To market, to market…
- POSTED ON: 22 Dec, 2018
- TOTAL VIEWS: 910 Views
- POSTED BY: Madhumitha Srinivasan
- ARTICLE POINTS: 100 Points
Christmas markets, also known as Christkindlmarkt, are associated with Christmas and making merry. They were first seen in Germany, Austria, eastern French regions of Alsace, Lorraine and Savoy and South Tyrol in Northern Italy.
In Austria, the Vienna market, which dates back to 1294, was a precursor to the Christmas market. Dresden, capital of the eastern German state of Saxony, first held its Strietzelmarkt in 1434.
In Germany, the markets of Augsburg, Frankfurt, Erfurt, Dresden, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart are well known. While the Nuremberg and Dresden markets draw over two million people annually, those in Stuttgart and Frankfurt have more than three million visitors. The Christmas market in Dortmund, Germany, has more than 300 stalls around a gigantic Christmas tree.
Today, these markets have become a rage across the world. Aachen, in Europe, for instance, becomes a haze of colour every year, before Christmas. The streets near the Cathedral and the Aachen Town Hall are abuzz with light, colours, and delicious food. The Christmas market in Aachen is a mix of tradition and style, and is fascinating.
The London Bridge City Christmas market is known for its homemade gifts and delicious food, sold from German-style chalets. Handmade crafts from over 100 independent traders, pop-up food stalls, film screenings, live music and a fantastic view of the Tower Bridge and Tower of London, this Christmas market is a treat.
Amsterdam’s markets are not to be forgotten. From traditional Dickensian markets that aim to capture all the magic of a traditional Victorian Christmas to trendy food festivals inside old industrial buildings, Amsterdam is a haven for Christmas lovers.
Photos: Flickr/Neuwieser; Bob Hall; Paul Woolrich; Dmitry Dzhus; AugustusTours; Anita; Nathan Reading