French Christmas Background

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Vannessa Rataj

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Aug 3, 2024, 4:15:03 PM8/3/24

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I know that some individuals travel to France and Germany, especially, for the Christmas Markets. I am wondering why. No criticism from me. I just don't want to miss out on a good thing that I have no clue about. Is it the arts and crafts for sale? Is it the mulled wine? Maybe it's the conviviality of the holiday crowds? Is it the decorations? Perhaps it's all of the above.
I was in Paris last Christmas and had mulled wine in Parc Monceau but I don't think that was a Christmas Market--just a stall (it was still charming). Then, there was what I think was a Christmas Market near the Tuileries Garden that we cruised through but mainly sat and looked at the Ferris Wheel and another lit ride wondering how they affected those who lived in the buildings near them.
What is the draw for you of the Christmas Markets?

The Paris Christmas markets are not really the best examples of their kind. They are a relative novelty (they were not around in the 90s), and the big one at Tuileries is more of a funfair than a real market.
The traditional Germanic Christmas markets are more attractive. They have some cool crafts, and they can have fun themes (I especially love the medieval theme in Esslingen). This being said, they do tend to feel samey after a while and I would not want to visit more than 3 large Christmas markets in a single trip.

Different meanings to different people, but many of the things to purchase are very similar after two Christmas markets or three, or four. Each town or city however has different traditions in their markets, regional food specialties, etc. Different drinks too particularly in Germany, with which I am most familiar. And, if in the summer you like hanging out with friends on the plaza after work consuming Aperol Spritzes and talking about nothing, in the December darkness hanging out with friends drinking hot Gluhwein or Feuerzangebowle around fire pits talking about nothing is just as much fun after work.

I think it's All of the Above.
The best ones have rules about only selling truly local crafts.
I have only been to a few during a December Rick Steve's Munich/Salzburg/Vienna tour and it was an enjoyable way to spend some of the non-tour time. I bought very little, had some food and drink, and thoroughly enjoyed the festive ambiance.

I have been to Cologne's Christmas Market, There are some nice things to buy, particularly the locally made stuff. The food stalls are nice, you can get many "street" type foods, some that only come out near the holidays. Various hot alcoholic, and not, drinks. There is a general aura of a "good time", bit of a carnival or fair atmosphere, probably better if you find one with lots of town people or groups out for a night on a town.

It is a pleasant evening out, in what would otherwise be a dreary time of the year. I would compare it a bit to being in a town on market day. I see that if I found a deal for airfare, it might be one thing on the list that helped me decide to go, but I would need a list of other things as well. However, I do not think it is something I would want to do night after night, and I scratch my head a bit at planning a trip trying to hit a half dozen or more markets in different towns. But to each their own.

Christmas market tours is one more way to expand the travel season. It is beyond me what the attraction is. Compare it to a tour that only features cathedrals. Winter travel in Europe is lovely with sunny cool days and possibility of snow. The holiday lights are beautiful and occasional market fine. On a Tuscany and Umbria December tour we had it all. Just dress for the weather.

Christmas Markets for locals are often for meetup with friends and getting a bit to eat and walk around. I don't know any Germans that buy things at the markets as most items are available everywhere and now made in China.

I'm enjoying your comments. Next year very likely we will travel to Europe again at Christmas. From your comments, I'm thinking Strasbourg and then on to Germany and maybe Austria. I'll look for the Christmas Markets at night which seems to be when the locals are at them from your comments. They wouldn't be the main draws for us, though. I need to research things to see and do in Strasbourg, Munich? and ?Vienna.

we go over every other year. We love them, the history, the food, the vendors, the cathedrals, the atmosphere. They originated in Germany, so the most authentic ones are there. We rotate between doing them on our own and doing a Christmas Market River Cruise - the ones on the Danube are our favorites.

If you want to do them on your own - we LOVE Vienna, Salzburg, Cologne, Nuremberg, Strasbourg, Passau, Regensburg, and Munich - very easy to fly home from Munich and it's an hour train ride from Nuremberg.

