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
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These laurels are hardy
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World Dolphin Day
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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World Photography Day
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World Penguin Day
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Yosemite National Park, California
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Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, Germany
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Ruins of Inca temples and terraces on Huayna Picchu, Peru
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Happy New Year!
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Here we mark the price of freedom
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International Beaver Day
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Wheels up in Beijing
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Pollinators: not to be sneezed at
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Grand Teton National Park
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park turns 103
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Presidents Day
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Let the games (finally) begin!
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European beech forest, Belgium
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Mardi Gras
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A timeless view of the night sky
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Working for that cliffside view
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Martin Luther King Day
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Harvest season begins
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World Bee Day
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Wildebeest on the move
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American bison
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Kawachi Fuji Garden
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Summer huts in winter
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Blackbird in Essex, England
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Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

