Weihnachtsmarkt ~ My European Christmas Experience
Glühwein, bratwurst, snacks, Christmas carols, candles, decorations, cathedrals and some snow if you are lucky ~ these are all the things luring & enticing visitors to the European Christmas Markets!
I was fortunate enough to visit some Weihnachtsmarkten in Germany for my first time and I thoroughly enjoyed it ~ so much so that I will definitely rank this as a bucket list activity to be experienced at least once in a lifetime…..!
I grew up in the southern hemisphere where Christmas celebrations are a summer thing involving barbecues, beach outings and cold meats & salads. And then, for the last few years I am living in Asia, where Christmas is more of a marketing tool and not really celebrated as a holiday to be spent with family & friends like in Western culture.
Suffice to say, I was beyond excited to plan a trip to Europe to visit some of these Christmas markets and spend the Festive Season with family in Holland. Images and memories of stories my mom and family told me about Dutch Christmas traditions started to take over my thoughts, mental images of what I think a white Christmas would look and feel like, and then of course, all the food and drinks associated with a cold winter…….
Our trip started with a few days in London, UK, and this city was dressed up for the festive season! The sights and sounds did not disappoint! I think being away from these kinds of decorations for such a long time, made me see & admire it anew and gave me a whole new perspective and sense of appreciation for how wonderful buildings and neighborhoods can look, as well as the festive cheer that is spread around by everyone.
Christmas music filled the streets, lanes and shops, Christmas carolers were singing and small bands were playing music ~ all of this spreading the Christmas cheer!
Buildings, shops, window displays and houses were all dressed up for the season - some shops even so beautifully decorated that I had to take a few minutes just to stand in front of it and take it all in!
And then we arrived in Munich, Germany ~ with Germany being the first country that comes to mind when anyone mentions Christmas markets.
Honestly, making our way from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof, and from there to the hotel, I was wondering where all the Christmas was, since it looked like just another average European city.
So without wasting too much time - we made our way in the late afternoon to where the markets were situated, and all of a sudden we found Christmas!
And the first thing I did was to have my very first mug of Gluhwein! Unknowingly exactly what an extra Schuß was, I ordered it and boy did it knock my breath away (it means an extra shot of rum by the way) ~ it most certainly succeeded in making me feel warm and fuzzy while light snow was swirling around.
Oh, and that was another thing that made it super special walking around there - doing it while it was lightly snowing! Did anyone order a white Christmas?
When walking further along and into the market area, the assault on one’s senses start, specifically smell and sight!
There is just so much to taste, eat and drink, and all these wonderful aromas fill the air and draws you closer ~ and on an empty stomach it is dangerous.....
My advice: prepare coins and small paper notes and have it handy & ready in your pockets for easy access to pay for eats & drinks while making your way along the rows of stalls!
And then the sights! The lights, bright colors, decorations, food, people, at times it even feels like a bit of an overload ~ but in a good way!
After Munich, we made our way to Cologne (Köln) which had a market with a beautiful setting ~ right next to the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) providing a stunning backdrop and great photo opportunities.
Last but not least, we ended our trip in Arnhem, Netherlands where the city center was also nicely decorated giving it a nice Christmas vibe. And the time with the family was a relaxing reprieve after all the excitement and shopping at the markets.
It was a very special experience for me to visit some European Christmas markets & cities around Christmas. It was something that I have always wanted to do and it definitely did not disappoint!
It is a completely different vibe and atmosphere during this time, and then also to firsthand see, taste & experience things that I have heard of and seen in videos before, was just surreal and very special.
I would highly recommend visiting Europe and especially the German Weihnachtsmarkten at least once!
Check out the link below for some more information, inspiration & motivation for some Christmas markets to visit in December 2018!
