Gate 1 Travel Blog More of the World for Less!

When people think of Christmas, they tend to think of the beautiful lights, classic holiday songs, or the iconic wrapping paper used to hide the gifts. For many cultures, though, what really brings the holiday together is the food! These delicious seasonal treats are often reserved for this special season, making their way onto menus and dinner tables each December. The best place to try local Christmas treats is at a Christmas market! Thankfully, Gate 1 has you covered, as we offer a wide range of Christmas Market Tours that you can browse and book here.

Gingerbread

Everyone is familiar with this treat, but do you know about Latvian gingerbread? Latvian gingerbread, known as piparkūkas (pepper cakes), is a thin, and crunchy Christmas treat that is heavily spiced with pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. Baking them is a major national tradition, often involving homemade dough or a customized store-bought dough. Locals traditionally shape them into stars, hearts, and animals. Though Latvian gingerbread is mainly made at home, almost every supermarket and bakery in Latvia sells the dough during the holiday season.

To experience these firsthand, book the 10 Baltic Christmas Spirit tour with Gate 1. On a city tour of Riga, travelers will stop at a local café to watch a brief gingerbread making demonstration. Learn about the cultural significance of gingerbread in Latvia and indulge in a delightful tasting.

Roasted Chestnuts

Now let’s travel to Croatia. In Croatia, a beloved Christmas treat are roasted chestnuts (maroni). Roasted chestnuts are commonly enjoyed as an aromatic street food and at festive gatherings, offering a sweet, nutty, and comforting snack. They are prepared by scoring an “X” on the shell, then roasting in the oven or over an open fire, often served warm in paper cones.

On Gate 1’s 9 Day Christmas Markets of Vienna, Ljubljana, Zagreb & Budapest tour, travel to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb. When visiting the city, travelers get the opportunity to check out Zagreb’s Christmas market. First, learn about Croatian Christmas traditions and shop for handmade ornaments. Then, indulge in roasted chestnuts and other seasonal delights.

Viennese Sacher Torte

Sacher Torte is a famous Viennese chocolate cake with a dense, rich crumb, traditionally filled with a thin layer of apricot jam and covered in a dark chocolate glaze, often served with unsweetened whipped cream. This delicious treat was invented by Franz Sacher in 1832, he was only 16 at the time.

Making the cake is quite simple: First bake a traditional chocolate cake and wait until it cools. Then once that is done, slice horizontally, then spread the apricot jam between the layers and/or over the top. Next, pour a warm, sugar-syrup-based chocolate glaze over the entire cake in one quick motion. Last, allow the glaze to set.

As mentioned above, this is a traditional dish that originates from the city of Vienna. Travelers will visit this city on Gate 1’s 9 Day Christmas Markets of Central Europe tour. First view Ringstrasse, Vienna’s main boulevard, Hofburg Palace, the Opera House, the monument of Empress Maria Theresia, Votive Church, City Hall, Parliament, and Musikverein, the music hall of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Next, walk through the Hofburg courtyards to the iconic State Opera House. Then, spend the afternoon exploring Vienna’s festive Christmas markets. Be sure to stop at a café to sample the famous Viennese Sacher Torte.

Traditional Swedish Candy Canes

Traditional Swedish candy canes (polkagris) are handmade peppermint-flavored sticks. They originated from Gränna in 1859 and were invented by Amalia Eriksson. This candy is made from sugar, water, vinegar, and peppermint oil, featuring a unique, often straight, hand-pulled design. These authentic candy canes can still be found in specialized shops in Gränna and in, Stockholm’s Old Town, or at online retailers.

On Gate 1’s 8 Day Denmark & Sweden Christmas Spirit tour, travelers will attend a traditional Swedish candy cane making class in Stockholm. Head to the old town to visit a local confectioner. Under the guidance of skilled artisans, you’ll mix and shape your own delicious creation to take home. Once finished, travel north to Steninge and visit the enchanting Christmas market in Stenladan. Set in a historic building, this indoor market offers an array of traditional handcrafted gifts, holiday decorations, and other seasonal treats.

Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen is a traditional German, cake-like gingerbread cookie that dates to the 13^th century, often enjoyed during Christmas. This treat was originally created by Franconian monks using honey, spices, and nuts. These soft treats are frequently baked on edible wafers. Famous for being produced in Nuremberg, they are often glazed in chocolate or sugar. The earliest records of Lebkuchen date to 1296 in Ulm and 1395 in Nuremberg.

Lebkuchen comes with some variety, able to be made in several different ways. Elisenlebkuchen is a nut-heavy version. It features no flour (or very little) and is often considered the best version. When making this treat, it tends to be frequently covered in dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white sugar icing. Last is Aachener Printen, this is a firmer type of Lebkuchen, it’s often made using beet sugar syrup.

