Best Christmas Markets

@SophieY (891)
South Africa
November 29, 2016 5:02am CST
First you have to decide what you are expecting of a Christmas Market - I have visited many, some here in SA and some abroad - Some are magical and others are just ordinary. The Christmas Market in Barcelona was selling all kinds of wooden Christmas Tree decorations which took my fancy as they would then become "forever" decorations. They also have many surprising products to create your unique nativity scene! A collection of sorts as they are not cheap. It has come to my attention that the BEST Markets can be found in Germany. "Dresden, Germany has 11 completely different Christmas markets in one city!" Second on my list would be "Basel, Switzerland which is apparently one of the prettiest and largest Christmas markets of Switzerland." We have about 20 markets running in Cape Town over the festive Season - all crafters markets but nothing like that of EUROPE. . . . . . The sun will be hot, the juices will be cold, the kids will be in summer gear and fathers will be drinking beer! To market to market to buy . . . . Treats for the Feast!
8 people like this
9 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (459178)
• Switzerland
29 Nov 16
One of the best Christmas market is in Strasbourg (France). The two best in Switzerland are Basel and Zürich. Right now, here in Switzerland in Bern, there is the Onion Market. It is something you surely would like to visit.
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Anna
@LadyDuck (459178)
• Switzerland
30 Nov 16
@SophieY No, unfortunately this year we cannot go. My sister in law is hospitalized and she is very bad. We need to stay here.
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M.-L.
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
30 Nov 16
Beautiful advent wreaths! I've got one at the front door of our flat (but without onions).
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Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
30 Nov 16
Oh I hope you get to one and then you can show us what its like
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M.-L.
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
29 Nov 16
@SophieY @Inlemay "Dresden, Germany has 11 completely different Christmas markets in one city!" I wonder where you've got this info from. I checked on the net. Dresden has three markets. The best known is the Striezelmarkt. I'm sending you the link. It's only in German but you may get an idea. "completely different" is also a misinformation. All Christmas markets in Germany are more or less alike in the way the look and what they offer. I've found a link which may interest you: the top ten Christmas Markets in Germany. You don't have to know German to understand where they are. I haven't found a recent number, only one from the year 2009: there were 2.500 Christmas Markets in Germany! Even small towns have them. Our town has ~40.000 inhabitants. The pedestrian precinct has been turned into a mini Christmas Market. Tomorrow I'll have a quick look at the Christmas Market in Stuttgart (No 4 on the list). I'll have to cross it to get to a restaurant where I want to eat. I may buy some hot Every year it's visited by ~4 million people. Horror! Especially Italians are crazy about it. They come by coach and travel through Switzerland to reach it.
Weihnachtsmarkt | Statistik Dresden
statistik-dresden.de
Zum Inhalt springen Statistik Dresden R, R Training, SPSS, Data Mining, Visualisierung, Datenanalyse Menü Einige Zahlen zum 581. Dresdner Striezelmarkt Einige Zahlen zum 581. Dresdner Striezelmarkt auf dem Altmarkt: Zum Riesenstollen Zur Striezelmarkt-Tann
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M.-L.
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
29 Nov 16
You may be interested in learning that German Christmas Markets are now also exported. The Brits love them. A clever businessman had the brill idea to pack everything that belongs to a German Christmas Market and ship it to the UK in December.
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Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
30 Nov 16
theculturetrip.com is where I got the information - but Its only a guideline to what is really out there.
Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
30 Nov 16
@MALUSE that is amazing and I wish they could export them to us in SA - I must say many of the German products are on sale at the markets - lots of Stollen to be found. Thank you for the link of Christmas Market information. I am going to love the read.
Marsha Cooper
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
29 Nov 16
I don't know of any specific Christmas markets anywhere close to me. The big sale at my church that is going on now though is like one!
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Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
30 Nov 16
there are many churches in our area that have a few this week-end and next, but nothing compares to Germany
snowy
@snowy22315 (170473)
• United States
29 Nov 16
I would love going to one of those Christmas markets in Germany. I bet they are amazing!
1 person likes this
Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
30 Nov 16
read @MALUSE response at the top - they are amazing and the photo on the websites are just as stunning
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
29 Nov 16
I do love random homemade ornaments, so much neater than the ones at the larger chain stores
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Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
30 Nov 16
they are - and they are timeless - last forever
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Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
30 Nov 16
I will have to look at my mom's scrapbook to see if we visited a Christmas store when we went to Germany. I'm sure we did, we were there three week on a tour, but I don't remember where. There is a wonderful Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan. I looked it up and it's in the top ten Christmas stores in the U.S. I lived just a half hour away for many years. We always took our visitors there. In Gatlinburg, TN there is an amazing Christmas store (not harmed by the fire as far as I know)
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Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
30 Nov 16
@SophieY Goodness, the way I worded that response was confusing! During a three week tour I believe we stopped at a large Christmas shop but I don't remember the city. Now I hope to find out to see if it was Dresden.
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Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
1 Dec 16
@Jeanniemaries ha ha ha you are questioning your own response - that is funny!!!
Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
30 Nov 16
I am sure there are some stunning Christmas places in USA - probably just not as commercial as the normal shops
Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (36504)
• Toccoa, Georgia
19 Dec 16
Those apples look delicious!
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Inlemay
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
29 Nov 16
I have actually been to a Christmas Market in Munich, Brugge, Antwerp, Brussels, as well as Barcelona and Rome - they were all delightful. I cannot think we could compare anything here in SA with the Europe Splendor of Christmas markets and their fabulous sweets - Oh now I wish I was somewhere in Germany to buy lots of goodies to feast on!
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Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
29 Nov 16
One day I'll get to see some of those markets - for now Kirstenbosch and Rondebosh will have to do!
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326127)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 16
I'm not sure that we have Christmas markets of any kind here although I'm sure we must have. It's not something I'd take much notice of I guess so it's no wonder if I've missed it.
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Sophie
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
29 Nov 16
I cannot remember ever seeing them as a child so I think its something new in SA - or a trend trying to look like the European markets - but alas they fall short.
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