As the New Year dawned and the holiday season came to a close, Luxembourg’s Christmas market wrapped up after 41 days, marking another successful festive season for both traders and visitors.
Steve Clement, vice president of the National Federation of Fair Traders (FNCF) was upbeat about the outcome, noting that the favourable weather played a significant role in the market’s success.
“We are very satisfied. We had the weather on our side this year. It rained almost every Monday, and the weekends were always good,” he explained. He added that, despite the colder days, the market remained bustling with people throughout, which further contributed to the overall positive assessment.
Many traders echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that even on colder days, the city was filled with visitors, creating a lively atmosphere.
One trader said, “We can’t complain. Personally, I think it went very, very well, even with the weather. We had some beautiful days, we even had sunny days, and although it was cold, I think the weather was exceptional for us, for the Christmas market.”
Another remarked, “We are satisfied. We were lucky with the weather, people were in a good mood, we are satisfied. We can’t complain.”
Some traders were particularly pleased with the high attendance, with one commenting, “Very satisfied, very satisfied, a record attendance, with people from all over the world. It was very, very beneficial, a lovely Christmas atmosphere, and so it’s a general, global satisfaction.”
Reflecting on the market’s shorter duration this year compared to the previous year’s 44-day run, traders recognised that the 41 days were still a success.
Some, however, expressed a wish that the market could have remained open a few days longer, extending into the first weekend of January, as noted by Charel Hary, president of the FNCF: “Those extra days help us a lot. I mean, for us Luxembourgish traders, apart from the Schueberfouer, the Christmas market is the other big event, the rest are just regular fairs. We are happy for every extra day we can get here.”
Despite this, most traders did not question the City of Luxembourg’s decision to close the market earlier compared to last year. Overall, the Christmas market was deemed a success, whether in the station area, Place d’Armes, by the Gëlle Fra, or at the Kinnekswiss.
The next big event on the horizon for traders is the Oktav-Mäertchen, which will return to its usual location in 2025 after being temporarily relocated due to underground parking expansions at the Gëlle Fra.
