5 European Christmas Markets to visit this winter

Christmas markets are one of my favorite places to be in December. I love going to markets because there's no knowing what you're going to find, but you can be sure there will be a feast for the senses. Christmas markets embody all that is right about shopping (beautiful craftmanship and artistry) without the consumerism of malls and chain stores. It really gives a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that you can buy homemade gingerbread, mulled wine and wood carved figurines and, at the same time, help a small business sustain itself.

The first Christmas markets originated in Germany, and dates back to the 1300s. So it's only appropriate that we start our list with a German Christmas market.

1. Munich, Germany

Source: EuropeanBeautiful

The market at Marienplatz, facing the city's charming Gothic City Hall, is the place that becomes a winter wonderland in the heart of Munich. The origins of this market are though to date back to the 14th century, thus making it one of the oldest in Europe. Enjoy festive live music, cooking workshops for kids and a Christmas Post Office (which will send a letter anywhere in the world) between November 27th and December 24th, 2014.

The official website for the Munich Christkindlmarkt is here.

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Source: From There to There

The Prague Winter Markets are open daily at Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, Republic Sqaure and Havel's Market starting with November 29th until January 6th. You can buy the famous Czech glassware and jewellery, visit a mini petting zoo and have mulled wine in the center history-steeped Prague.

Find more information on PragueExperience.

3. Innsbruck, Austria

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There really is no better way to shop for Christmas than at a market in the Alps. Innsbruck is the host of six Christmas markets this year, for the romantic, the artsy and the gourmand.

Find out the hours of operation and the locations on the official Innsbruck tourism website.

4. Kerststadvalkenburg, The Netherlands

European Christmas Markets - Kerststadvalkenburg, Netherlands

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This is a truly unique Christmas market due to the fact that some of the stalls and displays are located in caverns and caves. Until January 4th, you can visit the largest and oldest underground Christmas market in Europe.

More information, as well as brochures and pictures can be found here.

5. Lille, France

Christmas Markets in Europe - Lille, France

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About 80 stalls are displaying Christmas goodies at the markets in Lille in Place Rihour. This small but festive market is surrounded by cafes, bars and patisseries.

Find out more information here.

How to make paper snowflakes

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Wisdom on: the unfounded fear of being childish

I love collecting quotes. My own thoughts, when they come in the shape of quips of other people's wisdom, seem more fully formed. When I was little, I used to fill notebooks with quotes and pictures that matched them. There was really nothing that I couldn't pair with a picture. For hours, I would sit at my desk and cut and paste (literally, using real scissors and glue) little bits of printed magic. I used magazines, newspapers, chocolate wrappers, packaging and pretty much anything with a cute picture printed on it. Everything that fitted beloved words. I would then get out my quote notebook and find one that matched the mood of the picture. Sometimes, it was the other way around, with the words of wisdom waiting patently at the bottom of a blank page for the colors, shapes and textures of a glossy piece of daydreaming. When I first started this habit, I had never seen a computer. I didn't even know such things existed beyond computer labs. It was the mid-90s and the

Polish Textiles from Taftyli

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