To think that most christmas markets are having us over

[sunintheeast]

Not bah humbug I love christmas but was at a nice christmas market today.. mostly food.. some makers stalls but my God the price hike.. bought two wraps which were no shred (haha) of a lie like those starters on a chinese resteraunt.. but a single wonton wrap with a teaspoon of meat and a bit of relish.. FOR £24 QUID. I stupidly paid before seeing it and then felt daft and said thankyou.. literally two bites each... the place was heaving.. is it just me??.. £7 hot chocolate anyone ?? looked around..its all gone insane. There were a couple of reindeer looking sad in a pen but it just felt like it's all gone a bit mad. I like supporting local but ,.. anyone else feel the same ??

Yes! I recommend walking, running and swimming (although latter two not everyone’s cup of tea). Exercise is great for getting you in a festive mood I find!

They are bullshit. Over-priced food, drink, crappy rides for the kids, soap stalls and Xmas decorations at 10 times the usual price. I don't understand what I'm supposed to actually do there 🤷🏻‍♂️

I think the foreign christmas market is the new middle class stealth boast.

Oh aren't UK markets awful and filled with tat, but we were pulled to one on a sledge by huskies in the Tyrolean Alps while drinking mulled wine and it was soooooo much better.

From my experience the foreign ones are just as filled up with tat as the UK ones. Mainly bits of wood tat rather than plastic though.

Enjoy yourself.

But doing what? Give me a few bullet points of what I should actually do after I arrive at the place......

I used to live in Germany and the Christmas Market was right across the road from our flat. I would literally walk past it every day on my way to the shops. I never looked at the stalls. I think it was in my head that it was for the Germans, not for the likes of me! This is before the markets became a thing.

I was chatting to a stall holder in Manchester. He told me they were charged 22k for 8 weeks. It’s the councils that are having us over not the stall holders.

Take the piss.

eg. engage in a "who can find the most appalling piece of tat" competition.

The opportunities for entertainment are limited only by your own cynicism.

Yes. I think the cash strapped councils have become too greedy. They have shot themselves in the foot because if the stallholders don't make enough they won't come back.

Good idea!

It does seem odd they are called "markets" when they sound more like a "fair" - going by the ones people are describing.
Funfair rides, food stands, fake ice rinks... that's not a market 🤔

YANBU. What’s even worse is when you go to Christmas markets in Europe they’re so cheap! Where my DP comes from in France, mulled wine is about £1.50 - and that’s using a really high quality wine!

Find a nearby pub and sit in it.

Agree, the big ones are usually overpriced rubbish. However, I've been to Chester a few times and found some lovely handmade bits; Shrewsbury too.