Countries all over Europe celebrate Christmas with Christmas markets. Some of them are incredibly large (like in Strassbourg, France) and some of them are small and cozy (like in Trier, Germany). Christmas markets have become a staple of European life during the month of December and many European lives revolve around the Christmas market during this special season.
Many countries all over Europe have Christmas markets. But, Germany is the home of the Christmas market, or Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market). The first Christmas market is thought to date back to 1434 in Dresden, Germany. However, as early as 1298, Austria was holding what they called "December markets." They started by selling mainly meats, but the markets evolved over time to include everything you could ever dream of buying!
In the 1500's, Martin Luther told everyone that Christmas is the holiday when they should be giving gifts to others. Europeans use the Christmas markets to buy gifts for their loved ones for Christmas. Now, they also use it as a place to gather with friends, eat delicious food and get something warm to drink.
