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Getting in the Festive Mood with British Christmas Markets
Tere is nothing like a Christmas market to give you a good dose of seasonal cheer. Indeed, just the thought of a Christmas market is enough to make you brim with festive glee. Te sound of choirs filling the air, happy chatter and laughter coupled with the mouthwatering aromas of siz- zling street food, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine combined with pretty stalls huddled together, filled with glistening gift ideas, delicious local produce and gor- geous artisan goods seems like Christmas shopping heaven. Tere is no doubt in my mind that a good Christmas market is the best way to get in the Christmas spirit.
While the tradition of Christmas markets is an ancient one, it is a relative newcomer to British traditions. It is only in the past 20 years that the idea of Christmas mar- kets in a European sense of the term have become popular in Britain. In European history Christmas markets have brought cheer and brightness to the cold winter festive preparations for centuries serving as a means of trade and leisure.
Te story of Christmas markets begins in the late Middle Ages in parts of the for- mer Holy Roman Empire. Whilst the pre- cursor to Christmas markets is thought to be Vienna’s Dezembermarkt (December Market), dating back to around 1296, un- doubtedly it is the Wintermärkte (winter markets) that began to spring up all over Europe that best resemble the Christmas
20 FOCUS The Magazine November/December 2018
markets we know and love today. It is these winter markets that overtime came to be known as Christmas markets, the earliest of which originated in Germany with markets recorded in Munich in 1310, Bautzen in 1384 and Frankfurt in 1393.
Tough Christmas markets have changed and evolved they have most certainly stood the test of time, perhaps because they combine the allure of tradition with the excitement and bustle of an open-air marketplace. Perhaps we love Christmas markets so much because they offer an opportunity to rekindle childhood memories and to capture some festive jollity.
Top Five British Christmas Markets
Bath
It’s easy to see why this Christmas market is so popular, as it has everything going for it: atmosphere, historic setting and won- derful stalls. Indeed, this Christmas mar- ket is as festive as mince pies dusted with icing sugar. Against the backdrop of the city's Roman baths and magnificent 16th- century abbey, is set up a Christmas mar- ket comprising over two hundred artisan food, drink and gift sellers. Stallholders congregate in wooden chalets that line the Georgian streets and if this festive sight is not enough to bring a smile to even the face of Scrooge then the sound of choirs, carol singers and musicians will surely warm the festive cockles of all that visit this bustling Christmas market.
22 November – 9 December 2018
You can find out more at
www.bathchrist-
masmarket.co.uk
www.focus-info.org
Bath Christmas Market
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