The bell in the Town Hall tower still tolls the early morning hours and already the whole square is full of activity and bustling. Craftsmen and vendors, cheeks pink from the frosty morning air, are setting up their wares and soon enough all the bustling has been replaced with the humming of many people talking.
Under the magnificent thick Christmas tree, Santa has already opened up his Cabin. And as the evening twilight falls over the Square, the bright lights twinkle everywhere, including the windows of Santa’s Cabin and on the sweeping Christmas tree. Under the tree, Santa’s Helpers are giving out ginger bread cookies to the children, while reading them Christmas Stories and Christmas Poems.
Tallinn’s Christmas Market is a wonderland, where time seems to stand still…and if the time does move, it moves very, very slowly, so slowly that people halt for a moment and are able to shake away their everyday busy routines for a blissful moment. For visitors, the Christmas Market is one huge display that opens up in the early morning hours and lasts until nightfall, day after day.

The wish of the Christmas Market is to provide genuine, traditional Christmas joy, with a fabulous culture programme and superb leisure time activities.

Brief introduction

Traditional Christmas Market is held in Tallinn Old Town at the Town Hall Square, around the Christmas tree. Santa’s Cabin is open daily, providing children an opportunity to whisper their secret wishes directly to the Santa’s ear. Moreover, from Santa’s Post Office, each and every one can send their Christmas Wishes. The cabins decorated with bright lights that are surrounding the Christmas tree as an idyllic wonderland town, provide and excellent venue for craftsmen to introduce and sell their produce. Christmas beverages are available to help to fight the cold weather and delicious warm Christmas soup will take away the hunger. Christmas spirit is enhanced by the multitude of bright Christmas lights decorating the Christmas Market and the Christmas Music surrounding the scene. The streets leading to the Town Hall Square will witness all kind of fairy tale and fantasy characters and Santa’s Helpers greeting the passers-by and inviting them to the Town Hall Square, to the Christmas Fairy Tale.
The fine masters of Olde Hansa will be catering tasty treats at the Vanaturu kael.
And exactly at the right time, just before the Christmas, as a part of the Christmas Market event, the Christmas Tree Shop at the Viru Street will open its doors and everyone will be able to take some Christmas Spirit home from there.
An integral part of the Christmas Market is going to be the culture programme that is going to take place weekly during the second half of the week (from Thursday to Sunday) – singing, dancing, poem reciting etc.
Tallinn Mayor will proclaim the Christmas Peace, reading the Christmas declaration from the window of the Town Hall to the townsfolk and visitors below on the Square.


Background

The Christmas Market at the Town Hall Square in the heart of the Tallinn Old Town will be held for 7th time this year. First time this event took place in 2000. The estimated number of visitors of Christmas Market during the past years has been about 150,000 to 200,000 persons per year. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years due to further development of Christmas Market project, expansion of the market itself, and increase in the number of days the market is held, diversification of the programme, and so on.

Trade goods

All types of Estonian handicraft – textile, wood, needlework, woolen, flaxen and felt items, ceramics, glass, wrought iron, leather, soaps and pure nature products, candles and souvenirs. As well as Christmas decorations and cards, Christmas tree ornaments and dolls, woven items and wreaths. In addition all kinds of tasty treats and national Christmas dishes, hot beverages and Christmas glög, and honey and almonds. Something for just about everyone!