There are many many Christmas fairs and markets that take place all over Europe to get you in the festive mood. I’ve listed just some of the main ones. If you can recommend (or otherwise) a particular market please leave a comment.
France
The French markets are famed for their cakes, pastries, chocolates, pates and meats, in addition to arts and crafts and gifts. Most of them start late November, but check dates of individual markets before you go.
Amiens – said to be the biggest Christmas market in northern France and specialised in produce from the Picardy region
Grenoble – starts in December and has more than 50 chalets with chocolates, candles, gingerbread, wooden toys and more. They also have fireworks, clowns, games and jazz bands
Lille Market
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Tue 7th October 2008 at 03:23 AM, Filed in Wildlife, December
December through to February is the peak season for Manta watching in this region, and this is one of the best places in the world to see them. Yap is actually four islands sharing a coral reef and all islands are covered with pretty dense vegetation and are situated just 9 degrees north of the equator.
Manta Rays have wing spans up to 5 meters (16 ft) and visit the ‘cleaning stations’ in the channels between the shallow lagoon surrounding Yap where cleaner wrasse do the grooming. Whilst 100 or so of these great fish seem to have made Yap their year round home the numbers swell during the winter mating season.
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And you thought that radishes are only added to salad, - think again!
I must admit that on occasions I have been known to cut through the small round radishes we get in the UK, paring them into small segments – but not quite to the bottom, then putting them in a bowl of iced water and wait for them to open into ‘flowers’. Cookery lesson over for today…..
My artistic efforts are absolutely nothing by comparison with what you will see on ‘La Noche de Rabanos’ – night of the radishes.
This event is held on 23rd December every year, its origins are unknown, but researchers do know that on Christmas Eve in the 19th century markets sold varieties of vegetables and dried fish. Vendors vied for trade by decorating their stalls with sculpted radish figures that were further adorned with onions, turnips and flowers. The most interesting ones were purchased to the festive tables of homes on Christmas Eve.
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Contributed by Jill Bowen
Fancy a quick dip in the sea…and I mean quick!
Bur first, what’s your usual method of entry? Like me, slowly inching your way, and therefore prolonging the ‘pain’ of cold water reaching your ‘sensitive’ bits! Or do you charge in, launching yourself into the waves? Or maybe you perform a graceful artistic dive off a jetty?
OK all you wimps, why not see how ‘real men’ enter the water!
On 11th December every year - the day preceding the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe an evening mass is held in honour of Mexico’s patron saint. I expect that a few prayers are said not only for the saint, but a few of the worshippers will also being praying for themselves! These are some of the best professional freestyle cliff divers in the world, participating the next day in a spectacle that thrills spectators with their abilities.
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Posted by Jill Bowen on Fri 2nd November 2007 at 01:18 AM, Filed in Europe, December
The 7th Santa Claus World Championship is being held on 1st December 2007.
Who can enter?
All aspiring ‘pretend’ Santa Claus/Father Christmas’s who want to prove they’re best at their job. (Obviously the ‘real’ one can’t take part, as that would be cheating!)
Actually these ‘pretenders’ take part to give the real Santa Claus a few ideas each year as to how he can speed up his work. Because, if you think about it, his wonderful job can be a bit onerous with all those heavy sacks he has to drag through the skies whatever the weather. So he can use a few tips and hints to make life easier at his busiest time of the year!
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