Tallinn sparkles with Christmas magic

TALLINN - Tallinn takes on an especially magical quality this time of the year as a fresh powdering of snow covers its gabled rooftops, and outdoor candles fill its cobblestone lanes with a flickering glow. Though the nights may be dark, winter is when you’ll find Tallinn at its most enchanting.
The Christmas tree on Town Hall Square was erected by the Brotherhood of Black Heads guild already in 1441, making it the first public Christmas tree ever put on display in Europe.

From shopping at the charming, old-fashioned Christmas Market to skating on Old Town’s outdoor ice rink to enjoying a cup of mulled wine in a cozy cafe, every day brings new delights.
The frosty city is further brightened up by a full schedule of festive concerts, a jazz festival, film screenings and other engaging cultural events. Over a festive season, a unique, playful art and design event takes place involving many artists and creative minds.

Despite this being the darkest time of the year, Tallinn is glowing with warmth and light and buzzes with activity and positive energy. Every evening offers new opportunities to take part in enchanting winter events in the city’s cinemas, concert and theater halls, churches, pubs and nightclubs.
Whether you are the type who likes to dress up for the opera, dress down for a rock concert or dress in any way for an art gallery, you’ll find plenty to events to nourish your soul in Tallinn!

The market is bound to get the city into festive mood. Visitors can browse through and buy wares by skilled artisans in merchant stalls surrounding the enormous Christmas tree. Sellers offer traditional and original gifts including felted wool hats and slippers, buckwheat pillows, wooden bowls, wickerwork, elaborate quilts, ceramic and glassware, little sea-grass animals, homemade candles, wreaths and other decorations. If you tire of shopping, you can relax and enjoy a glass of mulled wine, hot soup and the occasional gingerbread biscuit. You can also try Estonian traditional holiday food: pork, sauerkraut, black pudding.

There will be live music on the market stage and the chance to meet Father Christmas.
Activities for children include a mini zoo, a slide, and Santa’s House with a post office and reindeer.
When the air is crisp and streets covered in white snow, head down to fairy-tale-like Tallinn Old Town or for a stroll in a quiet local suburb! Come and experience Tallinn’s winter full of magic!