Christmas Market Time

Tonight we took Cole downtown to see the Christmas lights and to a Christmas market at the city hall, or in German, the Rathaus. He liked seeing the lights and the people, but it was a chilly evening! The Christmas markets are a special thing in Austria. From mid-November until Christmas Eve, local merchants put up wooden stalls and sell their handmade wares in outdoor public areas all over the city. Ornaments, jewelry, and wooden toys are among the Christmas market goodies. You can also enjoy unique food like langos, an elephant ear type bread slathered with butter and garlic, various sorts of pretzels, and lebkuchen (gingerbread). Austrians really enjoy visiting with friends and family over a hot mug of punsch or gluhwein. No matter the temperature, you'll always find folks bundled up, drinking, and laughing at tall wooden tables. It's a really fun experience!