Each year, a few weeks before Christmas, the main squares of the towns, villages and communes in Luxembourg are covered with small wooden chalets. They sell artisanal products, candles, toys, decorations, sweets as well as typical drinks such as Glühwaïn (mulled wines) and typical foods as Grillwurscht (grilled sausage), Spätzle (egg pasta), Gromperekichelcher (potato pancakes) or Bouneschlupp (green bean soup with potatoes, bacon and onions).
The Winterlights festival in Luxembourg City
The most well-known and visited Christmas markets in Luxembourg are the ones in the city centre. According to the Forbes magazine, they are the third best Christmas markets in Europe.
The Place d’Armes Christmas market is open until Monday 24 December and composed of some 50 huts in an authentically Luxembourgish Christmas setting with a large nativity scene and a giant Christmas tree. Two carousels and a duck fishing are available for the little ones. On weekdays (16:00 – 20:30) and on weekends (noon to 21:30), the pavilion hosts choirs, brass bands, concerts bands and orchestras.
At the Place de la Constitution, around 60 wooden chalets are nestled at the foot of the Gëlle Fra monument until Monday 24 December. You can enjoy stunning views of Luxembourg City from a comfortable seat in one of the Ferris wheel’s 24 gondolas, admire the gigantic Christmas Pyramid and sample its huge selection of hot beverages, climb aboard the Christmas Express or let your children bounce on the winter trampoline or participate to an educational workshop at the candle studio.
The Niklosmaart (St Nicholas Market) is open until Sunday 23 December and is the smallest of the Christmas markets in Luxembourg City. It is located on Place de Paris in the middle of the Gare (station) neighbourhood.
At the Puits Rouge (the intersection of the Grand-Rueand Rue Génistre), where the charity market takes place until Sunday 23 December, the City of Luxembourg has provided chalets to associations that wish to sell their products for charity. If you are looking for creative gifts and want to get a bite to eat while giving to a good cause, the charity market is the place.
And for the first time in 2018, the Place du Théâtre is hosting until Sunday 23 December an indoor Christmas market where you can buy craft and regional products.
But Christmas Markets are only a part of the festivities scheduled in the city centre during the Christmas period. The Winterlights festival lasts until 6 January 2019 and also includes an 800m skating rink at the Place Guillaume II in front of the City Hall (Knuedler on Ice), the traditional Advent circus at the Glacis, special performances for Christmas by the Theâtres de la Ville and the Rotondes (11thChreestdeg), exhibitions at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum and at Villa Vauban, a range of Christmas concerts at the Conservatoire and a special movie programme planned by the Cinémathèque.
The medieval Christmas market of Dudelange
Located on the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, the Christmas market of Dudelange (in the south of Luxembourg) is a medieval themed market with some 40 typical chalets, Christmas gifts, fire shows and daily concerts. Every day until Sunday 16 December, a beautiful programme is set up to bring to this traditional market a touch of originality from the past.
Open until Sunday 23 December, the Christmas market of Differdange (in south-western Luxembourg) is the oldest in the country! This wonderful local market has a unique atmosphere with an ice-skating rink for the little ones, Glühwaïnfor the oldest ones and all kind of delicious foods for the hungry ones.
Christmas sweater campaign in support of UNICEF
Whatever you do during Christmas, don’t forget that this period is also a moment of generosity, kindness and positivity. This is why ING is reviving its 2016 successful action: Christmas sweaters! The hashtag #INGXmasMoments will capture your individual moments and tie all your special sweaters together, uniting everyone in the spirit of Christmas: the spirit of giving, a spirit that ING promotes. The aim for this winter is to spread love as far and wide as possible, to reach as many people as possible. To do that, ING needs your help.
So, grab your favourite Christmas sweater, put on your best smile and help get the ball rolling. Tag #INGXmasMoments, and for every Instagram or Facebook post that shows you, your team, a loved one, family or friend, wearing a Christmas sweater, ING donates €5 to UNICEF Luxembourg. For more information, click here.
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