Every weekend beginning from the weekend of the 1st December is Christmas market in Turku, Many people gather around and even when it is bad weather they go to there. I know about two, one is across the street of the Cathedral, where by the way also one of the oldest electricity lit Christmas trees is and one is at the market square in the center of the city. I don't know what I am doing wrong but for some reason the Christmas market at market square is always closed or closing when I arrive there. But that's okay because I think the one by the Cathedral is nicer anyway. The market square is just a big construction zone at the moment and of course they have nice Christmas lights there but in my opinion the building yard doesn't scream Christmas atmosphere. The other market has very nice little stands with a lot of handcrafted goods and really interesting food. I walked past a lady behind a fireplace and she offered my to try one of their fishes, it was a whole fish, nearly as big as my pinkie and she told me it was a lake fish. I thought it tasted pretty good, but Steffi, who also got one, hesitated and then ate it anyways but about three minutes later she said that her stomach hurt, not because the fish was bad, but because she felt so bad for the little fishy and that she ate it. At the market is also a show program, I already saw a fire show and two guy juggling with big Christmas presents. The children really liked it and what I noticed was that the people here clap after every little 'act' in Germany and Austria the people only clap when the show is over. I also saw Santa with his wife and two kids running around and two i guess gnomes, but I am not sure, they had really tall and pointy hats.
I really like the mood at the market and would definitely recommend that you visit it, when you are in Turku over the Christmas season.
