The allure of Christmas is about the warmth and delight that fill the days leading to that wintry December night. Christmas gets its charm from the meticulous planning that precedes it.
However, shopping for Christmas goodies in the dreariness of malls could be stressful, especially when you're finicky about picking up that perfect gift for your loved ones. This is when Christmas markets come to your rescue.
Christmas markets first appeared in Germany, Austria and Alsace in the late Middle Ages, and they spread to more regions across the world gradually. Christmas market typically is a street market set up at least four weeks before Christmas, showcasing everything you need to celebrate a perfect Christmas.
Most common attractions of a Christmas market include the 'Nativity Scene' (a crèche or crib), figures made of decorated dried plums, carved nutcrackers, candied or toasted almonds, traditional Christmas cookies such as Lebkuchen and Magenbrot, egg bread with candied fruit, Glühwein (hot mulled wine with or without a shot of brandy), and Eierpunsch (an egg-based warm alcoholic drink).
Though most popular Christmas markets are set up in German cities, making them tourist attractions, the German immigrants has brought their 'Advent' culture to the U.S.
Photo: REUTERS/Ina Fassbender
A decorated Christmas tree is lighted up at a Christmas market on its opening day in Dortmund November 21, 2011. The Christmas tree of Dortmund is the largest in the world and is built with a scaffold, covered with 1,700 Norway spruces, 40,000 lights and is 45m (148 ft) high.
Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Peter
A Ferris wheel and Christmas market lights are reflected in the plexiglass boards of an ice ring as a man skates, in Alexanderplatz, Berlin November 21, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Peter
People stroll through the Christmas market during its opening day in Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt square, November 21, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz
Models pose during the opening of a Christmas market at Schloss Charlottenburg palace in Berlin November 21, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/Ina Fassbender
A decorated Christmas tree is lighted up at a Christmas market on its opening day in Dortmund November 21, 2011. The Christmas tree of Dortmund is the largest in the world and is built with a scaffold, covered with 1,700 Norway spruces, 40,000 lights and is 45m (148 ft) high.
Photo: REUTERS/Charles Platiau
The AFA claims companies that go out of their way to advertise holiday products without including the word "Christmas" are attempting to censor the holiday.
Photo: REUTERS/Charles Platiau
A giant decorated Christmas tree stands on the ground floor of Galeries Lafayette department store as people shop for gifts during the holiday season in Paris November 17, 2011.
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