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Christmas in Alsace is like entering a Christmas tale. Full of lights and fairytale towns, our trip through Alsace at Christmas was so exciting that we still remember it with emotion today. In fact, we liked it so much that it is already our second time in Alsace.
In our guide to travel to Alsace at Christmas, we detail our last trip and we introduce you to all the details that you will like to know if you are planning your route through Alsace at Christmas.
Before advancing on the route and on the essentials of what to see and do in Alsace at Christmas, which you have in the guide to Alsace at Christmas, we give you Some tips to keep in mind before going.
Video Alsace at Christmas with route, curiosities and tips
1 In Alsace it is cold and it usually snows: winter wheels or chains are compulsory from November 1 to March 31
That said, if you are going to travel to Alsace at Christmas with your vehicle, from November 1 to March 31 in this area of France it is mandatory to wear winter tires or chains.
2 Documents needed to travel to Alsace at Christmas
For this trip do not forget to bring both for adults and for children your Valid ID or passport and also for any health problem the European sanitary card that you can do on the social security website and receive it at home.
In addition, we have used to hire the travel insurance from Iati Escapadas, which, due to its cost, we go more calm with the children and we know that later we avoid anything the co-payments that health has in France. I leave here the link with a discount that on top of the discount if you hire it through this link you help us to continue writing on the blog.
3 You should know that Alsace at Christmas has different celebrations than the Spanish ones
In Alsace Christmas starts earlier than here. That is probably why you will see that the Christmas markets here start the third week of November already.
They start with Saint Nicholas, December 6, and around the weekend before you can start to see their parades.
Saint Nicholas was a bishop with a long white beard of wealthy Turkish origin, who is said to have done charity work for families with needy children by throwing coins down his chimney.
This is where the tradition comes from that on the night of December 5 to 6, children in Alsace, and in many other places in Europe such as Germany, Belgium or Switzerland, leave boots near the fireplace or a front door and Saint Nicholas leaves them money, sweets or gifts.
Now you are surely thinking…but Pilar, isn't this Santa Claus? Well… bingo! That's where Santa Claus comes from.
Some European emigrants began to celebrate Saint Nicholas on the 25th in the United States, and that's where everything arose... that plus the Coca-cola that surely disguised it as red hehehehe
By the way, in Alsace Saint Nicholas is accompanied by his faithful donkey peckeresel and Hans Trapp (translated as "whip father") a slightly bad monk who is the one who distributes the punishments to the bad children.
The next question you will now have is if Santa Claus also comes to Alsace, right? Well no. Santa Claus is not coming the night of December 24. But, instead, that night he brings gifts to the children!Kristkindel!
Kristkindel is depicted as a kind little angel with curly golden hair, who is actually the baby Jesus.
4 Alsace is the French Christmas spirit but of German origin
Maybe you didn't know it but Alsace has been a territory of continuous disputes and wars between Germans and French. During different moments in history the Alsace has belonged to Germany. It was in one of these last German periods, from 1875 to 1919, which already became French, that Alsace at Christmas became what it is, embracing Christmas markets and German Christmas traditions.
Many Alsatians call the Christmas markets the German markets.
5 In Alsace they speak Alsatian and it is not exactly a French dialect
It is precisely from what I was commenting before that in Alsace people speak Alsatian, a German dialect and not French as some may think.
On some town signs, you can even see the name of the town in two forms, with its Alsatian dialect.
6 Travel to Alsace at Christmas to see Christmas markets: they start the second last weekend of November and last until December 23
Thus, it is the Christmas markets except for some large ones in Strasbourg or Colmar in most of the small towns end before Christmas, December 25. Therefore, the best time to see the Alsace at Christmas is from the end of November to the beginning of December.
7 To see all the Christmas markets you have to plan your trip, not all of them are open every day or at all hours
Every town and market is different. Most of them, with the rise of tourism, open daily, especially in the afternoon, but not all.
If what you want is to see the villages of Alsace at Christmas with its open markets you must plan your route. Look at the official website where you have all the towns, markets, opening hours and days: https://www.noel.alsace/
And remember that we can organize the entire route for you, saving you time and making your route a trip of 10.
8 The Christmas tree in Alsace is traditionally hung first from the beam of the house
This Alsatian tradition of hang the biga christmas tree, is still done in many places. In Seléstat you can still see the hanging trees in his church.
In addition, traditionally on the tree they put Red apples, which represented temptation, and sacred wafers, which represented repentance over the sins committed.
It was during a drought when there were no apples that they began to make glass spheres to replace them, or so they say.
9 What to eat and drink during the trip to Alsace at Christmas
In the Christmas markets, hot food and drink stalls are essential. On your way through this route we recommend you try all the flavors of Alsace at Christmas through its spiced bread, pretzels, manalas (little men brioches), Christmas cookies such as bredeles and of course not their Crepes. All accompanied by a good mulled wine spicy and with citrus, white or red.
10 The best, how beautiful the towns are. The worst, the mass tourism and few local people
As it is. The best their fairy tale towns beautiful. The worst thing is impressive What's in Alsace at Christmas. You don't see almost French or authentic Christmas local life.
11 Alsace, a department in the Grand Est region until recently ghost
From only 2021 the French department of this region that we call Alsace, incorporates the word Alsace, European Collective of Alsace. Before they were two French departments: the Upper Rhine and the Lower Rhine. As you can see, we used to call it Alsace, but without officially calling it that!
