TORONTO—A nine-day European-style Christmas market, the first of its kind in Toronto, opened Dec. 3 at the Distillery Historic District, whose brick-lined streets are home to live theatre, galleries, fashion boutiques and unique cafes.
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The vendor huts lining the cobblestone paths selling imported and locally made crafts and foods imparted a sense of the authentic Christmas market that originated in Germany in the 1400s.
“This is going to be a new tradition for the city. . . The success of it was beyond our expectations,” said market manager Mathew Rosenblatt, adding that the Distillery is the perfect setting for hosting such a market.
“[European Christmas Markets] bring you back to a different time, they end up being more romantic, they end up having a greater sense of tradition.”
Carollers, a German St. Nick on a white horse, and a massive Christmas tree added to the festive feeling for the thousands of visitors who meandered through the Distillery’s narrow streets.
“Such a treat in every way,” said visitor Arlene Rogers. French and German were among the European languages that could be heard as visitors chatted with the vendors and ordered hot apple cider to keep warm.
While kids rode the Ferris wheel or gazed at the huge gingerbread house, their parents enjoyed the art galleries, souvenir shops, and of course treats at the distillery.
Some of the vendors brought their imported traditional German foods and crafts, including traditional wooden Dutch folk shoes. Another booth was sponsored by the All Slovenian Cultural Committee that sold pork sausages and walnut and poppy seed cake.
“Great reception,” said committee head Marjan Kolaric about those who visited the booth.
A list of the daily events at the market, which runs until Dec. 12, can be found at www.torontochristmasmarket.com.
