Who Invented Christmas Tree Decorations?

Many people feel that decorating a Christmas Tree is an essential part of the Christmas festivities. If you have wondered where these magical trinkets were first made, they are attributed to skilled craftsmen in the little town of Lauscha, in central Germany. They are still made there today – a wonderful winter break would be to take a trip to Lauscha and watch how the glass blowers create these timeless decorations. There is an increasing interest in these fragile, beautiful objects and in order to bring them home safely, you’ll benefit from good travel insurance. You might even want to take an extra suitcase and  bring back a few boxes for heirloom gifts! Christmas decorations are often handed on to the younger members of the family and vintage glass baubles are increasingly sought after.

The Home of the Original Glass Bauble

The town of Lauscha, Thuringia Region, is in central Germany.  Lauscha became known for expert glass blowing in the 12th Century – producing fine goblets and bowls. Thuringia was able to supply the two key essential elements for glass – there was plenty of good timber and access to sand. Techniques and styles for tree decorations began to develop around the late 1840’s;  two craftsmen,  Christopher Muller and Hans Grierer began blowing glass decorations in apple, orange and walnut shapes. To make the inside of the bauble reflect  light, they were originally painted with a frightful mixture of lead and mercury! It was later discovered that sugar water and silver nitrate produced an equally effective reflective surface which was unlikely to poison anyone – not the case for it’s predecessor!

The Tradition Begins

Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, is believed to have initiated the traditions of Christmas that English people still follow today. Prince Albert brought a fir tree into the royal home and encouraged his family to decorate it with glass baubles, ribbons and candles.  This was reported in the London News, and the trend was set – everyone who could afford it, bought a tree, and decorated it too. Lauscha was put on the map, as being the best town to buy decorations; business links were developed and vast numbers of decorations were exported to America and Europe. FW Woolworth for instance, made a considerable part of his fortune on sales of Christmas decorations.

After World War II, many of the family owned operations in Lauscha were taken over by the State, but some companies reformed when the Berlin Wall was removed. There are approximately 20 glass companies back in business in Lauscha so there is plenty of choice. A gift set of hand made glass baubles will be long treasured, so pack them carefully and they’ll be enjoyed for many years to come.

Christmas shopping at Europe’s Christmas Markets

Every year, new Christmas Markets spring up across Europe, expanding the age-old ‘Christkindlmarkt’ tradition that emerged in the Middle Ages in Germany and Austria.

If you’re saving your money to spend on presents, there are plenty of Christmas markets to be found close to home in the UK, including well-established markets in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow and Bath — but if you fancy splashing out on a festive holiday you could combine a city break with a spot of shopping at some of Europe’s best Christmas Markets.

You can expect to find lots of hand made gifts, such as locally-produced arts and crafts, and many of them make unusual Christmas presents. Although the stalls vary from one market to another, and particularly from country to country, at many of them you’ll find handmade greetings cards, candles, scarves, pottery, wooden children’s toys, framed photography, and original paintings.

Street entertainment, decorations and live music add another dimension to many markets, as do food stalls selling delicious festive snacks and warming mulled wine – a crucial ingredient at outdoor markets in colder destinations such as Poland.

With hundreds of markets to choose from in many countries across Europe, it’s hard to know which to visit. Here we’ve selected three that offer a bit of everything.

Tips for visiting Christmas Markets

As attractive as all of this may sound, some Christmas Markets get horribly overcrowded and you have to battle to see any of the stalls or get a bite to eat, leaving you feeling less than festive.

While markets that have been established for many years can be incredibly popular, they are also often better organised because they know how many visitors to expect and how to cater for them. Try to find some user-generated reviews of the markets you’re considering visiting before you book your trip.

If possible, avoid going to any markets at the weekend when they are at their busiest, and try to make at least one visit during the evening when the market is lit-up and looks its most festive.

Another tip is to make sure you visit virtually empty-handed, or at least not armed with stacks of bags after a morning’s shopping elsewhere – otherwise you’ll feel harassed within minutes. Carry as little as possible and you’ll be able to enjoy some seasonal food and buy a few bits and bobs without feeling like a pack horse.

Top Christmas Markets in Europe

France and Germany

Nuremberg Christmas Market

In Germany, Nuremberg‘s internationally-renowned Christkindlesmarkt is one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, dating back more than 400 years, and it keeps alive many of the original traditions. It is immensely popular, attracting around two million people each year to the city’s Old Town, which is festooned with lights and decorations. For a real taste of Christmas, sniff out the food stalls selling sugar-coated toasted almonds, traditional Christmas gingerbreads, and stollen – all great additions to christmas gift baskets and stocking fillers. And if you’re travelling with children, explore the attached Kinderweihnacht (Children’s Christmas Market) which features old steam-powered Merry-Go-Rounds and festive activities aimed at a younger crowd.

For variety, head to the Alsace region of France, which has a heavy German influence and a strong Christmas market tradition. If you have your own transport, you could visit several local Christmas Markets during your trip as there’s one in nearly every town.  You might even choose to leave your cars in England when they collect a rental vehicle from the many van hire companies that are associated with the Channel Tunnel to make the most of the shopping opportunities.

Lille Christmas Market

Also in France, Lille‘s Christmas Market is very popular amongst British tourists thanks to the Eurostar link. Located in Place Rihour in the city centre, this is quite a big market, attracting some 900,000 visitors each year. Centred around a reproduction snow-covered village, the market features craft stalls, a big wheel, an ice skating rink, street theatre, visits by Father Christmas, and groups singing Christmas carols.

See http://www.noel-a-lille.com/ for more information.

Prague Christmas Market

In the Czech Republic, Prague’s Christmas Market in Wenceslas Square has established itself as one of the best outside of Germany. The market area is surrounded by beautiful buildings and the stalls sell some unusual handicrafts including Czech puppets and other toys, and lots of jewellery and candles and other gift ideas. The city is home to several other smaller Christmas Markets, too, if you fancy exploring.

For details of hundreds of other Christmas Markets, visit http://christmasmarkets.com