It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time! Dec 18, 2019

It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!

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.

© sack/Getty Images Plus

palette

Today in History

Dec 18, 2018A hit ballet, long after its debut
Dec 18, 2020A towering view of the Pale Mountains
Dec 18, 2021Full moon
Dec 18, 2022South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida
Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Dec 18, 2024English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
Dec 18, 2025Celebrating 54 years of Capitol Reef National Park

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 1, 2026Yosemite National Park anniversary
Sep 23, 2019Stepping into autumn
Oct 27, 2020A bridge of Madison County
Feb 4, 2020Rock of ages
Feb 13, 2021Four little birds sitting in a tree…
Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Sep 10, 2020Hidden beauty in Thailand
Dec 17, 2025Eurasian red squirrel in Northumberland, England
Oct 17, 2018Let’s talk fossils
Jun 21, 2021The tallest animal in the world on the longest day of the year
Oct 19, 2018Portland celebrates its bounty
Sep 6, 2020Summer winds down in the Hamptons
Apr 9, 2024Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Jun 1, 2018In Apia Harbor for Samoan Independence Day
Jun 21, 2019Ode to the sun
Oct 16, 2022Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland
Jul 20, 2020Earthrise on Moon Day
Nov 2, 2024National Bison Day
Dec 10, 2025Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain
Jun 28, 2022Tafilalet oasis in Morocco
May 29, 2018The first ascent
Apr 23, 2024World Book Day
Mar 16, 2019Quilts as high art
Apr 5, 2022Goðafoss waterfall, Iceland
Dec 26, 2022Boxing Day in East Yorkshire, England
Aug 29, 2023American bison, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Feb 18, 2020Too awesome to be a planet
Jun 1, 2020The largest living organism on Earth
Jan 14, 2026National Take the Stairs Day
May 17, 2020My my, it s Syttende Mai