SECTION

Getting in the Festive Mood with British Markets

ere is nothing like a Christmas market markets we know and love today. It is Top Five British to give you a good dose of seasonal cheer. these winter markets that overtime came Indeed, just the thought of a Christmas to be known as Christmas markets, the Christmas Markets market is enough to make you brim with earliest of which originated in festive glee. e sound of choirs filling the with markets recorded in in Bath air, happy chatter and laughter coupled 1310, Bautzen in 1384 and with the mouthwatering aromas of siz - in 1393. It’s easy to see why this Christmas market zling street food, roasted chestnuts and is so popular, as it has everything going for combined with pretty stalls ough Christmas markets have changed it: atmosphere, historic setting and won - huddled together, filled with glistening and evolved they have most certainly derful stalls. Indeed, this Christmas mar - gift ideas, delicious local produce and gor - stood the test of time, perhaps because ket is as festive as mince pies dusted with geous artisan goods seems like Christmas they combine the allure of tradition with icing sugar. Against the backdrop of the shopping heaven. ere is no doubt in my the excitement and bustle of an open-air city's Roman baths and magnificent 16th- mind that a good Christmas market is the . Perhaps we love Christmas century abbey, is set up a Christmas mar - best way to get in the Christmas spirit. markets so much because they offer an ket comprising over two hundred artisan opportunity to rekindle childhood While the tradition of Christmas markets food, drink and gift sellers. Stallholders memories and to capture some festive is an ancient one, it is a relative newcomer congregate in wooden chalets that line the jollity. to British traditions. It is only in the past Georgian streets and if this festive sight is 20 years that the idea of Christmas mar - not enough to bring a smile to even the kets in a European sense of the term have face of Scrooge then the sound of choirs, become popular in Britain. In European carol singers and musicians will surely history Christmas markets have brought warm the festive cockles of all that visit cheer and brightness to the cold winter this bustling Christmas market. festive preparations for centuries serving as a means of trade and leisure. 77 November – > 756= e story of Christmas markets begins in You can find out more at www.bathchrist - the late Middle Ages in parts of the for - masmarket.co.uk

mer . Whilst the pre - t e k cursor to Christmas markets is thought to r a M

be ’s Dezembermarkt (December s a m

Market), dating back to around 1296, un - t s i r doubtedly it is the Wintermärkte (winter h C

markets) that began to spring up all over h t a Europe that best resemble the Christmas B

20 FOCUS The Magazine November/December 2018 www.focus-info.org toys, glassware, Venetian masks and ceramics, knitwear, unique jewelry, London t e hair accessories and much more. k r a ere is plenty of Christmas cheer to M

After a wander around the Christmas s be found in London, as an array of a

m market it is well worth visiting Santa's t

s Christmas markets are on offer. Indeed i r Grotto in the atmospheric setting of h visitors can take their pick from enjoy - C Cardiff Castle. h g ing a stroll around the traditional r u b November > to December 78 Nordic inspired Southbank Centre n i d E cardiffchristmasmarket.com Winter Market (14 November to 30 December) at Royal Festival Hall Riverside, or enjoy the extravagance of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (18 November – 2 January), which is a t

e delight for children young and old k r ere is something magically romantic a with its giant observation wheel, ice M

s

about Edinburgh, with its medieval roots, a rink, traditional and modern fair - m t s elegant Georgian houses and neoclassical i ground rides, circus shows and ice bar, r h

buildings. It is so steeped in history with C alongside the Christmas market, where

m

Edinburgh Castle, home to the stone of a houses and other festive h g n

destiny, commanding a view over the i treats are on offer. Meanwhile, the m r beautiful city. Indeed it seems that i pop-up town of Winterville will take B Edinburgh was always destined to be a over part of Clapham Common from fantastic location for festive markets being 23 November – 1 January, with an host to not just one, but an array of fairs ’s Frankfurt indoor market and entertainment taking place Christmas and into the Christmas Market including a street food, a big wheel New Year. and disco. Visitors can choose from the Christmas Birmingham’s internationally- November to January market in East Princes Street Gardens and renowned Christmas market is in - (various dates) enjoy the fun of the fair with a Ferris spired by its twin town of Frankfurt. For more information wheel and Star Flyer chair ride and an - is vibrant and bustling market is the www.visitlondon.com; other in George Street, with Santa's biggest outside of Germany and www.winterville.co.uk Grotto and a range of other seasonal at - Austria. If you want to get the festive tractions. feel of a German market without the journey, then Birmingham Christmas If you are in need of a little escape from market is well worth a visit. the bustle after a hard days’ shopping you can always take a trip to the gorgeous little Find your festive cheer with a drink of town of Peebles, (approximately 22 miles glühwein and browse the stalls selling from Edinburgh), where you will find a wooden toys and Christmas decora - range of galleries and gift shops as well as tions or enjoy a few festive treats for Cringletie House, a fairytale castle of a the stomach from one of the food hotel that offer a delicious December stalls. menu and a walking with alpacas experi - 6: November – 78 December 756= ence on . For more information visit 6> November – January < www.birmingham.gov.uk To find out more visit www.edinburgh - schristmas.com; www.cringletie.com Cardiff Christmas Market Cardiff

Cardiff Christmas Market has so much to offer – it’s beautifully lit and positively brimming with festive cheer. ere's a great range of art and craft work on sale at this traditional market in the centre of Cardiff, from collage and photographic prints to cards and hand-painted decora - tive objects. Other stalls sell traditional

Seren Charrington-Hollins is a professional food historian, broadcaster and food writer. She can be reached at www.foodhistorian.co.uk

www.focus-info.org FOCUS The Magazine 21