Market On Your Calendar: Christmas Markets Near You
‘Tis the season, and Christmas markets are setting up all over the world. They exist predominantly in Germany and the UK, but there are markets in many other countries (France, Estonia, Austria, Italy, Poland).
Germany
The oldest Christmas market is in Dresden, Germany – it has been around since at least 1434. It is called the Striezelmarkt- Striezel is the traditional Christmas loaf baked with fruit and nuts (also known as Stollen).
Denmark
The largest Christmas market in Copenhagen, the Tivolis Julemarked, takes place at Tivoli Gardens, Europe’s oldest amusement park. Concession stands sell gløgg (a spicy mulled wine drink), æbleskiver (flat doughnuts/pancakes served with jam), pickled herring, roasted chestnuts, and meatballs.
U.S.A. Christmas Markets
The biggest Christmas Market in the U.S. is in Chicago and is modelled after the German Christmas market (Christkndlmarkt). It attracts 300,000 visitors a year. It is so seriously German that its website is bilingual. It opened yesterday, so some one send me a plane ticket because all of the best German street food will be available, plus beer, Glühwein (mulled wine) and hot chocolate to wash it down. Visitors will be able to enjoy Brotzeit (freshly baked rolls filled with meat and cheese), Stollen, Bratapfeln (baked apples), Strudel, Schnitzel, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), Currywurst, and a huge variety of other sausages (Frankfurter, Nurnberger, Thuringer, and more). Hungry yet?
Christmas Market Food
If there isn’t a Christmas market near you, here are a few do-it-yourself goodies inspired by the traditional, seasonal fare found at market concessions:
Curry in a Hurry
You don’t have to go far to find out more about Currywurst – Drivinganddining.com has already featured this savoury snack in one of our ‘Concession Obssession‘ articles.
Kartoffelpuffer
They sound like a character from a Dr. Seuss book and I’m flat out crazy about potato pancakes. I also talk about these delicious fried potato fritters in the same article mentioned above.
Eat It Quick Or It May Be Stollen
Stollen is available at several grocery store chains across North America in December – some of it is even actually from Germany. You can also make your own, there is a recipe at food.com that looks good.
Christmas Market Listings
Is this tasty article making you crave more information about Christmas markets? I recommend the following sites:
Europe’s Top 10 Christmas Markets
Directory of U.S. Christmas Markets
Directory of Christmas Markets by Country
Top Christmas Markets in Europe
Christmas Market Stories
If you have a story about your visit to a Christmas market, we would love to hear about it! At least give our taste buds a tease and leave a comment about which market you visited, and what you ate there!
