Christmas in Tallinn is the most beautiful fairy tale of this year. Despite the global pandemic and lack of snow here in Tallinn, Estonians try not to lose the Christmas mood and have organised an annual Christmas Market.
Christmas for Estonians is the brightest and most expected holiday. The old town is lit up with bright lights, squares turn into Christmas markets and every tourist who comes to Tallinn in December will certainly fall into a fairy tale.
The most glorious New Year tree in the capital will rise above the Town Hall Square. In 1441, the first known Christmas tree in Europe was installed on this spot and afterwards it became a tradition.
Gorgeous and special trees can be found all over the city, from museums to city squares.
The Christmas market is an integral part of the pre-Christmas period. Initially, Christmas markets were organised with the onset of cold weather so that the townspeople could purchase the necessary goods for the winter. The Christmas market usually consists of numerous shopping malls set up in the streets and squares in the city center.
It sells traditional Christmas baked goods, gingerbread cookies, pancakes, stollen, various sweets, chocolate figurines, plum sticks, cotton candy, fried almonds and chestnuts, and hot snacks. Visitors to Christmas markets are saved from the cold by mulled wine and punch.
Twilight deepens, the festive lights turn on and the city becomes so fabulous and cozy. Old Town is a must-see part of Tallinn. Its historical part is under the protection of UNESCO. Narrow streets, ancient paving stones and orange pyramids of tiled roofs. Once a strong fortress wall protected the city from invaders, now it protects Old Tallinn from the noisy modernity.