To me the christmas markets are festive in a tasteful, old-fashioned way (speaking mostly about the atmosphere, not necessarily the goods for sale), in a way that christmas decor in the states most definitely is not. That's the appeal of them to me.
I was in Berlin last December and we went to three markets. My least favorite was the one at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church - lots of mass produced tourist tat, loud American holiday music, the same food and drink offerings along each row. the other two we went to, the Gendarmenmarkt (at Bebelplatz last year and this year due to construction) was much cozier and authentic feeling, as was the Santa Lucia Markt at the Kulturbrauerei, which was rustic, minimal and Scandinavian.
I will be in Basel this week and plan to day trip to Colmar to go to the Unterlinden and to explore the markets (which day I go to Colmar is weather dependent, but the comment about it being insanely crowded on the weekend is noted). There are also markets in Basel which look charming and festive that I will also explore.
I enjoy Christmas markets, but honestly the idea of an entire week of visiting them does not appeal to me. One or two well chosen markets is plenty for me.

For me, it is all of the above. We went for the markets for the first time last December and were in Munich and Salzburg. Loved every minute of it. Each market is a bit different, and there were plenty of artisan items for purchase. Last year it was a girls trip, but my husband and I are planning to go next year, to Vienna this time.

I like small Christmas markets that are clearly being visited and enjoyed by the local community. I enjoy the local handcrafts and food. I do enjoy a nice feuerzangenbowle, but what makes that most enjoyable, whether at a large crowded market or a small neighborhood variety, is to be with friends. I have been to some markets on my own and have looked with happy awe at all the gifts and festivities. But the conviviality is what makes it special for me.

The last time I was in Munich, 2019, I by-passed the Marienplatz market on my way back to the hotel. It was a Saturday and the Christmas market crowds were getting boisterous. I am not big on crowds. I passed Der Alter Peter church and stopped in to find a special holiday service taking place all candle-lit with a small band playing and singing. The church was packed - never seen such a full church. It was a magical experience. This year, 2023, that church service took place last evening. I know when I make travel plans for next year (and I will), while I plot out the many things I want to see and do in Munich, I will add that church service to the mix.

I also love, but frustratingly so, the local food markets selling Christmas trees and holiday foods - I don't think I can bring even a bitty tree back to a hotel - ok, so maybe the plan next year is an apartment for a month and to settle in as a temporary local!

Still, I personally can't see people spending the airfare to fly to Germany to visit Christmas Markets. Yes, it is a fun experience, but to go there JUST for that, especially because it is COLD and it gets dark at 4:30pm.

In December 2019 we based in Colmar, France for 5 nights and also visited nearby Christmas markets in Eguisheim and Kaysersberg as well as in Freiburg, Germany, and Basel, Switzerland. All were wonderful but you can get a bit of Christmas market fatigue. The answer to your question(s) is: it's all of the above.

Having lived in Nrnberg 3 years (1982-1985), I couldn't pass up adding to the conversation. I'm not much of a shopper, but I did go to the Christkindlesmarkt each year for the atmosphere and the food. It helped that I could walk there from my apartment. Besides Nrnberger bratwurst, lebkuchen and glhwein, the only thing I ever bought was a red and gold angel tree-topper. I still have the angel and a bottle of Christkindlesmarkt Glhwein.

And I think that this is the video referenced above: -7sqgU?si=ZL477z4bzLG9W6Er. I had the good fortune of being able to take in some performances at the adjacent Frauenkirche, which is shown in the background of the film.

Many of you have such sweet memories of the Christmas Markets. I'll be in Costa Rica this Christmas, so I won't have that same atmosphere--can't wait to see what awaits me there during the season, though. Today my RS Austria guide book arrives. I'm looking at next Christmas already.

I enjoyed the festivities of German Christmas markets. We visited Wurzburg. Bamberg, Rothenburg ODT, Nuremberg and Berlin. Bought some local crafts and xmas ornaments, enjoyed the food and tried gluhwine. Yes, after 2 markets, they started to look the same.
But we also visited other sites, churches, castles and museums, not just Christmas markets.

See 9 2023 Christmas markets on you tube site-Kara and Nate. They just did this world wind tour. Oops! Just finished the first episode. They are doing 3 markets in each show. This couple travels the world doing physical challenges, super high end travel and just travel with interesting twists.

Enjoy reading everyone's posts. We went in 2019 in mid-December. Started in Munich (2 nights), train to Nurnberg (1 night), train to Prague (3 nights), train to Vienna (3 nights), train to Budapest ( 3 nights). Then flew home. We went to multiple markets in each city, except Nurnberg. Munich had a medival theme market which was different. Sure, they all can seem to look a like but each was unique in its own way. This year we hope to go to cites / towns near eastern France (Strasbourg) and smaller towns like Colmar (thanks for mentioning this town as it seems like a great market).