Home > About Estonia > Estonia > Cultural Events in Tallinn 2008
Cultural Events in Tallinn 2008
Tallinn and its Finnish counterpart Turku have been designed to be the European Capitals of Culture in 2011. Already now Tallinn is buzzing with extensive preparations and you can choose from plenty of concerts, festivals and events taking place every week.
Christmas market in Tallinn:
In fact, there's no better time to be in Tallinn than during the Christmas holiday season.
Though Tallinn's Christmas market only became a yearly tradition in
2001, it has already established itself as amongst the most well-loved Christmas markets in Europe. Certainly what it
lacks in tradition it makes up for in atmosphere and ambiance,
dispelling December's darkness with colourful lights, music and
activity.
The last week of November, Tallinn's Town Hall
Square becomes cluttered with more than 50 merchant
stalls where visitors and locals can admire and purchase products by
artisans from all over Estonia. Surrounding an enormous Christmas tree
hung with lights and decorations, these vendors sell a variety of
original products including felted wool hats and slippers, buckwheat
pillows, wooden bowls, wickerwork, elaborate quilts, ceramic and
glassware, little sea-grass animals (so Estonian), homemade candles,
wreaths and other decorations. Holiday shows are common on the cobbled
square and traditional Estonian holiday food is also served: pork,
sauerkraut and blood sausages, hot soups, stir-fries. Other traditional
treats include gingerbread, marzipan, various local honeys, cookies,
nuts and sweets. Hot mulled wine poured from large wooden barrels keeps
the crowds warm (as well as the local drunks whose noses become so red
this time of year they could lead Santa's team). As for the Big Guy
himself, he makes his rounds, posing with children and chillin' in the
designated Santa Claus Cabin, where incidentaly, you can mail postcards
from Santa's own post office.
Dates: Nov 29th, 2008 till Jan 5th, 2009
http://www.christmas.ee/en/about/