Christmas is slowly approaching and so is the time of the Christmas markets, the Christmas spirit, the contemplation, the speculoos biscuits, the gingerbread, .... I like this time of year and look forward to it year after year when it says, “The Christmas market opens at the weekend!“

. In the past, we usually visited the Gengenbach Christmas Market with the largest Advent calendar in the world, the Gengenbach Town Hall. During our semester abroad in 2016, we also often strolled through the beautiful Christmas market in Edinburgh. Like so many things in Edinburgh, the Christmas market, which also includes a German section, the German Christmas Market, is turned into a small festival. The Edinburgh Christmas Festival includes not only the ever-growing Christmas Market, but also the Light Night, which took place a few days ago on the Royal Mile in the heart of the city, as well as numerous other events.

A real insider tip is the 24 Doors of Advent. Starting on 1 December, an open day will take place at different locations every day for 24 days. This year, the Bookmarket by The Fruitmarket Gallery will kick things off from 10:00 to 18:00. Over the next 23 days, the Scottish national rugby stadium, Murrayfield Stadium, the National Library of Scotland, the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre and Tynecastle Stadium, the home of the Scottish first division football team Heart of Midlothian, will all be open.