Crafters and vendors, cheeks pink from the frosty morning air, are setting up their wares and soon enough all the swarming has been replaced with the humming sound 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 lit up everywhere, including the window sills and frames of Santa’s Cabin and the fluffy Christmas tree. Under the Christmas tree, the Santa’s Helpers are giving out ginger bread cookies to the children, while reading them Christmas Stories and Christmas Poems.

Christmas Market is a wonderland, where the time stands still…and if the time after all moves, it moves very-very slowly, so slowly that people halt for a moment and are able to shake away their everyday busy routine and stand still themselves for a blissful moment. For the visitors, the Christmas Market is one huge display that opens up in early morning hours and lasts until nightfall. And that in every day.

The Christmas Market brings joy and Christmas spirit to the city from 23th November 2008 to 7th January 2009. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The goal of the Christmas Market is to provide genuine, unadulterated Christmas joy, 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!

Contac: Cristo Pajust
Main organizer of the Christmas Market 2008-2009
Event Masters OÜ, Kalaranna 6, 10415 Tallinn
Tel 660 5970
e-mail cristo@eventmasters.ee
www.eventmasters.ee
www.christmas.ee