Christmas magic starts next week

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The pre-Christmas period in Vienna is traditionally the time of numerous Advent and Christmas markets. This year, the first Christmas market opens on November 7, and from November 16, all Christmas markets in Vienna will be open. Hardly any other city in Europe has more Christmas markets and market-like events than the city of 2 million inhabitants. Vienna’s Christmas markets have a total of 796 stalls, including 190 food stalls, with glittering Christmas tree decorations, small and large gift options of all kinds, Christmas decorations for a wide variety of tastes, and, of course, mulled wine, punch, and other delicacies for perfect entertainment and varied shopping opportunities in the run-up to Christmas.

Every year, the Christmas markets are approved by the market authority. The Market Office controls both the real Christmas markets and the market-like events. This year, the Market Office will once again scrutinize all food and catering stands to ensure compliance with the strict hygiene regulations, and food samples will also be taken. Due to the strict controls, there were hardly any complaints at the Advent markets last year.

Market Office Director Andreas Kutheil comments: “The pre-Christmas period is peak season for the Market Office. Vienna is highly prominent in all European rankings as one of the most beautiful cities at Christmas time. I am particularly pleased that the Market Office makes a major contribution to this.”

First Christmas market in 1722

The first St. Nicholas, Christmas, and Nativity scene market was held on the Freyung in Vienna in 1722. 120 years later, this market was relocated from the market office to Platz am Hof. In 1903, the stalls were renovated, and the Christmas market received electric lighting for the first time. In 1918, the market was moved to Stephansplatz. Since the 1980s, several Christmas and Christkindl markets have been authorized and held in Vienna by the Market Office. The former sites of the former Nikolomarkt are highly coveted.