On Gate 1’s 9 Day Alpine Christmas Markets tour, travelers will try the treat when visiting Heidelberg. Once arrived, see the red sandstone ruins of the Heidelberg Castle perched on the slopes of Mount Königstuhl, originally built in the 12th century. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to discover the enchanting alleyways, Renaissance and Baroque façades, and cozy squares in the Old Quarter. In the market square, visit the holiday market and experience its seasonal cheer. Taste lebkuchen before continuing to Mainz on the fabled Rhine River.

Savoring the Season

Christmas markets offer more than just shopping, they provide a sensory celebration of the season. From iconic recipes to regional specialties, each treat tells a story of local tradition. Whether you’re indulging in chocolate cake, warming up with roasted chestnuts, or biting into a spiced cookie, these flavors capture the true spirit of Christmas. To view the rest of Gate 1’s itinerary, click here.

Thanksgiving first started in the United States in 1621; it was a harvest between Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people. As the United States evolved, this feast eventually became a national holiday. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is about celebrating family, giving gratitude, and enjoying a large meal. Popular foods eaten on Thanksgiving are turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

Though the holiday most Americans know as Thanksgiving originates from the United States, there are festivals and feasts of gratitude and giving much like it celebrated in many other countries. Some version of Thanksgiving is now celebrated in at least 15 countries. Let’s look at a few of those now!

Canada

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. This is about six weeks earlier than in the United States. Like the U.S., Canada celebrates this holiday by getting together with family and enjoying a large meal. Though the tradition is very similar, Thanksgiving in Canada does not stem from the same origins as in the U.S. Instead, it is seen as a simple harvest, a time to enjoy and give thanks to the Earth. Thanksgiving has been celebrated in Canada since the mid-19^th century. The holiday didn’t have a designated date until 1957, when the Canadian Parliament decided that Thanksgiving was to be celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Germany

In Germany, Thanksgiving is referred to as Erntedank. This holiday dates to pre-Christian pagan times. German farmers would hold celebrations at harvest time to give thanks for their luck. As a sign of gratitude, they would fill a curved goat’s horn with fruit and grain. This was named Cornucopia. As of present day, the Cornucopia is still a key part of the American Thanksgiving tradition.

In present day Germany, Erntedank is mainly a religious holiday. Celebrations, church services, and parades are usually held on the first Sunday of November. The modern version of the holiday still pays tribute to the farmers of the past, however, it mainly is a day of joy, delicious food, and giving thanks for the positive fortunes of the past year.

Japan

In Japan, Thanksgiving is known as Kinrōkansha no Hi (勤労感謝の日), which in Japanese means “Labor Thanksgiving Day”, and it’s celebrated on November 23rd every year, so although it’s close to the same time of year, the date usually differs from the American Thanksgiving. If the celebration falls on Sunday, it’s moved to Monday.

Kinrōkansha differs from the American Thanksgiving as it focuses on showing respect to those who work instead of just giving thanks for the last year. School children give cards or gifts to police offers, firefighters, hospital staffs, teachers, defense personnel, and the other people of Japan that work to help better the nation. Companies make sure to congratulate their workers for all their hard work and dedication as well. Like the United States, Japanese families get together to have dinner at home and relax.

This may come as a surprise, but there isn’t a designated “traditional” menu for Kinrōkansha. Japanese people generally plan meals with some of their go-to meals or favorite foods just like any other day, but many make sure their meal includes sekihan, a kind of rice with beans.

Saint Lucia

Thanksgiving in Saint Lucia is celebrated on the first Monday of October, making it a moveable holiday like those in the United States and Canada. Saint Lucia uses this holiday as a time for reflection and gratitude among the island’s population. Saint Lucians view it as an extra day off work, some families enjoy special meals, and a majority tend to have a more low-key celebration compared to the United States. Most of the food eaten is locally based, but other options such as jerk-roasted turkey with mango sauce are made to have more of a traditional American Thanksgiving feel.

Grenada

Thanksgiving in Grenada occurs every year on October 25 and is a public holiday. The holiday commemorates the U.S. military intervention in 1983 when a rouge government was removed. That day in 1983 ended a period of political chaos on the island, which had been occurring since the country gained independence from the British in 1974.

A typical Thanksgiving in Grenada includes community gatherings with shared meals, church services with prayers for peace and national well-being, and reflective events that honor the country’s journey through challenge and change. Meals served on Grenadian Thanksgiving combine tradition with a blend of American touch. Often had is roasted turkey alongside dishes like callaloo soup, macaroni pie, and sweet potato pudding.

Liberia

The West African nation of Liberia was formed 200 years ago by former slaves from the United States. These people brought numerous American traditions with them, including Thanksgiving. Liberian Thanksgiving occurs on the first Thursday of November, rather than the fourth. Locals who celebrate view the holiday as a religious occasion, many attending services at church to give thanks. Others celebrate by going to special concerts filled with dancing. Instead of having turkey, Liberians celebrate by eating mashed cassava, chicken, jollof rice, and other typical foods from West Africa.

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5 Tasty Christmas Market Treats You Can’t Miss

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