As I’ve told my readers before, I’m a little bit obsessed with Vienna and really hope to visit it one day. When I first started this blog, I researched and wrote an extensive article about Viennese balls. Another tradition I’m fascinated by is the Christkindlmarkt, or Christmas Market, which dates back to the Middle Ages. For the month leading up to Christmas, these outdoor markets sell seasonal food, crafts, decorations, and gifts. Christmas Markets take place throughout Europe, including England, but the Vienna Market is one of the oldest. I would be happy to visit any or all of them. With all their sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season, I can only imagine what a beautiful and festive atmosphere they must contain. In this watercolor by Austrian artist Carl Wenzel Hajcek (1860-1923), vendors sell Christmas trees in the snow underneath a monumental equestrian statue of some Austrian hero. I’m sure that the Christmas Markets today are much more elaborate and numerous than appears here.
