A busy year, flying & travelling around the globe, spending power and energy on family, job and personal interests … looking at the over-hyped world we all live in, there are few traditions and experiences today that still live up to their image. One of those is a visit to a Christmas market in Vienna.

It all started in 1294 with the “December market” in Vienna, which is regarded by many as the forerunner to the present Christmas markets. Over the years, the city of Vienna and its authorities have worked on the historical and authentic image of a Christmas market, away from plagiarism. Now Vienna hosts around 25 markets, ranging from smaller to larger ones, offering a collection of wooden stalls on a square, open space or a defined number of smaller streets. At almost all markets one finds a unique selection of stands selling traditional and typical Austrian Christmas food and drinks, handmade clothing, art and handcrafted items, handmade toys, candy and so on.

What is so special about a Christmas market in Vienna? Is it the combination of snow, crispy winter air, the lighting, the aromas flying through the air, the products one can buy, the crowd or just the complete atmosphere? Yes, and you should definitely go there when it is dark to get the best experience.

The Christmas Market season 2009 starts on Saturday, November 14^th as the Advent season descends upon Vienna once more, whereas a few markets start one week later. Most of them until December 21^st, 24^th or even 26^th, 2009. During the time of Advent Vienna is a lighting city full of nostalgia, elegance and romance, numerous concerts, beautiful decorated shop displays, x-ordinary lightings and not to forget, the traditional Christmas markets. Classical ones include the Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace, the Christmas market in front of the City Hall, the traditional Viennese Christmas market on Freyung, the markets in the various streets at Spittelberg, Am Hof and in front of the church of St. Charles Borromeo (Karlskirche). A special one is the Christmas market at the museum Belvedere.

The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel, is of course following the festive season, especially with its lighting curtain out of 50.000 LED lights that highlights the complete front of the hotel, the numerous special rates for all festive weekends, Christmas and New Years Eve but also the package “Christmas in Vienna @ The Ring” and the large selection of menus at the hotel restaurant At Eight.

The X-Mas season in Vienna is not only romantic and elegant; with roaring log fires and charming Christmas markets … it is also trendy and “hot” with winter DJ sounds, winter sport opportunities like ice skating and curling and perfect shopping locations. But no matter what you prefer, Christmas in Vienna above all can be one thing: an unforgettable experience @ The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel.

Curious and thinking of visiting? Check out the following websites:

www.theringhotel.com
www.christmasmarkets.com
www.christmas-markets.at
www.vienna4u.at/christmasmarket.html