By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN
There is nothing like a festive market to awaken the Christmas spirit in people.
Although those events date back to Vienna (the first recorded December market in the city dates back to 1298), the culture has spread around the world over the centuries.
From Germany to Switzerland to New York, it’s hard to find a coveted destination that doesn’t have an impressive annual advent market.
In fact, some are so popular that they have tourist attractions in their own right.
In recent years, several well-known festive markets have been forced to reduce or cancel all festivities due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the vast majority return by 2022.
Here’s our look at the Christmas markets around the world this year.
With reindeer rides, a giant Ferris wheel and an ancient nativity scene, Vienna’s magical exhibition perfectly sums up the festive spirit.
Although there are about twenty Christmas markets in the Austrian capital, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt, held in front of the town hall, or Rathausplatz, is one of its oldest and maximum classic events.
According to officials, the event, also known as Vienna’s Christmas Dream Market, will be more family-friendly this year, with larger spaces geared toward young visitors, and a 150-square-meter children’s ice rink will be added. .
The celebrated Tree of Hearts, a giant maple adorned with lots of bright hearts, is a guest favorite and a wonderful photo opportunity.
There are also more than 150 stalls offering delicacies like Austrian sausages and gingerbread crackers, like a homemade Christmas punch.
Wiener Christkindlmarkt will be open from 19 November to 26 December 2022.
It’s hard for a destination that makes Christmas grander than Switzerland.
Most Swiss cities are almost overrun by festive markets at this time of year and the atmosphere is amazing. Basel’s Christmas market is the largest and arguably the best.
Separated into two other sections at Barfusserplatz and Munsterplatz, it consists of some two hundred fabulously decorated stalls promoting spices, ornaments and Christmas candles.
Family attractions come with the fairytale forest at Munsterplatz with activities like gingerbread and candle decorating, a star workshop, and a festive train.
The Basel Christmas Market opens on November 24 and will continue until December 23.
Strasbourg, one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, began in 1570, but has evolved significantly since then.
Spread across more than 10 locations, adding a component of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Grande Île, the popular market lights up the city with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights and festive decorations.
Before Covid, around two million people a year frequented the market, which includes many wooden chalet stalls promoting everything from decorations and gifts to local Alsatian wine.
Klebe Square is its most popular position thanks to the giant Christmas tree on display.
But visitors will find many magical attractions as they walk through the narrow alleys and pretty squares of the city.
Strasbourg Christmas Market from 25 November to 24 December.
Brussels comes alive at Christmas thanks to the Pleasures of Winter, which are more of a party than a market.
The annual extravaganza, which encompasses the Stock Exchange, Plos angelesce de los angeles Monnaie, Grand Plos angelesce, Plos angelesce Sainte Catherine and the Fish Market, is one of Belgium’s largest and most populous events.
A sonic and soft show, ice skating and walks are some of the activities to enjoy, while visitors can also explore around two hundred chalets serving glühwein, Belgian beers and waffles and appreciate with amazement the huge Christmas tree erected on the Grand Place.
The Brussels Winter Wonders will take position from November 25 to January 1, 2023.
To say that Prague does everything possible at Christmas is an understatement.
The capital of the Czech Republic is the very definition of a winter wonderland festive season.
Although there is no shortage of markets in the city, the most important ones are located in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
Luckily, those stalls are only a few minutes’ walk from others, so partygoers can seamlessly stop at either in one day.
Old Town Square offers endless entertainment in the form of shows, dances and artistic workshops, while Wenceslas Square is ideal for homemade gifts and local delicacies such as klobasa (Czech sausage) and mulled wine.
The markets will take position from November 26 to January 6, 2023.
The Fira de Santa Llucia, which dates back to 1786, has from a day of celebration of the Santa Llucia dinner, which is celebrated on December 13, to a three-week fair.
Located just outside Barcelona Cathedral, the bustling market is divided into 4 other sections.
