Day 4: 12 Days of "Christmas Around the World"

I've been blessed to have traveled extensively throughout Europe while stationed as a missionary in Eastern Europe. To share a bit of that past, I bring to you The 12 Days of "Christmas Around the World." Each day I will chose a country I visited, tell a personal story, and share a Christmas tradition from that country. Please add your own family traditions in the comments section of these posts, or share your own international experiences if you've been blessed enough to travel.

Happy Holidays from Ms. Q!

Day 4: The Christmas Market


Boy, don't you just love a good Christmas Market?

This shot was snapped at the Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt in Wien, Austria (Vienna to you American folk).

Each window in the townhall is dressed in blue and acts as one day on the Advent calendar. Each day another window is opened to depict a lovely Christmas scene.

Sadly, no giant pieces of chocolate are hidden in this Advent calendar...

Truly the best thing about a European Christmas Market is the rum punch.

It comes in a variety of flavors - favorites include raspberry and strawberry - and it costs approximately 5 Euros.

You get at least 2 Euros back if you return the mug.

If you don't return the mug, you retain a lovely keepsake as each Christmas market has it's own mug design.

Nothing beats the frigid cold of winter than bundling up, visiting several Christmas markets in one day (there are hundreds in Vienna), and acquiring a small collection of mugs along with a rather sizable buzz.