Then
The forerunner of the Christmas market as we know it was Vienna’s December Market in the middle ages. It was first recorded in 1298, when citizens were granted permission to hold a Krippenmarkt during Advent. Open-air winter street markets were associated more specifically with Christmas in Germany, with the first Christkindlmarkt taking place a century later, in 1384. This was in the eastern hilltop town of Bautzen, Saxony. These early markets started by only selling meat but evolved to provide other everyday purchases, and eventually seasonal treats, decorations and crafts – accompanied by singing and dancing.
Christmas markets received a big boost in the 16th-century, when the teachings of German protestant reformer Martin Luther suggested that the birth of Christ was a more appropriate gift-giving day than other saints’ days. The churches – who originally encouraged markets to be held nearby to get more people to attend services – soon found themselves competing against the markets for their congregation. This was when the practice of Christmas gift-buying began to take-off, and festive markets have been popular ever since.
Now
The highest
The Mount Pilatus Christmas market in Switzerland is thought to be the highest in Europe, at 2,132 metres. To reach it, visitors have to ride the world’s steepest cog railway, with a gradient of up to 48%, for 30 minutes.
The most unusual
The Catalonian character Caga Tió, or Tió de Nadal, appears at markets during the festive season in various forms, including a giant one at Barcelona’s Fira de Santa Llúcia. Caga Tió is a small wooden log with a cape, a smiling face and a name that translates as the pooping log. Children offer food in return for presents on Christmas Eve, when they beat him with a stick to “produce gifts” – traditionally including an onion and cured herring.
The brightest
Taking decorations to the max, Singapore’s Christmas Wonderland festive market at Gardens by the Bay is only in its third year but is aiming to out-Christmas itself again. The 2018 event will include a 21-metre Christmas tree (claimed to be Asia’s tallest) illuminated in gold lights, a 400-square-metre Santa’s grotto, a seven-storey illuminated mirror maze with 252,000 bulbs, scheduled snow showers, plus rides, carols, food and stalls.
The biggest
Some of the largest around Europe include Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz, with around 200 chalet-style stalls this year; there will be 160 in Cologne, Germany; and in the UK, Bath’s Christmas market will have 180.
The foodie lingo
Zwetschgenmännle (figures made of decorated prunes)
Gebranntemandeln (candied almonds)
Lebkuchen and magenbrot (soft gingerbread)
Christstollen (fruit bread)
Bethmännchen (pastry with marzipan)
Bratwurst (German sausage)
Knoblauchbrot (garlic bread)
Thuringian raclette (melted cheese sandwich)
Glühwein (mulled wine)
Eierpunsch (similar to egg nog)
Apfelwein (hot cider)
