Nothing like one last trip to the market before Christmas time.  No more wreaths to buy, as they’re hanging on all of the doors around town.  Only a bushel here or there of mistletoe – such a difference from a month ago when it first arrived at the market in heaps.  All the little “bonhommes de pain,” cute men made out of bread, have been bought and distributed to children, or gobbled up by their parents.  Chestnuts are all probably sitting by the fireplace, ready for roasting.  But there’s still a plethora of great produce to be had – tons of varieties of apples and root vegetables, plus bright orange clementines coming from Spain that are juicy and sweet as sugar.  There’s also a fabulous array of nuts in their shells (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds) and delicious dried fruit – dates on the vine from Tunisia, figs stuffed with anise, plump apricots and chewy apple rings.  Perfect for decorating the table and snacking all at once.

I’ll be traveling for almost a month, and I imagine that when I return to Zürich, all the Christmas decorations will be long gone and a new atmosphere will have taken over the market.  I can not wait to see it.  But before my next visit to the market here, I’ll be visiting plenty of other markets… in Indonesia.  With a stop in France first for Christmas, that will be the next big destination.  Talk about a different market atmosphere for sure.

For now, enjoy these snapshots of Zürich’s Bürkliplatz market filled with holiday spirit. Chestnuts from Ticino, miscellaneous boxes of pine cones, leaves and dried berries, wintery decorations and more.  And of course, those cute little brioche men.  Almost too cute to eat.  Almost.

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël, Fröliche Weihnachten and as they say here in Zürich, Schöni Wiänachtä !!

Tags: Bürkliplatz, Christmas, Holidays, Market, Switzerland, Zürich