The streets of this market square are all decked out in a tradition born nearly 700 years ago. Weihnachtsmarkte or Christkindlmarkte (Christmas markets, if you prefer less of a mouthful), take place around the world, but they originated in Germany as a celebratory way to observe Advent, the Christian season leading up to Christmas Eve. These markets are generally open-air affairs where everything is decorated, including the trees (called Tannenbaums in German if they"re firs). People shop from local artisans who sell their handmade wares in small wooden chalets. Then it"s off to eat traditional foods—roasted almonds, pastries, and biscuits—and sip on warm mulled wine.
It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Happy Independence Day!
-
A glimpse of the Blue Forest
-
Bald cypress trees in Georgia
-
To Roswell, and beyond!
-
Crown Fountain by Jume Plensa at Millennium Park in Chicago
-
Astronomy Day
-
Gateway to America
-
Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
-
Best fronds forever
-
Independence Day
-
On the rebirth of the Olympic Games
-
April Fools Day
-
International Day of Forests
-
Surf s up—Down Under
-
Women s History Month
-
A willowy welcome to spring
-
The dog days of summer
-
A bohemian feline
-
Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
-
Can you see the family resemblance?
-
National Find a Rainbow Day
-
Churún Merú waterfall in Venezuela
-
International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
-
A wassailing we go
-
Let s get lost
-
Its Halfway Day!
-
Great Backyard Bird Count
-
Happy Mother s Day!
-
Red fox
-
Indigenous Peoples Day