The first is the nativity scene and the figurines, where visitors can collect decorations and figurines of the nativity scene. The vegetation and plants are complete with trees and types of herb-based and synthetic plants.
The handicrafts segment offers homemade products and jewelry, while simbombas are for musical instruments.
There are also plenty of festive activities like storytelling, a Christmas parade, and the caga tio, a huge piñata-style Christmas log that spills chocolates and gifts when hit with a stick.
The Fira de Santa Llucia will take office from November 25 to December 23, 2022.
There’s plenty to see in this charming market, but nothing can beat the amazing backdrop presented by the Franciscan basilica of Santa Croce.
Although this classic fair is transported from Heidelberg, Germany to Florence, it is a very Italian affair in many tactics thanks to the scenery and the many Italian delicacies, such as the panforte, on sale.
However, there is no shortage of gingerbread, strudel and the classic Heidelberg Lekkuchen biscuits.
Those who walk near Piazza del Duomo will enjoy a magnificent nativity scene, as well as an impressive Christmas tree illuminated on December 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
I Mercati Natale begins on November 19 and is scheduled to end on December 18.
It is easy to see why Zagreb has been voted “Best destination in the Christmas market” in the online survey of the European Best Destinations portal for 3 consecutive years.
The Croatian capital actually goes to the city of Advent. Think living nativity scenes, ice sculptures, outdoor concerts, pop-up bars, and a Christmas tram with Santa Claus and his elves.
Advent in Zagreb also has a domain dedicated to “fun” (or “fuliranje”) where extremely cheerful revelers are found dancing in the street while eating street food and listening to live entertainment.
Advent in Zagreb 2022 is scheduled from November 26 to January 7, 2023.
Considered the inspiration for Disneyland, this Danish amusement park and its exciting lawn is a dazzling place to stop at any time of the year.
But struggle to find a place as charming as Tivoli Gardens during the holiday season.
With over 1,000 superbly decorated Christmas trees decorating the beautiful park, and everything from fairground attractions to a classic Pixie Band for entertainment, it’s a winter party like no other.
This year, the occasion will feature a red Christmas center with projected photographs of Christmas stories, while a huge Christmas tree will be erected on Lake Tivoli.
The annual St. Lucia procession on December 13, where more than a hundred women walk through the gardens with candles and singing to mark St. Lucia’s Day, is a special highlight, along with the fireworks that take place between December 25 and 26, as well as New Year’s Eve.
Christmas in Tivoli runs from November 19 to December 31 (the park will be closed on December 24).
The Estonian capital’s annual event is one of Europe’s top Christmas markets.
Located on Tallinn’s Town Hall Square, it is full of stalls serving classic Estonian cuisine, artisan bread and handicrafts for sale.
On the entertainment side, there are carousels, a winter cave and a Santa sleigh with reindeer.
This year, a double-decker Christmas bus will be available to transport participants to the Old Town, where at least 250 Christmas trees will be on display, as well as delicate facilities.
Visitors enjoy normal performances through dance groups and choirs.
But as with many of those markets, the Christmas tree is the main event. The Tallinn tree has been there since 1441.
Tallinn Christmas Market 2022 is scheduled to be held from November 25 to January 8, 2023.
Stockholm doesn’t lack Christmas markets, but none are more classic than Skansen.
Located on the island of Djurgarden in the world’s oldest open-air museum, this is a glorious display of Swedish culture with a bit of Christmas magic.
The historic houses on display in the museum are adorned with colorful decorations for the occasion and all tables are prepared for Christmas dinner.
Visitors can create their own decorations at Christmas workshops, attend regular craft demonstrations or take part in tree-based dance games on Bollnäs Square, Skansen’s main site.
The Skansen Christmas Market is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 26 to December 19.
This wonderful Scandinavian Christmas market is located on Helsinki’s Senate Square, near the statue of Emperor Alexander II.
The centerpiece of Tuomaan Markkinat is an antique carousel, but the countless vendors promoting classic Christmas specialties, glogi, the Finnish non-alcoholic edition of mulled wine with spices, and handicrafts are also a big attraction.
