Abstract
Christmas markets have become a symbol of a new modern Western European culture that combines historical continuity with the new challenges of the world’s geo-economic development. These economic changes transform Christmas markets into mass cultural events. The article provides a brief historical overview of the centuries-old tradition of Christmas markets, which originally originated in German-speaking countries and has long since arrived in many European countries. Contemporary Christmas markets are an important part of the branding of certain regions of the world and in Europe in particular. They help to take the regional development of cities and regions in Europe to another level, with the aim of attracting investment and tourism that will positively develop these locations. To understand which European locations are particularly popular around Christmas, this article takes a closer look at 288 European cities. The premise was that the city should have a Christmas attraction such as a Christmas market. A large-scale analysis of demand volumes identified which European cities are particularly popular around Christmas in 2024.