The History of the Christmas Market
There's nothing more magical than visiting a beautiful Christmas market in the lead up to Christmas, and these festive markets have been adding joy and cheer to the holiday season for many generations.
Christmas markets offer the chance to try delicious foods, buy festive items from Christmas market retail chalets, and even play games or enjoy a selection of funfair rides such as Ferris wheels, Helter Skelters or other Christmas fairground attractions. These Christmas events are perfect for couples who want a romantic evening stroll under the Christmas lights or families who are looking for a great day out idea.
But how did Christmas markets begin? We Are Tricycle examines the facts.
The first ever Christmas market started in Dresden, Germany, and dates all the way back to the Late Middle Ages. It was originally created as a celebration of the four weeks of Advent. While we are all opening our Advent calendars and eating delicious chocolate, in the past people would wander around a beautiful Christmas market and think about the upcoming religious holiday. The original Christmas market was known as "Christkindlmarkt" which refers to the "spirit of Christmas", and each and every market since then brings a bit of special festive spirit to those who visit it!
Traditional Christmas markets were held in the town square, and they offered food and drink to passers-by, as well as seasonal items for sale in Alpine Christmas Huts. Christmas markets of the past also featured traditional dancing and music, and every town had their own traditions just like today!
Throughout history, Christmas markets have included entertaining attractions and food stalls for everyone to enjoy. They had nativity scenes, life-like figures carved out of fruit, sweets to try, and mulled wine or egg-nog for the adults.
In the 19th centuries, Germany saw a huge amount of emigration, with huge populations travelling to the USA with the encouragement from Britain. America and Britain were huge cultural powerhouses, and became even more influential in the following decades and centuries, which saw German Christmas markets set up throughout much of the world.
Modern Christmas Markets
The traditional German Christmas markets are still replicated today, with towns across the world paying homage to days gone by with their own classic Christmas markets for natives and tourists. Here in England, we have notable Christmas markets of our own, including the Lincoln Christmas market, which attracts more than 10,000 visitors in just four days. The Bath and Liverpool Christmas markets have also become a favourite for tourists and locals to enjoy during the winter months. London and Manchester's Christmas markets are so popular, the term 'Christmas Market' has almost become synonymous for any event with massive footfall.
Here at We Are Tricycle we love to give customers across the UK an authentic and memorable Christmas market experience for everyone with our Christmas market retail chalets. Whether your guests love to sample foods from around the globe or they want to buy a last-minute Christmas present, our Christmas market retail chalets are perfect for your next Christmas market or event this festive season.
Please contact us to find out about our Christmas market retail chalets or to find out about our fantastic funfair entertainment games, stalls, and rides.