Travel to Europe during November and December and you’ll learn a little bit more about the popular traditions that have made their way into South African homes: what are the origins of the Christmas tree; why do we decorate with advent calendars and nativity scenes; why do we (or Santa) give each other gifts?
Learn about each of these traditions and more when you take part in one of Uniworld’s incredible Christmas Market river cruises this festive season. You’ll be treated to twinkling lights, the scent of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts, decorated windows and perhaps even a sprinkling of snow.
Plus: book and pay before 31 March 2019 to take advantage of Uniworld’s Our Best Offer rates — a 30% discount on select sailings. More details below.
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Northern Europeans have long used plants and trees to decorate their homes for festivals celebrating the winter solstice — but the Christmas tree we know and love today is a tradition that dates much later: the beginning of the 17th century in Strasbourg.
However, it’s the United Kingdom that’s responsible for making the decorating of trees a universally-Christmassy thing to do. The tradition was brought to the UK by Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert.
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Did you know that the Christmas tradition of displaying a nativity scene originated in Italy? According to Italian tradition, the nativity scene with figurines of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, wise men, farm animals and crib are put up on the 8 December, with the addition of baby Jesus only on the eve of 24 December.
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Gift giving actually has its roots in pagan rituals held around 17 December in Europe and the Middle East, called Saturnalia (a rowdy Roman festival to honour of Saturn, god of agriculture and wealth).
To combat these widely-spreading “heathen” practices, the church of the 4th century decided to move its celebration of Jesus’ birth from early January to December, and reclaim gift giving as a way to emulate the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh given by the three wise men to Jesus.
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Santa Claus has undergone many transformations over the centuries — he started out as the real-life 4th-century Byzantine monk, St. Nicholas of Myra, who handed out bags of money to the poor (in what is now Turkey).
St. Nicholas was introduced to the USA in the early 1800s, and quickly transformed into a "right jolly old elf" thanks to the 1823 poem A Visit From St. Nicholas, commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. By 1890, parents were taking their kids to meet 'Santa' at department stores — the new name was a spin-off of the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas.
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Advent calendars feature extensively in Germany’s Christmas celebrations with several different types brought into use. Apart from the well-known cards with little flaps to open, Germans also like to make wreath advent calendars out of fir branches and decorate them with 24 boxes or bags.
Nowadays the world over, you’ll find cool, quirky and creative takes on the calendar. Some of our favourites? The craft beer or wine advent calendar, fun family “no spend” activities calendar, or the reverse advent calendar (where, instead of getting a gift, you add one non-perishable food item or school supply to a donation box for the 24 days and deliver it to your nearest food bank / under-resourced school).
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There’s something completely magical about travelling to Europe during the Christmas season — everyone should try it at least once! With several rivers and itineraries to choose from, Uniworld ensures you’ll have a memorable festive season, no matter where you go:
Royal Parisian Holiday: Paris to Paris | 8 days
Cost: Starting from R26,600 per person sharing (includes 30% discount when you book + pay before 31 March)
Departures: 6 December, 13 December, 20 December & 27 December 2019
Highlights: Northern France and its “City of Light” sparkle even more during the holidays. The grand Christmas tree at Notre Dame, enchanting animated window displays on Boulevard Haussmann and the gloriously lit trees lining the Champs-Élysées infuse the city with magic.
Danube Holiday Markets: Budapest to Passau | 8 days
Cost: Starting from R28,700 per person sharing (includes 30% discount when you book + pay before 31 March)
Departures: 2 December, 9 December & 16 December 2019
Highlights: Budapest has celebrated Christmas for a thousand years since the reign of St. Stephen, the king who founded Hungary and encouraged the spread of Christianity throughout his realm. Glorious baroque architecture, delightful concerts and ravishing scenery will make this Christmas season unforgettable as you sail through the holidays on the Danube.
Rhine Holiday Markets: Basel to Cologne | 8 days
Departures: 28 November, 5 December, 12 December & 19 December 2019
Highlights: A festive journey destined to delight travellers of all ages. Switzerland, France and Germany provide the perfect backdrop for this true connoisseur’s Christmas market cruise. Discover the roots of our Christmas traditions as you explore some of Europe’s most charming towns.
Classic Christmas Markets: Frankfurt to Nuremberg | 8 days
Departures: 1 December, 8 December & 15 December 2019
Highlights: Discover villages with fairytale houses and a friendly, festive atmosphere. Share traditional holiday goodies with the people who made them. Watch as modern children abandon their usual electronics and discover the enchantment of hand-carved wooden toys, as scents of cinnamon and roasting nuts fill the air. Embrace the holiday spirit in Germany, the land where many Christmas traditions began, and find the magic of the season in the smiles that you meet along the way.
European Holiday Markets: Nuremberg to Vienna | 8 days
Departures: 1 December, 8 December & 15 December 2019
Highlights: Experience Europe’s old-world charms during the most magical time of the year. This cruise takes you to some of the most famous and delightful holiday markets in Central Europe.
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To book a cruise through Europe during this most magical time of the year (and save 30%) contact your nearest Sure Travel agency, or call +27 (0)861 47 48 49.
