Pennsylvania 2 Most Euro-Centric Christmas Markets in the U.S.
When it comes to festive travel experiences, European Christmas markets stand out for their unique blend of sights and scents. Originating in Europe centuries ago, these markets were initially established to mark and prepare for the holiday season before eventually making their way to America. Each market, with its distinctive setup, offers a range of items, from handmade decorations and ornaments to artwork, as well as seasonal food and beverages.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, the roots of Christmas markets trace back to Vienna in 1296, where Duke Albrecht I authorized 14-day fairs in December. Interestingly, despite their December timing, these markets were not originally directly tied to Christmas and lacked a religious nature. Another early example is found in Bautzen, Germany, where in 1384, King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia granted the city the right to hold a free market, allowing butchers to sell meat until Christmas.
U.S. Christmas markets evoke a genuinely European atmosphere.
Travel + Leisure magazine has compiled a list of U.S. Christmas markets that evoke a genuinely European atmosphere. From San Francisco to Washington, D.C., these outdoor markets offer a variety of holiday gifts alongside cups of hot cocoa and mulled wine.
Philadelphia’s Christmas Village is recognized as one of the experiences closest to an authentic German Christmas market in the U.S. Located at Love Park and City Hall, the market operates from mid-November through Christmas Eve, featuring over 100 vendors in wooden booths offering food, ornaments, jewelry, sweets, and crafts from around the world.
The magazine also features Philly’s Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market, with an ice rink, and a municipal Christmas tree nearby. Visitors can also ride on a Christmas Village carousel in City Hall’s courtyard.
Pittsburgh’s Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Market Square is another Pennsylvania market on the list, offering holiday goods ranging from handmade Polish folk art to Celtic Irish gifts.
The list of Euro-centric Christmas markets in the U.S. includes Christkindlmarket Chicago, inspired by the 16th-century Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, and the Denver Christkindlmarket and Solvang Julefest in California, among others.
Check out the complete list here.
7 Festive Games and Activities for a Memorable Holiday Party
Name That Holiday Song
All you need is someone with a phone full of great Christmas songs, ready to play DJ. See who can guess the festive songs first after hearing just a few notes. It’s a laid-back way to enjoy some post-meal fun.
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Never Have I Ever Holiday Edition
Give this timeless game a festive twist by asking questions like, “I’ve never regifted a present,” and find out what secrets your friends and family may be hiding. You can stick to the traditional rules where those who’ve committed the act take a sip of their beverage, or you can opt for a point-based system, with the winner receiving a holiday surprise as their reward.
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Present Stacking
Here’s a game that allows you to unleash your creativity. Wrap a selection of uniquely shaped objects, and the challenge is to see who can build the tallest stack of presents. Using fragile items in this game should be avoided for obvious reasons.
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Christmas Carol Challenge
Here’s a straightforward, no-fuss game that’s perfect a cozy home get-together or an office party. Gather everyone in a circle, and the game begins with one person singing a line from a holiday song. The person to their right then must continue with the next line of the song, and so on. You can choose from timeless classics like Jingle Bells or opt for a more contemporary holiday hit like Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You. While you might know the opening lines of these songs, it becomes quite a challenge as the game progresses.
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Best/Worst Gift
Distribute four slips of paper to each participant. Every guest is tasked with jotting down two positive Christmas gifts and two negative ones: one from their real experiences and one fabricated. Collect all the slips in a container and let the group take turns guessing which presents were genuinely given and which were made up.
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Saran Wrap Ball Game
Make a big plastic wrap ball stuffed with little gifts like mini liquor bottles, gift cards, candy, and cash. One person starts by unwrapping it, while someone else takes the dice and tries to roll doubles. The twist is that you can’t stop unwrapping until your neighbor rolls those elusive doubles, so the pressure’s on to keep the ball moving. Players get to keep all the goodies they uncover during their turn, so everyone’s in for some prizes. You can make it more challenging by requiring the person unwrapping to wear oven mitts.
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Celebrity
Here’s a fun party game you can enjoy with friends or family anytime, anywhere. You split into two teams, and each player writes down 5 celebrity names on pieces of paper. You take turns being the clue-giver. In round one, the clue-giver describes the celebrity without saying their name or nickname, and the team guesses. In round two, you can only use one word as a clue. Round three is like Charades, where you act out the celebrity without speaking. Keep score to see which team guesses the most celebrities correctly. It’s a great game for any gathering.
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