I have another event to add to your December traditions! The St Paul European Christmas Market is held on the East Plaza at Union Depot over the first two-weekends of December. The market was inspired by “Christkindlmarkt,” an outdoor holiday festival common across central European countries during the Advent season. Since the Middle Ages, this 500-year-old world tradition fosters European shared cultural heritage. Plan to shop for all kinds of artisan, unique, handmade holiday gifts and decorations such as Christmas ornaments, nutcracker, beeswax candles, decorative glass, wool mittens and scarves, jewelry, wooden toys, artwork, holiday decor, clothing, toys, Pop-up cards, wooden utensils, blankets, rugs, wood burned art, rolling pins, clocks, soap in felted wool wrap, steins, candles and boots. While you are there, taste European-inspired food and delicacies that include roasted nuts, sizzling sausages, cones of warm sugared almonds, hot-off-the-pan potato pancakes, Jægerschnitzel, pierogi platters, cabbage rolls, handmade spaetzle, apple fritters, chocolate-covered waffles, cheese curds and Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest Orchard freshly baked apple pastries (pictured) and caramel apples. Follow all that up with some Glühwein (spiced mulled wine), hot chocolate, apple cider or eggnog! This free, eight-day open-air event that had become so popular, now in its third year, they even had Krampus join in on the fun!