Europe has many wonderful old traditions, and one of them is the Christmas market.

The Christmas market in Vienna in Austria is truly amazing. It is one of the oldest in the World – it started at a "December market" in 1298, although that may not qualify as a "real" Christmas market among historians.

The "December market" was by the Cathedral, St Stephan Dom.

Christmas markets became a tradition in German speaking lands and ushered in the four week church festival of Advent. In nearby Munich, Germany the Christmas market is first mentioned in 1310.

It is traditionally held in the town square and the market has food, drink and seasonal items from open-air stalls accompanied by traditional singing and dancing.

Here the tradition include mulled wine – Glühwein – and sausage with Saurkraut, pickled cabbage.

Often the market is opened with singing and a procession of the "Christ kind", which used to be a boy but now is mostly a local girl.

Today almost all Christmas markets have a program of processions, Christmas music and entertainment. In Austria a brass band playing local music is a must. There are also other activities such as workshops where you can see traditional handicrafts.

See the local schedule.