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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Travel Sunday: On the Ganges in Varanasi, India
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The Millennium at 20
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The last thing seen by Wile E. Coyote
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Florentine garden brings generations together
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Wyoming celebrates its statehood
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Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
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Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
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A fortress in the sky
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Get on your bike and ride
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Mountain goats at Glacier National Park in Montana
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Procida, Italy
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Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand
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World Philosophy Day
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Grand Teton National Park
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Native American Heritage Day
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The Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin
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Craters of the Moon centennial
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National Trails Day
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Iceland awaits the Yule Lads
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Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
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Glacier cave in Iceland
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Yarn bombing in the village of Gurnard, England
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Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
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International Lighthouse Weekend
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National Park Service anniversary
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Santorini, Greece
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

