In early December, the central squares of most of the largest European cities change dramatically. The reason for this is the opening of fabulous New Year and Christmas markets.
The oldest pre-New Year fair in the world
The capital of Christmas and New Year sales in Europe is the city of Strasbourg. The fair takes place from November 29 to December 31, at once in several squares of the city. More than 2 million visitors visit it annually, and it brings huge profits to its city. The main decoration of the Strasbourg fair is a 30-meter-high Christmas tree.
Here you can buy whatever your heart desires - toys, dishes, baking dishes for festive gingerbread, traditional gift crafts from kelsh. The center of gastronomic surprises is the Place de Magnier. There you can find traditional French New Year and Christmas snacks, pastries, pies.
A special Christmas market town for children takes place in St. Thomas's Square. For young residents and guests of the city, games, attractions are organized here, performances based on French fairy tales are shown. And on the Château square there is an ice rink every year. The funds collected for the entrance to it are donated by the city administration to charitable children's foundations.
Childhood hunting in Cologne
The city's main fair takes place in front of the Gothic Cologne Cathedral from November 25 to December 23. Spicy sausages, smoked sausages, grilled kupaty, vanilla gingerbread, rolls and more than 40 varieties of the best German beer - all this awaits its visitors.
The New Year's fair in Cologne is complemented by numerous small markets where you can buy piece hand-made souvenirs. Exclusive Christmas tree decorations from German glassblowers are sold at Alter Markt, the Old Town fair.
A special train of several cars runs between the bazaars and fairs in Cologne. The fare on it is symbolic. This train is a marketing ploy of the city leadership. Its task is for guests to visit all retail outlets and buy as many souvenirs and festive dishes for the New Year's table as possible.
The best fair
Such, by right, is considered the New Year's fair in Tallinn. The very atmosphere and architecture of the city creates a pre-holiday mood, immerses its guests and residents in a Christmas fairy tale. This fair, the only one in Europe, runs from November 22 until Orthodox Christmas.
The center of the Tallinn fair is the Town Hall Square. On the day of its opening, a festive concert is held here, where solo singers and groups from all over Europe perform. The assortment of goods is standard, but there is an unspoken rule here - everything that is sold must be made by hand.
Straw figurines, patchwork quilts, knitted hats, mittens, socks, sweaters with national ornaments are especially popular with tourists. Visitors to this New Year's fair are treated to a traditional Estonian dish - stewed cabbage with caraway seeds and cracklings.
Italian "Pandora's box"
For real Italian New Year's souvenirs, you need to go to the homeland of Romeo and Juliet - to the city of Verona. Unlike other European Christmas markets, in Verona, trade takes place in every square and street. Small trading houses are scattered throughout the city, and there is no logic or definite idea in their location. The fair opens on November 22 and runs until December 22.
From the gastronomic products of the New Year's fair in Verona, one can single out homemade sausages and meat delicacies, liqueurs with the taste of pistachios, violets, roses, peaches and even potatoes, caramel or molasses muffins. Souvenir products are of Italian character - everything is bright, flashy, but so attractive that it is impossible to pass by!
To the rhythm of the Viennese waltz
The New Year and Christmas market in Vienna runs from 16 November to 24 December. The main product is Viennese buns. They are baked right on the Town Hall Square, where a huge festive tree shines with millions of lights. The customer can choose the filling of the buns himself - salami, jerky or sausages.
Anyone who visited Vienna during this period simply needs to visit the City Hall. During the fair, performances are shown here, choral groups perform, orchestras perform Viennese waltzes. The souvenirs sold here will delight even the most fastidious shoppers - classic New Year's figures, bold modern designs, a large selection of festive and masquerade outfits, and much more.
