European countries do these Christmas markets up big. There are rides for the kids and the grown-ups get a little buzz going with a glass of Glühwein. It’s mostly little booths of gifts and crafts, and lights…lots of lights!
Traditional German Christmas Market
ShareANNABERG-BUCHHOLZ, GERMANY - DECEMBER 16: Visitors walk through the annual traditional Christmas market December 16, 2003 in Annaberg-Buchholz in the Erz mountains, Germany. Christmas markets are a central element of German Christmas tradition, and offer Christmas decorations, Gluehwein, children's rides and handicrafts. (Photo Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Traditional Christmas Markets Open in Germany
ShareBERLIN - DECEMBER 05: Visitors walk among booths at the Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt December 5, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets are the highlight of the German Christmas season, and include booths selling mulled wine, Christmas sweet loafs, Christmas ornaments and other crafts. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 28: Visitors stop to look at an illuminated ferris wheel among stalls selling mulled wine and food at the annual Christmas market at Alexanderplatz on November 28, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets are opening across Germany this week in a tradition that also attracts millions of foreign tourists. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Traditional Christmas Markets Open in Germany
ShareBERLIN - DECEMBER 05: Visitors walk among booths at the Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt December 5, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets are the highlight of the German Christmas season, and include booths selling mulled wine, Christmas sweet loafs, Christmas ornaments and other crafts. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Nuremberg Christmas Market Opening
ShareNUREMBERG, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 28: A general view of the market place with the Frauenkirche in the background prior to the opening ceremony of the Christmas Market on November 28, 2007 in Nuremberg, Germany. Germany's traditional christmas markets draw millions of visitors from all over the world. The market is open from November 28 to December 24 at 12 noon. (Photo by Thomas Langer/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Become Ever More Popular Throughout The UK
ShareBATH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Christmas shoppers browse the offerings at the Bath Christmas Market on November 25, 2010 in Bath, England. Originating in Germany, Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in British cities too, as a way of boosting festive retail sales and visitor numbers. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Dresden’s Christmas Market Open
ShareDRESDEN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 26: The Dresdner Striezelmarkt Christmas market stands illuminated on November 26, 2010 in Dresden, Germany. The Striezelmarkt claims to be Germany's oldest Christmas market and dates back to 1434. Christmas markets have a long tradition in Germany and usually sell gluhwein, Christmas decorations and ornaments, sweets and sausages. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 26: The annual Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt stands illuminated in the city center on its opening day on November 26, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets, with their stalls selling mulled wine, Christmas tree decorations and other delights, are an integral part of German Christmas tradition, and many of them opened across Germany today. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 26: Visitors look at illuminated Christmas starts for sale at the annual Christmas market at Gendarmenmarkt on its opening day on November 26, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets, with their stalls selling mulled wine (Gluehwein), Christmas tree decorations and other delights, are an integral part of German Christmas tradition, and many of them opened across Germany today. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 26: Visitors walk through the Christmas market at Alexanderplatz square under an illuminated ferris wheel on November 26, 0213 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets, which traditionally sell mulled wine, stollen cake, Christmas tree ornaments and other crafts and are an essential part of German Christmas tradition, open across the country this week. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareMUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 27: Christmas-market-mongers prepare their colourful and glittering stalls at the Munich Christmas Market on Marienplatz at November 27, 2013 in Munich, Germany. Christmas Markets opened all across Germany this week. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images)
Christmas Market Opens In Frankfurt
ShareFRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 27: Visitors walk through the Christmas market at Roemerberg square on its opening day on November 27, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. Christmas markets, which traditionally sell mulled wine, stollen cake, Christmas tree ornaments and other crafts and are an essential part of German Christmas tradition, open across the country this week. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)
Christmas Market Opens In Frankfurt
ShareFRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 27: Visitors walk through the Christmas market at Roemerberg square on its opening day on November 27, 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany. Christmas markets, which traditionally sell mulled wine, stollen cake, Christmas tree ornaments and other crafts and are an essential part of German Christmas tradition, open across the country this week. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)
Traditional Christmas Market Opens In Bath
ShareBATH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Shoppers stop at stalls to browse the offerings at the Bath Christmas Market on its opening night on on November 28, 2013 in Bath, England. Originating in Germany, Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in British cities too, as a way of boosting festive retail sales and visitor numbers. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
An Alternative View Of Birmingham’s Christmas Market
ShareBIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image has been processed using digital filters) Visitors and Christmas shoppers enjoy Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas market on December 3, 2013 in Birmingham, England. Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas market is Britain's biggest festive market with over 200 stalls, many of them from the heart of Germany. German beer, Frankfurter sausages, mulled wine, chocolate and traditional craft products entice thousands of visitors every year. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareERFURT, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 26: Visitors gather at the annual Christmas market on Domplatz square as the Dom cathedral (L) and Severikirche church stand illuminated behind on November 26, 2014 in Erfurt, Germany. Christmas markets across Germany are opening this week and will stay open through the end of December to sell Gluehwein, Christmas decorations, sweets and other delights. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareFRANKFURT/MAIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 26: Visitors walk through the Christmas market at Roemerberg square on its opening day on November 26, 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany. Christmas markets, which traditionally sell mulled wine, stollen cake, Christmas tree ornaments and other crafts and are an essential part of German Christmas tradition, open across the country this week. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)
Bath Christmas Market Opens For The Festival Period
ShareBATH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image was processed using a digital filter) Christmas shoppers browse the stalls at the opening of the traditional Christmas market close to the historic Roman Baths and Bath Abbey on November 27, 2014 in Bath, England. Originating in Germany, Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in British cities too, as a way of boosting festive retail sales and visitor numbers. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
The Edinburgh Christmas Fair Open For The Festival Period
ShareEDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 18: Members of the public enjoy the Christmas Market, one of a number of attractions situated in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh along with an ice rink carousel and a Big Wheel, it opened in late November and runs until January 4, 2015. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Shoppers Visit Bath Christmas Market
ShareBATH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Christmas shoppers browse stalls at the traditional Christmas market close to the historic Roman Baths and Bath Abbey on December 8, 2015 in Bath, England. Originating in Germany, Christmas markets have become increasingly popular in British cities as a way of boosting festive sales and visitor numbers. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Christmas Market At The Muensterplatz In Bonn
ShareBONN,GERMANY - DECEMBER 22: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image was created as an Equirectangular Panorama. Import image into a panoramic player to create an interactive 360 degree view) Shoppers look round the Christmas Market at the Muensterplatz on December 22, 2015 in Bonn,Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open In Berlin
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 21: Children climb onto wooden horses on a merry-go-around at the annual Christmas market at Alexanderplatz on the market's opening day on November 21, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets are opening across Germany this week in a tradition that dates back centuries. For the next four weeks the Christmas markets, which are usually located on the main square of the hosting town or village, will provide holiday cheer with stalls selling mulled wine, sausages, Christmas ornaments and other delights. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open In Berlin
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 21: Visitors pass by a hut selling mulled wine (Gluehwein) at the annual Christmas market at Alexanderplatz on the market's opening day on November 21, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets are opening across Germany this week in a tradition that dates back centuries. For the next four weeks the Christmas markets, which are usually located on the main square of the hosting town or village, will provide holiday cheer with stalls selling mulled wine, sausages, Christmas ornaments and other delights. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Open Across Germany
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 24: Visitors stop at a stall selling Gluehwein next to an illuminated ferris wheel at the Christmas market at Alexanderplatz on the market's opening day on November 24, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets across Germany will open this week and stay open through the end of December to sell Gluehwein, Christmas decorations, sweets and other delights in an annual tradition. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Traditional Christmas Market In Schlitz
ShareSCHLITZ, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 27: The effigy of a giant candle stands at the annual Christmas Market on November 26, 2016 in Schlitz, Germany. Christmas markets are opening across Germany this week in a tradition that dates back centuries. For the next four weeks the Christmas markets, which are usually located on the main square of the hosting town or village, will provide holiday cheer with mulled wine, sausages, Christmas ornaments and other delights. (Photo by Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images)
Munich Christmas Market
ShareMUNICH, GERMANY - DECEMBER 09: Visitors gather under an illuminated Christmas tree at the annual Christmas Market at Marienplatz square on December 9, 2016 in Munich, Germany. Christmas markets have opened across Germany in a tradition that dates back centuries. For the remaing weeks until Christmas the markets, which are usually located on the main square of the hosting town or village, will provide holiday cheer with stalls selling mulled wine, sausages, Christmas ornaments and other delights. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Travel Destination: Vienna
ShareVIENNA, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 05: The christmas market at the town hall of Vienna is seen during sunset on December 5, 2016 in Vienna, Austria. The town of Vienna is the federal capital of Austria as well as one of the nine federal states, the city has a population of 2.6 million citizens. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
Christmas Markets Draw Visitors In Annual Tradition
ShareFRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 16: Visitors walk among stalls selling mulled wine, pastries, sausages, Christmas decorations, handicrafts and other Christmas delights at the annual Christmas market at Roemerberg on December 16, 2017 in Frankfurt, Germany. Christmas markets are an essential tradition in Germany and most are open from the end of November until shortly before Christmas. Authorities have raised security precautions at the markets this year following the deadly attack against a Christmas market in Berlin last year by an Islamist terrorist. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)
Annual Christmas Market In Strasbourg
ShareSTRASBOURG - DECEMBER 6: Crowds throng Cathedral Square during the annual traditional Christmas market on December 6, 2003 in Strasbourg, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
