Christmas Markets

In the Middle Ages, fairs were held during holidays. Strasbourg held the earliest Christmas fair which developed in the XVIth century with the emergence of the figure of the Christkindel. The Christkindel market is still held today in the Place Broglie with stalls selling traditional candies, decorations for crèches and Christmas trees, crafts and regional specialties.

Another famous market is the one for santons in Provence. The first santon fair was held in 1803 along the Cours Saint Louis with only three santon makers setting out their figurines on simple tables covered with white cloths.
Today annual santon markets which sell only articles for the crèche and occasionally flowers are held in Aix and in Marseilles.