Today marks the opening of the Christmas market in Piešťany, Slovakia. The markets in Bratislava and Vienna, Austria opened last Friday. Personally I think there is something wonderful about a Christmas market in a small town like Piešťany.
This year the Christmas market was slightly different than last year. The music was staged at the far end of the square and the kiosks of drinks and food were lined up one against the other on the side of the square. There was still the tasty varené víno (hot wine), cigánska kuracia, which many locals call Gypsy food, but I just call it good; grilled chicken with onions between a toasted bun, yum! There's also lokša, basically a potato pancake or tortilla filled and rolled with duck liver or jam.
Most of the Christmas markets in Bratislava, Vienna and Prague will have rows and rows of Christmas gifts and items but in Piešťany, it is an opportunity to meet and greet people in town you may or may not see all year. There is something very comforting about just running into someone and saying "Happy Christmas" or Ahoj, Cau or Dobrý Večer (Good Evening).
The Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is topped off with music and dancing by local Slovak traditional troupes and is "the place to be" when the tree is lit for Advent. This year I ran into one of the Skypers Language School Germany language teachers Eva, with her daughter and a friend.
This year the Christmas market was slightly different than last year. The music was staged at the far end of the square and the kiosks of drinks and food were lined up one against the other on the side of the square. There was still the tasty varené víno (hot wine), cigánska kuracia, which many locals call Gypsy food, but I just call it good; grilled chicken with onions between a toasted bun, yum! There's also lokša, basically a potato pancake or tortilla filled and rolled with duck liver or jam.
Most of the Christmas markets in Bratislava, Vienna and Prague will have rows and rows of Christmas gifts and items but in Piešťany, it is an opportunity to meet and greet people in town you may or may not see all year. There is something very comforting about just running into someone and saying "Happy Christmas" or Ahoj, Cau or Dobrý Večer (Good Evening).
The Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is topped off with music and dancing by local Slovak traditional troupes and is "the place to be" when the tree is lit for Advent. This year I ran into one of the Skypers Language School Germany language teachers Eva, with her daughter and a friend.
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| Christmas Tree in Piešťany square |
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| Mikulás (St. Nick) in tennis shoes
Even Mikulás made an appearance at the opening of the Christmas markets. Mikulás usually arrives on 6 January to fill the boots of "good children" with candy. The children put clean boots in their window in the hopes of receiving goodies.
In Piešťany, Christmas is now officially underway. Happy Christmas!
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