Christmas Markets Around the World Recap

Here’s a little Christmas Special I’ve put together for you – a taste of different German Markets around England and the world. Big thanks to Chloe, from New York, for her contribution!

Have a wonderful holiday!

England – Leeds (ended – look forward to the ICE RINK which will open 27th Jan)

Leeds.

The thing about the Leeds German Market is that it’s always the same. I’ve been in the city for three years now and nothing has changed. It’s always in Millennium Square, it always smells the same, tastes the same, and – no jokes – even all the shops are in exactly the same places. Clearly novelty factor isn’t exactly its appeal, then. Neither is its size – I mean it’s decent, but it’s not the biggest bestest thing ever. And yet there’s still something endearing about it that draws crowds every year. It’s got everything you’ll ever want – the Bratwursts, the woolly hats, the carousel, the wooden toys, the mulled wine – and who wouldn’t like to have a normally empty space be filled with a little fragrant, festive happiness? Just be warned that the beer house will be packed in the evenings so if you want some warmth, be prepared to stand in (a very long) line for it!

England – Birmingham (ended)

A beer tent in Brum.

Apparently the largest German market in Europe outside Germany and Austria, this very, very, very long stretch of Christmasness does indeed live up to its name. I must admit that by the time I got there I was actually in a very bad mood, just because I had spent the past 40 minutes trudging in the rain with very little idea as to exactly where I was (directions has never been my forte). But don’t worry, I’m okay, because the very sight of the Christmas stalls revived me like an oasis to a dying traveller in the desert. This one is actually very similar to the one in Leeds, to the point where I’m convinced some of the shops belong to the same company (they probably do). Except the Brum one has been super-sized so that there are multiple hotdog stands, multiple mulled wine sellers, and some other quirky things like a Japanese noodles stand. Plus they do Belgian waffles so no complaints there! (My obsession with these will be fully explained in the Amsterdam section below.) The best thing is that thanks to the length of the market, you can stuff your face happily knowing that you’re doing exercise at the same time.

England – London Hyde Park (until 3rd Jan)

Website: www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Bright lights at London Hyde Park.

Okay so far I’ve mentioned the cosy one in Leeds and the 1km one in Brum – but if you want the King of English German Markets, don’t bother going outside of London coz nothing can beat this. Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland has gone all out and I was gobsmacked when I arrived. The mandatory carousel aside, this place has a giant Ferris wheel that rivals the London Eye in the background (if you look at it from the right perspective), lots of carnival games with giant soft toys hanging from the ceiling staring at you with begging eyes, and even a circus. Make that two circuses. There are also mini rides, a haunted house, an ice rink, life-size penguins, and a carol-singing moose atop one of the beer houses. There is so much food crammed into the space that there is no way you can escape from it – so just give in, you don’t stand a chance in hell unless you’re out of cash (they don’t, like all other markets, take cards). And then there are the shops. Oh boy, the shops. You’ll be able to find everything from wooden ties to stringy scarves to hand warmers. Definitely check it out if you’re in town before the 3rd.

Amsterdam – Leidseplein (until 29th Dec)

Website (for all Christmas markets in A’dam): http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/living/events/christmas-markets-in-amsterdam

Beautifully lit Leidseplein Christmas Market

There were quite a few Christmas markets in A’dam when I was there, but my favourite is still the one at Leideseplein. It’s right where the tram stop is so there’s no excuse of not going. In terms of size, it’s smaller than even the Leeds one, but in this case it is definitely quality over quantity. Two stalls deserve your full attention – the Bratwurst stand sells amazing Currywursts that are simply delicious. And then there is the aforementioned waffles stand. I never had anything against waffles, but they’ve never been my favourite things – until now. Their taste is still lingering in my

The Waffle.

mouth like a lover’s kiss. You have to picture the scene – it’s cold, it’s dark, and you’ve probably stepped in a puddle of dirty rainwater. And then this ray of heavenly light leads you to a nameless stand that just says ‘Warme Waffles’ [sic]. You get drawn towards it, order one with melted chocolate and whipped cream, they serve it to you on a paper plate… (This is a terrible idea, my craving is spiralling out of control now!) and you dig in with your little fork, dipping some of that chocolate, some of that cream, and insert it into your waiting gob, and it just melts inside… You get my gist. As if I haven’t romanticised it enough already, the photo should finish off the job. Unfortunately they have no permanent store (they’re rather nomadic and travel with festivals and such only) and no name, so they’ll be hard to find. But seriously – go now before it’s too late. It’s worth some serious attention.

USA – New York (by Chloe Chang) (Last Day TODAY!)

Life's a Christmas circus at NYC. Photo by Gary Wong.

Throughout the year, Union Square is home to a farmer’s market, skaters, street performers, dog-walkers and everything in between. Come winter though, the scene fills with rows of red-and-white striped tents strewn with Christmas lights, wreaths and ribbons. The Union Square holiday market hosts a diversity of artisans and vendors – trinkets, jewelry, toys, bath products, baby clothes, home decor, edibles – easily a one-stop shopping location for everyone on your list!

Booths to watch out for include the French chocolate truffles, real orchid and butterfly-wing jewelry, make-your-own-beer kit, local leather goods, massively fluffy alpaca headwear, mid-1900s New York photography, gifts for golfers, vintage wine boxes, Brooklyn salsa, 50-some teas and spices… I’ll eventually list them all. Even without your wallet, the 100+ booths will keep you occupied and full of holiday spirit.

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