Christmas Markets

I love everything about Christmas- the lights, the sounds, the decorations, the church services, the Christmas story.... The weeks leading up to Christmas day are perhaps my favorite time of year. Although I will be missing out on some of my family's Christmas traditions this year, such as visiting the little Christmas village in Foley and driving around Monroeville looking for houses that are exceptionally well-decorated, there are a number of things that I am getting to see and do this year that I have never experienced before.

Going to Christmas markets is one such new experience. Essentially every town of any decent size has one, and I've been to three different ones so far. They are somewhat like the arts-and-crafts festivals that take place in various cities around the United States throughout the year. There are activities for children, live music, and stands selling food, and many different booths set up where different vendors sell their wares. Some of the vendors are selling hand-made goods; others are simply reselling commercially available products. Unlike the arts-and-crafts festivals, though, these markets run essentially concurrently and generally last around a month. Many of the booths are extremely decorated. The entire market is lit up with Christmas lights and stays open after dark. It's a lovely experience and a great place to do Christmas shopping!

Lighted sign for the Wormser Weihnachtsmarkt (The Worms Christmas Market)