6 fascinating Christmas traditions around Europe and how to get involved
From Christmas markets to centuries old theatre, discover a European Christmas with Albatross Tours.
| THIS ARTICLE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Albatross Tours |
From Christmas cookies to centuries-old passion plays and even a parade of angels, Europe has hundreds of Christmas traditions to delight in.
There’s no argument: Europe simply does Christmas better. The advent season in Europe sees twenty-foot fir trees, dusted with snow, take centre stage in medieval village squares, Christmas markets illuminated by garlands of fairy lights, and the gentle, distinctive aroma of warmed spiced mulled wine permeating the air – and you can see the best of it with Albatross Tours.
While there is a commonality to the Christmas experience in Europe, each village, town and city has its own special traditions, food, folklore and processions to celebrate. For the visitor, this poses a problem: where to go to have a truly magical Christmas experience? The advantage of taking a small-group tour is that they’ve done the research for you; delivering you into a winter wonderland so you can make the most of the festive season.
Wander through Europe’s best Christmas markets.
Walk with the angels in the Czech Republic
If you’ve ever wanted to see Angels walk through the streets, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Český Krumlov is the place to be. Each year during advent, the 13th-century town hosts the parade of angels: locals dressed as angels in white gather in the local castle and form a procession through the streets under the ethereal glow of Christmas lights and the sound of Christmas concerts that ring through the medieval squares and across the river.
Staying in the old historic centre with Albatross Tour’s Bohemia and Christmas in the Tyrol tour, allows you to immerse yourself in the deep Christmas spirit.
Watch angels wander the snowy streets of magical Český Krumlov.
Embrace the Nativity in Italy
Spirituality underpins so much of Italy’s Christmas traditions, with nativity forming a key part of every city and town’s display. The tradition of displaying the nativity scene of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus goes back to 1223, when St Francis of Assisi first displayed one in the village of Greccio, in the mountains outside of Rome.
Milan, the last stop on Albatross Tour’s Swiss Alpine Christmas Markets tour, is one of the best places to see the revered nativity up close. The main Christmas market is held by the incredible Duomo Church: those feeling intrepid can climb to the Duomo rooftop to look out over the Christmas market; those after a little more warmth shouldn’t miss the Christmas lights in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Don’t forget to pick up your panettone to take home: the Italian Christmas staple originated in Milan before becoming an Italy-wide sensation.
Don’t miss the Christmas displays in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Live out a Fairytale in Austria
Everyone dreams of the fairytale Christmas market, but in Austria, some towns take the fairytale experience that little bit further. One of the biggest (and wildest) yuletide events is Krampus, which is held in early December and involves demon-like characters roaming the streets to scare children.
Some traditions are slightly more gentile and overlooked without the helpful eye of your guide on Albatross Tours’ German and Austrian Christmas Markets Tour. For example, in many businesses and homes in Austria, you’ll see branches: cherry or apple blossom stems collected in early December for the Feast of Saint Barbara placed in water. Legend has it that if they bloom before Christmas, it’s good luck.
Of course, if you can tear yourself away from the world-famous golden roof’ of the Christmas market in Innsbruck, take a closer look at the eaves and gutters of the medieval buildings. Hiding on the buildings in the Old Town you’ll find fairytale characters, including Grimm’s classics like Snow White, perched among the buildings.
Watch out for Krampus as he accompanies St Nicholas around Austrian streets.
Celebrate Christmas Cuisine in Switzerland.
Everyone loves to indulge at Christmas. In Bern’s Star Market, the Christmas market even boasts its own purpose-built fondue chalet. There are more than seven Christmas markets in Bern, serving everything from chestnuts on an open fire to steaming cups of gluhwein, candied almonds heaped in little piles and fresh mountain berry jam fried into fresh dough. Be sure to take home a few packs of Zimtsterne – traditional cinnamon-flavoured star-shaped biscuits, made with ground almond flour and served each Christmas.
While a bag of freshly baked cookies might not seem like an overly indulgent Christmas treat, cinnamon was expensive in the 1800s, and was considered a yuletide luxury. Find out more on your Albatross Tours Swiss Alpine Christmas Markets Tour.
Be sure to take home a few packs of Zimtsterne.
Go backstage at the famous Passion Play Theatre in Germany
The tiny town of Oberammergau in Germany has a big history, and once a decade, becomes a pilgrimage point for visitors from around the world. Oberammergau is the famous host of the Passion Play, a six-hour-long production of the death of Jesus performed and put on by more than half of the tiny town. The origins of the Passion Play go back to 1663, with the town committing to stage the play once each decade if it survived the plague.
It did, and for over four hundred years it has kept the tradition, and while the next play isn’t for another few years, your Albatross Tour Manager take you on a guided tour backstage of the famous Passion Play Theatre as part of their German and Austrian Markets Tour.
Beyond the play, the incredible atmosphere of the town, its famous wood-carved architecture and cosy Christkindlmarket make it a fantastic place to spend Christmas.
Witness the Oberammergau Passion Play (or at least the famous theatre).
Dip Candles in Vienna
Not all European Christmas traditions are old ones: some of the best are only decades old, hyper-local and taking an innovative approach. Vienna’s Rathausplatz market is one such place. Candle dipping, where guests created their own candle by dipping a wick in wax, is a popular market event and charity fundraiser, while the market’s ice-skating rink weaves in and around the trees in the parks surrounding city hall.
Popular with sentimentalists and Instagrammers is the illuminated tree of hearts. Visit it on Albatross’s Medieval Bohemian Christmas Tour, which also includes a visit to the Christmas Market in the forecourt of the Schonbrunn Palace.
Dip candles at Vienna’s Rathausplatz market.
Magnificent