sure to dedicate a holiday a couple of days – this is where you can feel the atmosphere of a real English Christmas and find out how the land of rains hosts this awesome holiday.
8. Christmas Fair in Krakow, Poland
If the list of mulled wine, handicrafts, traditional cuisine and Christmas carols seems too much common from the listings above then this market will not much vary from others that have opened throughout Europe. But as our listing is based on the most interesting ones then this fair also has something extraordinary to offer. This time the main features that are included are huge snow drifts, which further set the holiday mood and snowmen which are being made with the Polish children to celebrate the spirit of the holiday.
9. Christmas market Caerphilly, Wales
From 12 to 13 December in Wales is a medieval-type of Christmas market. This can be truly distinguishing if being compared to the English type of fairs. As the Welsh people like to celebrate everything with the respect of the oldest traditions you will not be surprised if feeling yourself in the medieval times. You might come here to listen to ancient music, wander among the hundreds of stalls that sell traditional products of local artisans, and children waiting for rides, sweets and a fascinating journey into Santa’s grotto.
10. Christmas market, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
From 27 November to 24 December operates France’s largest Christmas Fair Arras. In more than 60 kiosks at the elegant pedestrian street, you can buy everything you need for a meeting of the Nativity: from sweets to a special Christmas beer. French people like to get prepared for the Christmas very detailed and this includes every single element of their homes such as not only decorating their homes with Christmas trees and various Christmas accessories but rather making their homes into Christmas masterpieces. So if you consider yourself a true Christmas shopper, you better stop here.
nice post ….really amazing