Younger visitors can see Santa Claus, who has his own log cabin here, and participate in festive activities like decorating Christmas cookies.
The market food court is stunning, with a multitude of restaurants to visit.
Tuomaan Markkinat is scheduled to take office from December 1 to 22.
Budapest has two festive markets: the Christmas market in St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Christmas market in Vorosmarty Square.
The first takes positions in front of the famous basilica, where crowds gather to see the normal three-dimensional light that is projected on its façade.
In addition, there are more than 150 stalls with vendors promoting sweets, wines and handicrafts.
Meanwhile, the Vorosmarty Square market is in the city center and attracts more than 800,000 visitors a year.
Its focus is regularly a giant advent calendar showcasing a new shop every day from December 1 to 23, the fantastic Hungarian dishes lining its stalls, the langos and homemade cake are also noteworthy.
The market is organized throughout the city. However, this year it will be installed through the same corporate that organizes St. Stephen’s Basilica, so there is a possibility of changes.
Vorosmarty Square’s market position is scheduled to take position starting November 18 and closing at five a. m. m. on January 1, 2023.
Christmas at St. Stephen’s Basilica will begin on November 18 and end on January 1, 2023 at 6 p. m.
Outdoor winter street markets have long been linked to Germany, and the European country is home to some of the oldest and most visited festive markets.
The capital, Berlin, has about 80, but Gendarmenmark is the most famous.
Located between Franzosischer Dom and Deutscher Dom, it is a maze of cottages with Bratwurst, mulled wine and gingerbread for sale, as well as exclusive Christmas gifts.
In the evening, visitors can enjoy evening concerts with dance and music performances.
In Nuremberg, the largest city of the moment in Bavaria, the famous Christkindlesmarkt exists since the sixteenth century.
During the Christmas period, around 180 stalls are erected in the center of the city’s market and total dominance is full.
The market attracts around two million people each year and is undoubtedly one of Nuremberg’s annual highlights.
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt 2022 on November 25 and ends on December 24.
Gfinisharmenmark begins on November 21 and is scheduled to end on December 31.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is one of the most anticipated winter events in the British capital.
The festive favorite, which began in 2005, draws massive crowds each year with its more than 200 rides, plus a 70-meter-high Ferris wheel, mulled wine stations and an ice rink, which happens to be the largest in the world. UNITED KINGDOM.
Visitors can also participate in ice carving workshops, attend a circus troupe, listen to live music at the Fire Pit bar or model some of the many dishes on offer at Street Food Village.
The “Wham! Last Christmas”, an immersive delight that allows visitors to “enter” the music video of the iconic Christmas song through the duo George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, is among the novelties of the occasion this year, with a projection of 45 meters ice slide
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is scheduled to open on November 18 and will run through January 2, 2023.
Formerly known as Toronto’s Christmas Market, Distillery Winter Village is an intimate and captivating take on the classic European festive market.
Held in the distillery’s historic district, it features grocery shopping stalls and food vendors, Christmas carols, a gingerbread hunt, and a 50-foot Christmas tree.
Visitors will find everything from artisanal food, homemade gifts, and festive drinks at the many stalls here.
The 2022 Winter Village Distillery will be open daily (except December 25) from November 18 to December 31.
Every year, Manhattan’s Bryant Park transforms into a wonderland for Winter Village.
The prominent open-air market is a glorious sight to behold, with more than 150 custom-designed kiosks and a 17,000-square-foot skating rink that can be used whenever you have your own skates.
Its skating rink side bar and dining room The Lodge will offer an eclectic mix of restaurants, as well as a beer garden and cocktail bar.
Outside the winter village, Josephine Shaw Lowell’s fountain is at its best in winter, when it freezes regularly.
The winter village opened on October 28 and is expected to last until March 5, 2023.
Correct at the time of publication.
El-CNN-Wire™