Christmas markets represent an enchanted place where you immediately enter into the full Christmas spirit.
Walking among the characteristic wooden huts filled with lights and colors, ribbons and packages, perhaps while enjoying a good glass of mulled wine, instantly creates that special magic that characterizes the Christmas season.
For children, it is pure joy, considering that there are often initiatives created specifically for the little ones: from Santa's house to Disney character and fairy tale shows.
For adults, the markets are an opportunity to buy something original, but above all represent a break from everyday life that allows them to dream and return to childhood for a while.
In the modernity of our times, the unchanged charm of Christmas markets is enriched with awareness, with that green note that is synonymous with respect for the planet; a concept antagonistic to the consumerism of recent decades and certainly a concept more in line with the essence of the Christmas holiday.
Where the tradition of Christmas markets originated
The idea of the Christmas market originated around the 15th century, mainly in Germany and France. Initially, they were real fairs where handicraft items were displayed, which at that time were very expensive and not easily accessible to everyone.
The first written testimony of a Christmas market dates back to 1434 in Dresden. It shows that the Monday before Christmas Day would have been a market called Striezelmarkt. Later, this name was changed to Christkindlmarkt or "the market of the Christ Child," a name still used today for Christmas markets in Germany and Austria.
The Dresden market is not the only historical Christmas market of which there is a trace; historical documents also mention the Strasbourg market in 1570 and the Nuremberg market in 1628.
The spread of Christmas markets in most European cities as we know them today only arrived in the 1990s. They not only finally became accessible to everyone but also transformed into a tourist attraction not to be missed and a great opportunity for local artisans and producers.
In Europe, among the most famous Christmas markets, in addition to the historical ones already mentioned, we also find those in Vienna, Zurich, Cologne, Augsburg, and Paris. In Italy, among the oldest and definitely worth visiting are the markets in Bolzano and Trento.
What is meant by green Christmas markets
Green events are very fashionable today, but what does it concretely mean to be green for a Christmas market?
The green character of a Christmas market starts first of all from the products that the stalls offer to the public, which today tend to be more and more sustainable, natural, organic, and handmade.
The range includes, therefore, enogastronomy with typical seasonal km0 products to cosmetic products and personal care passing through local handicrafts which, not only is unique as an expression of a territory, but today expresses a marked sensitivity in the choice of natural materials (among which wood, ceramic, glass, and fabrics), biodegradable or recycled.
Another aspect for which a Christmas market can be considered sustainable concerns the organization of the event itself. Attention to energy consumption with the use of LED lights for greater savings or with the exploitation of energy from solar panels or other green sources.
And again, in the case of food stands, sustainability also involves drastically reducing the amount of waste produced during the event or at least limiting its environmental impact. Hence the identification of recycling zones and the encouragement in the use of non-disposable but reusable or eco-friendly dishes and containers.
Where are the most sustainable Christmas markets in Central Europe
Year after year, more and more Christmas markets tend to take on green features. Some have certifications that attest to how they are made respecting certain environmental protection criteria such as energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainable mobility.
For example, many Christmas markets in the South Tyrol area in northern Italy are certified as Green Event. Among them, we remember the Christmas market in Bolzano and the Christmas market in Merano.
The Christmas market in Trento is, instead, totally powered by green energy produced by hydroelectric power plants in the Dolomites and is also distinguished by many eco-friendly initiatives in the areas of low-impact mobility, the enhancement of km0 products, the incentive to use washable or compostable dishes, and differentiated waste collection. Moreover, all the informational material (such as maps and brochures) is made of FSC eco-certified paper with low environmental impact.
In many cities in Central Europe, it is worth visiting several Christmas markets that make green their strength.
The Advent Feast at the Basilica in Budapest, elected twice "the best Christmas market in Europe", features a program rich in charity concerts and a focus on environmental sustainability that translates into recycling food surpluses and using eco-friendly cutlery, cups, and glasses.
The Christmas market in Brussels, has a strong green vocation. Among the many initiatives put in place for environmental protection, it is important to remember that exclusively LED bulbs are used for lighting, the Christmas tree is recycled creating works of art and everyday objects such as benches and tables, food containers, glasses, and dishes that are reusable are used, a system for the recovery and redistribution of food surpluses has been established, a better differentiated collection for plastics and metals has been implemented, and a new technology for "dry toilets" has been adopted.
Finally, the city of Berlin which during the pre-Christmas period offers:
- The Ecological Christmas Market at Sophienstraße which for more than 20 years has offered handmade design objects in addition to organic, natural, and fair trade products in a spirit of collective support for social projects by traders and startups.
- The Vegan Christmas Market at Fehrbelliner Platz is instead totally oriented towards the vegan world. Present in the city since 2018, the vegan Christmas market bans plastic Christmas decorations as well as disposable tableware.
The market offers ethical gifts ranging from local crafts to vegan cosmetics.
From a gastronomic point of view, it is possible to try many specialties strictly in a vegan version like organic burgers, typical German sausages (bratwurst), and mulled wine.