Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ruby Tuesday - Christmas Fair in Sigtuna Town

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As I've mentioned before in a Ruby post this is the season for Christmas fairs in Sweden, some are held every weekend, from Advent Sunday, up until Christmas whilst others are a one time event. In the picturesque small town of Sigtuna - which actually is the oldest town in Sweden, founded in late 1000 century AD, if you're interested in reading more about this town I suggest you take a peek at a previous Sigtuna post - this year's fair is held four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

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The town is brimming with visitors and the narrow streets are lined with market stalls. Market stalls which are selling both traditional as well as inventive arts and crafts, food and drink and unfortunately a dash too much of the trinkets and tats bit.
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Next Sunday will be the last day of Sigtuna Christmas fair this season, opening hours are 11-16 (11am - 4 pm) if one plan to pop by I so strongly recommend to be there when it opens. The immense crowding makes it very less than enjoyable, as far as I'm concerned. The town itself, both for strolling, sightseeing, shopping and eating, is very much worth a visit though. Perhaps save it for a less crowded day?

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Here are some more ruby glimpses of the Christmas decorated event last weekend ~
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Cute fir bucks for sale
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The Christmas tree market stall holder enjoying the day in the town square
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The inner courtyard at adorable Tant Brun (Auntie Brown) café - a must visit! - , the outdoor area is perhaps not quite the place for having coffee and cake this time of the year. So let's go inside and enjoy coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sandwich, cakes, buns and ginger snaps of choice by the fire instead.

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Before heading home a visit to one of these facilities on the other side of the Auntie Brown courtyard, displayed by red hearts, may be just the thing ~

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More Ruby Tuesday posts here

27 comments:

DrowseyMonkey-Photos said...

Wonderful photos! Red is everywhere!

Felisol said...

Hi, Pia K,
When I come to Sweden, I see I definitely must visit Sigtuna. Such a picturesque town with all that homemade goods. Just how I like it.
I've got me two big straw bucks, Swedish style. The fur ones are new to me.

I also sit here wondering about the hearts on the doors. Which get gender gets two hearts, and which only one?

From Felisol

Femin Susan said...

Hi,
Congratulations....Your posting is very interesting...Keep writing.. Welcome to my blog...
Wishing you in advance "A Merry X'Mas and A Happy New Year''

Ralph said...

I like the look of this town, nothing that old in the fairly young US, so the style is of old Europe. I like Santa's 'sleigh' (I use a 'sleigh' that is powered too, but his machine is quite impressive. That restaurant is stunning with its red inside. But cozy with that fire, and ginger snaps with my coffee would be a treat indeed. A wonderful post, town and country!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Hello Pia. What a lovely lot of photographs of your town and surroundings. I have never been to Sweden, so these are lovely to see. Those saffron buns look gorgeous!! :)Thanks for visiting my blog too.

Anonymous said...

Looks like everybody's gearing up for Christmas!

My Ruby Tuesday posts are here and here. Hope you can pass by, too!

Unknown said...

nice shots! the top photo is my favorite..you made it look so interesting...

Carletta said...

I have really enjoyed this tour on what looks like a cold day!
Very quaint atmosphere.
Lovely images.

EG CameraGirl said...

I like how Sweden celebrates Christmas. It seems to have a lovely homemade feel.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pia, thank you for sharing with us these set of lovely Christmas photos. The story behind the pics is very interesting too. I bet that little town is worth a visit. But that's sooo far away so i will just visit that in my dreams. :) I'd love to walk on those narrow stress on lesser crowd. :)

Happy RT from the Philippines!

Anonymous said...

Very Swedish-looking. Great photos of a lovely town.

Wendy said...

What a cute town! Will have to remember this place for my next Stockholm visit.

Dianne said...

each photo is lovely

what a pretty place

tr3nta said...

Xmas atmosphere everywhere.

Judith said...

How exciting - I love markets and your photos make that market very appealing. Happy Ruby Tuesday to you. Judith

Pia K said...

Thanks, People with Cameras!

Felisol - that's so funny, I didn't realise that the hearts where different on the wto doors until you pointed that out, I think the toilets are unisex ones:) The fir bucks are new to me too, the first time I saw something similar was at the Skokloster Xmas fair some weeks ago - maybe it's something regional.

Thanks for stopping by and liking what you found, Femin Susan, a good holiday season to you too!

Ralph - thanks for your kind words! That Santa in his "sleigh" was so adorable and the café is such a lovely place, summer outdoors and winter indoors the treats are always great.

Pia K said...

Joan - thanks for your visit and kind words! Yes the saffron buns are quite the thing this time of the year here:)

shutterhappyjenn - thanks for stopping by.

Thanks, luna miranda, the top one is one of my favourites too.

Carletta - thanks for your nice words and visit!

Babs (Beetle) said...

Wow! That's a lot of photos with red!
Lovely Ruby Tuesday post.

The Cunning Runt said...

Really nice photos of a beautiful place, Pia.

We're just emerging from an ice storm here (a million homes without power!) so the fireplace in that little café looks wonderful!

Pia K said...

Your EGTG - thanks for stopping by, I like these more "homemade" events too. In a world (incl Sweden even if it may not seem so in these pics) that's *rather* comercialized it is lovely with real arts and crafts and authentic handmade things.

Thanks, Arlene, for your visit and kind words!

ilanadavita - thanks for leaving a nice comment.

Thanks, Wendy, don't forget;) Kind of similar to Vaxholm, makes for a grat day trip in the summers.

Pia K said...

Thanks, Dianne, glad you liked your visit.

tr3nta, yes, isn't it just:)

Judith - thanks for popping by and enjoying the market.

Babs - thanks!

The Cunning Runt - thanks. Oh I read about that ice storm (which makes me think of the good film by that name), seems like a terrible ordeal, hope everything will be back to the more normal soon!

Unknown said...

I'm in love with your photos and with the village of Sugtuna. How I long to visit Sweden. Just beautiful, Pia.

Laura said...

AWESOME post!! I want to come and visit. Merry Christmas!!

storyteller said...

What a lovely series of photos ... each with a bit of red. The town is so picturesque ... and reminds me of Dutch towns I visited when I traveled in Europe decades ago. I wish I'd been able to visit Sweden then. Thanks so much for visiting Small Reflections and for sharing these pictures.
Hugs and blessings,

Minkydo said...

What a great series of photos. It looks so peaceful and sweet.

Becky said...

I love visiting Sweden since my Grandma was born there, and I'll most likely never get to, this is the next best thing. Your pictures are wonderful!
Thanks for taking us along with you.

Pia K said...

Thanks for all your sweet words, Pagan Sphinx!

Laura, thanks! And a merry Xmas to you too:)

Thanks for visiting with all those kind words, storyteller.

Minkydo - thanks, glad you liked it.

Becky and Gary - thanks, you're always welcome to my corner of the blogosphere for a glimpse of Sweden:)

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