We've been excited to peruse the Riga Christmas markets ever since we got our assignment here more than 2.5 years ago! Riga, after all, claims to have decorated the first Christmas tree ever, so they know how to do Christmas! They have a spot on the ground by the Blackheads to memorialize where the first tree stood. And the market did not disappoint! Every booth full of cuteness and creativity oozing out of it. All handmade. We dropped Thomas off at the church for an activity, so we just brought the girls.
Toys made from wood.
Magnets and jewelry made from amber from the Baltic Sea.
Handmade hats, socks, scarves, etc.
All kinds of honey flavors!
Candles in different shapes and sizes.
And canned meats and sausages. Mostly rabbit, deer, and pork.
Ornaments, candies, soaps, etc. made by a "Latvian Moms" group.
Candles in different shapes and sizes.
And canned meats and sausages. Mostly rabbit, deer, and pork.
Ornaments, candies, soaps, etc. made by a "Latvian Moms" group.
I'll have to come back at night to see the tree and everything lit up!
Animal furs and belts.
Pony rides.
And besides the crafts, they sold barbecued and smoked meats, as well as hot wines.
This pig head and fermenting garlic and peppers is supposed to entice us to eat there? I'm still thinking about that...
And no surprise to us that atop this Christmas tree is a gold rooster, one of the city's icons!
And what's a Christmas market without Santa himself? We're pretty sure that beard is real! It had a little blonde color to it.
We've heard of a few other smaller markets that we'll have to check out, and we'll have to come again at night to see the lights!
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