Are you growing weary of the rampant commercialism taking over the holiday season? Do you long for a real traditional Christmas experience? Would you like to be in a place where you can freely wish someone a “Merry Christmas”and find Nativity scenes at every turn? Believe it or not, places like that do exist. To find this Christmas wonderland you’ll only need to head to Germany and Austria where unique gifts abound and the celebration of the birth of Jesus is in every picturesque town square.

The magic of a traditional German and Austrian Christkindlesmarkt, or Christ Childs Market, is enchanting more visitors each year. Historic Christmas Markets held in cities, towns, and villages throughout Germany and Austria are attracting greater numbers of non-European travelers due to the festive season atmosphere these markets evoke.

You may be asking yourself, “What is a Christmas market?” I can tell you that it isn’t the crowds that form in mall parking lots at 5 A.M. for the After Thanksgiving Sale. Imagine strolling through sparkling lights round a European town square filled with festive booths offering traditional crafts of hand-painted blown glass ornaments, brightly colored wooden toys and unique gifts of all kinds. Musicians and traveling entertainers serenade you with Christ-centered carols while the fragrances of candles and fresh baked gingerbread envelop you. These Christmas markets truly take you back in time to the hustle and bustle of a historic European marketplace. Are you catching the yuletide vision yet?

The Christmas fairs and markets of Germany and Austria are truly unique. I have found the best way to experience these Christmas markets is on an enchanting European river boat cruise that will wind up and down the Danube river, visiting all the charming towns and cities along the way. The itinerary is irresistible: Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Linz/Passau, Salzburg, Regensburg, Nuremberg and Prague.

Traveling to these destinations on an intimate 160 passenger river vessel adds to the unparalleled charm of this kind of adventure. River cruising offers an extremely smooth, stable ride, which makes it ideal for those prone to motion sickness. Since the rivers are the water “highways” of Europe, these well-equipped, comfortable ships are able to dock right in the center of each town they approach. When the ship is underway to the next destination, passengers have a front row seat to some of the most spectacular scenery of the European countryside while traveling through loch after loch. This is definitely no river barge. Most of these custom-designed river vessels boast comfortable staterooms, luxurious amenities, and excellent dining.

This kind of journey appeals not only to our desire to return to the real “reason for the season” but also offers unmatched cultural experiences. Vienna, Austria’s capital city, is known as the “City of Music” and has inspired the creative genius of Mozart and Strauss. You do not rush through Vienna, you waltz, taking your time to savor each classic sight and sound while you soak up the atmosphere of the Adventszeit (Advent season). Also, who could go to Austria and not experience Salzburg and take in the popular Sound of Music sights? And don’t forget the most famous Christmas market of them all in Nuremburg!

If you are yearning for the Christmas joy you experienced as a child, this unique journey will surely rekindle it. You will not only return from this trip with suitcases full of one-of-a-kind gifts for your family and friends, but most importantly, you will return inspired with new traditions to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!