Strasbourg Market in Moscow

By Vestnik Kavkaza

From December 24 to January 7, the oldest Christmas Market in Europe - the Strasbourg Christmas Market - will be held on Manezh Square. According to Alexei Nemeryuk, Head of the Department of Trade and Services of Moscow, "Moscow has always hospitably offered to hold markets from various cities and of various scales. But the Strasbourg Market is one of the oldest and most interesting markets. Moscow will welcome our French guests and will also show European Christmas markets to our residents. 20 chalets are being brought here to be installed on Manezh Square. We hope very much that the mayors of Strasbourg and Moscow will come. This market was held in Tokyo and attracted more than half a million people. I hope Moscow in this regard will not disappoint anyone, and we will also show our hospitality and show that Muscovites are also interested in such interesting and meaningful New Year celebrations."

"Strasbourg is the second diplomatic city in France after Paris, because the Council of Europe and other European institutions are located in our city," Jean-Jacques Gazelle, Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg for tourism, trade and crafts, says. "And in addition to its fame as the capital of Europe, Strasbourg today is perhaps even more famous as the capital of Christmas in Europe. Of course, this is not a surprise. This is all based on deep traditions, because the Christmas market has continuously been held since 1570. Until 1990, it was a normal Christmas market, old and beautiful, but there were basically many such markets throughout Europe and in Switzerland and Germany. And in 1992, Strasbourg declared itself the capital of Europe. It was quite bold on our part, and we made every effort to be a true capital of Christmas. The Christmas market has grown over 20 years, and now there are about 12 Christmas markets in our city every year.

The greatest, living Christmas tree in the world - 35 meters in height - is placed on one of the central squares and decorated every year according to a new special design project, which is being developed by our artists. The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree was also born in Strasbourg, as the first written mention of the first decorated Christmas tree was found in Strasbourg in the late 16th - early 17th centuries.

The third component of our title "Capital of Christmas" is, of course, the illuminations. At Christmas time Strasbourg is the brightest city in Europe, far ahead of Paris. Of course, this is one of the elements of this witchcraft and wizardry which attracts both leisure travellers and journalists from around the world during the Christmas period to Strasbourg. 

Another important point is the cultural program, which we hold at this time. The Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic churches open their doors wide, present various concerts.

Finally, the last component of this success is the guest of honour, who is invited each year to participate in this fair. And Russia has been such an honoured guest twice. The last time was in 2009, when mainly from Moscow and Vologda Christmas gifts and other products came to us in Strasbourg, to our market.

All the products which will come from Alsace to Moscow are made by our own small-scale producers. 80% of them have already travelled to Tokyo. We do not just ask them to make these products and to bring them, but also to come and present them. This is mainly a traditional family business. When we selected these manufacturers and their products, we were primarily guided by the Christmas theme, so that all traditional Christmas products are presented at the fair: food and decorations, not only for the Christmas tree, but also for the home, for the table, any kind of jewellery, some gifts and toys for children. That is a concentrated version of what exists at the Christmas market in Strasbourg."

"There will be about 800 species of products of this type," Dmitry Krasnov, deputy head of the Department of Trade and Services, adds. "Besides handicraft products made of wood, metal, ceramics, glass, textiles, table decorations, Christmas decorations there will be Alsatian specialities. This is a celebration not only of natural products in terms of jewellery and items for Christmas; it is also a gastronomic feast. Here we will have the famous "tarte flambe" made in a wood oven, famous Christmas cookies, Alsatian Bredel which four bakers from Alsace will cook along with our bakers. That is, it is a true holiday supporting the traditions of a family celebration, when a family gets prepared for this holiday, uses any special decorations and special gastronomic products for decorating the holiday table. Of course, entrance to the market is free. We are arranging the schedule now. I stress again that this is a family event, and we expect a large number of children. Schedule of workshops and special events will be posted on the site. There will be master-classes on making toys of clay, wood, various master-classes in colouring these toys. That is, there will be a lot of very interesting specific Christmas sorts of entertainment."