This weekend we popped by two Christmas fairs - yes, even for someone who does not appreciate the commercial, over-eating hullabaloo that is Christmas the sweet things and handmade goods offered at fairs can be a treat for eyes and mind, although wallet is rarely opened anymore.
I remember the lovely Christmas fair and the days we had in Budapest this time of the year last year fondly, but as mentioned the other day I'm perfectly happy to be here and now in my life right now. So Stockholm fairs it is this year.
Saturday one was at Vinterviken (Winter Bay) which has a darling allotment garden and café well worth a visit during the summers. The Vinterviken area is situated in the Stockholm south suburbs, about 15 minutes train ride from the inner city. So after the perfect weekend breakfast we headed there. It was a small kind of (af)fair but rather nice, one of the stall holders is a friend of mine. Many lovely handcrafted things and nothing massproduced and nasty as far as the eyes could see.
Nasty weather though, very icy streets, freezing winds with a touch of snowfall and grey skies, not the most inviting of days. But a decent fika in a nearby warm cafe can make wonders for a frozen spirit and body.
On Sunday it was time for a visit at the annual fair in Sigtuna and we begun the morning with a nice breakfast at sweet Tant Brun (Auntie Brown) cafe (which opens one hour before the fair som it really is perfect in every way).
Unfortunately the weather was absolutely freezing and the streets were jampacked already when the fair opened, thus our visit were brief. But I did find some really lovely and inspirational things to get before we left. Which will be perfect in a little post of their own another day.
How about you, do you enjoy Christmas fairs? If so, why?
And do you have a favourite one you return to every year?
Do you buy anything or do you just soak in the atmosphere?
3 comments:
I've always wanted to go to the Christmas market at Sigtuna, but I've been put off by the crowds.
Some of the Christmas markets I've enjoyed around Stockholm are the ones at Konstfack, Hovstallet and the Ekologisk Julmarknad at Vasastan. I used to like the one at the harbour at Nynäshamn as well - quite low key and generally quality products (at least when we lived there).
The other bigger one I enjoyed outside of Stockholm was Vadstena Slott, though they charge you to go there and Taxinge Slott is also surprisingly good (and that selection of cakes in their café is to die for!)
Hand made markets (whatever the time of year) draw me in. And back to them again and again.
This past Saturday the daughter and I went to three local Christmas Craft Fairs. Yes, three in one day and we are a small town. The first was mostly home sale businesses with a few homemade crafts. We did find and brought home some very nice locally produced honey from that stop. The second was held at our Senior Citizens Center. All that was left when we got there was baked goods. Soooo, cookies and fudge it was...yummy. Our final stop for the day was "the" craft fair of the day which also included kids having their pictures taken with Santa. Mostly it was the same booths that we have every year but I did pick up some nice place matts for the table. Overall a great outing that helped put us in the Christmas Spirit.
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