It was a rumor, but now it’s a reality: the Strasbourg Christmas Market is becoming a permanent attraction! From now on, no matter if it’s February, July, or November, tourists can stroll among the chalets, sip hot wine, and listen to Petit Papa Noël on repeat.
The idea is simple: every year, the city welcomes millions of visitors who come to admire its Christmas market. But once January is over, it’s a tragedy: tourists feel down, shopkeepers are upset, and Strasbourg turns back into an ordinary city. To avoid this emotional shock, the municipality has decided to officially launch the concept of Christmas non-stop.
A Christmas market at 35 degrees? No problem!
“Tourists always asked us the same question:"But why doesn’t the Christmas market last longer? We thought: what if we never stopped it?" explains an enthusiastic elected official. Starting this year, there's no need to wait until December to dive into the magic of Christmas. Mulled wine, pretzels, sparkling decorations, and Santa hats will be available every day, all year round. Refrigerated booths will even be set up to create a "magical winter" atmosphere for visitors in the middle of August.
And to avoid exhausting the vendors, a rotating system has been put in place: the artisans will work in teams like in a happiness factory. “Honestly, if Disney can operate its parks 365 days a year, why can’t we?” a gingerbread vendor laughs.
Christmas in shorts and flip-flops: Strasbourg adapts to the seasons
s="">Évidemment, some elements had to be adjusted to prevent the Christmas market from turning into a giant sauna in summer. So, summer versions of Christmas classics have been imagined: iced mulled wine (an oxymoron that's now trendy); cold raclette, served on slices of cucumber; reimagined roasted chestnuts… in sorbet form; a Christmas tree made of palm trees decorated with red balls.
To perfect the atmosphere, the ice rink in Place Kléber will be equipped with synthetic ice that can withstand the heat, and snow cannons (biodegradable, of course) will be set up for a mini snowstorm in the middle of July.
A thriving business for Strasbourg
With this decision, Strasbourg ensures it remains THE capital...
a Christmas tale all year round, a status that will guarantee a steady flow of tourists in search of a little magic. “If people want to celebrate Christmas in August, who are we to stop them?” laughs a shopkeeper. And after all, if Halloween and Easter have managed to sneak into supermarket aisles three months in advance, why couldn't Christmas last all year long?So, ready to toast with mulled wine under 30 degrees?
¡ lıɹʌɐ,p uossıod un à ǝnbsǝɹd ʇıɐɹıoɹɔ uo