Europe’s Christmas markets, and the cruises and other trips based on them, face a situation this year that swings between chaos and cancellation as the late November start of Advent, the traditional opening date, approaches.
The holiday and food markets, which originated in medieval Germany, are now widespread in Europe, but with months of travel and gathering restrictions, and now a clear second wave of virus and lockdowns, the situation is not clear.
Most of the river cruise lines that build tours heavily focused on sailing from market to market have suspended operations for the rest of the year. One, A-Rosa, says it is still in ‘wait-and-see’ mode on whether it will re-start in time for the markets.
In any case, most of the markets now appear likely to be either closed, or to exist in very limited form without the traditional crowds and mingling. Some towns are considering opening a number of stands for food and mulled wine to keep a little Christmas market atmosphere. Even plans like that may have to change in the face of the most recent restrictions.
A number of major markets made their call early; Cologne, traditionally one of the largest, announced cancellation in August. Other major markets including Nuremberg, Munich, Budapest and Strasbourg have also cancelled. Brussels, which declared in September that it would not cancel, may be forced to close by new outbreaks there.
