Baltic Christmas Day 2 - The Holiday Market

Do you live in a city that has a Lithuanian, Latvian or Estonian Christmas market? Perhaps you have found a substitute in a nearby German Christkindlmarkt or Finnish Scandimarket, or maybe you’ve found that driving a couple of hours to the closest tirdziņš is worth it. However, if you are lucky enough to have a Jõululaat in your town, please enjoy it for all of those unable to – the freshly baked piparkūkas, the sauerkraut and desiņas, the ornaments and the amber jewelry…

There are some cities that host their markets in November*, and a few more that took place yesterday (such as the Adelaide Baltic Christmas Market and the NJ Jõululaat at the Lakewood Estonian House), but with more than a dozen tirdziņi still to come there is plenty of time to score the perfect Lithuanian, Estonian or Latvian present! Events are listed by date and alphabetical order by state (or country/city).

Saturday, December 7^th

Canada (Montreal): 1pm The annual Jõulubasaar hosted by Montreal Estonian Society (source)

Canada (Toronto): 12-4pm Rahvajõulupuu 2019 / An Estonian Christmas at the Toronto Estonian House (source)

U.K. (London): 11am-4pm The Latvian Latvian House annual holiday market to include folk dancing by the London Latvian school (source)

CA (San Francisco): 10am-4pm The annual Baltic Christmas Fair (source)

CO (Lakewood): The Colorado Latvians Christmas bazaar starts at 10am (source) 

IL (Chicago): Not a market, but a wonderful opportunity to take home traditional Lithuanian holiday ornaments: "Learn how to create beautiful Lithuanian straw Christmas ornaments at this year's Straw Christmas Ornament Workshop at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture" from 10-1pm (source)

IL (Lemont): Enjoy the sights and sounds of a holiday market at the Lithuanian World Center’s Holiday Craft Fair from 9am – 3:30pm (source)

IL (Wood Dale): 9am-3pm The St. Peter’s Latvian Church bazaar will have lunch available – tortellini & sausage soup, sauerkraut soup, Estonian barley sausage and Latvian grey peas with bacon sauce. (source)

MI (Kalamazoo): 10am-2pm The Kalamazoo Latvians will host the annual European Christmas Bazaar at the Latvian Center (source)

NY (NYC): 2pm NY Estonian House annual Jõululaat (source)

PA (Philadelphia): 12-6pm The Latvian Society Winter Holiday Fair and Market will feature musical guests the Alverson Brothers of the Lugers. For a double-or-nothing, check out the German Society of PA’s market just around the corner! (source)

MN (Minneapolis): 12pm The Latvian Christmas Bazaar at the Latvian Lutheran Church of Minneapolis-St. Paul (source)
WI (Milwaukee): 10-3pm Milwaukee Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Holy Trinity Church Holiday Cookie and Gift Fair (source)

Sunday, December 8^th

CA (Los Angeles): 11-2pm Jõululaat 2019 at the Estonian House (source) 
CO (Lakewood): The Colorado Latvians Christmas bazaar starts at 11am (source)

IL (Chicago): 9 am The Ciānas draudzes Christmas market and Advent service with a performance by the “Stariņš” students (source)

IL (Lemont): Enjoy the sights and sounds of a holiday market at the Lithuanian World Center’s Holiday Craft Fair from 10am – 2:30pm (source)

MD (Rockville): 12-2pm Washington DC Latvian Lutheran Church annual Christmas Bazaar (source)

NY (Melville): 10:30am-1:30pm The NY Latvian Ev. Lutheran congregation’s annual Christmas bazaar at the Salas Church (source)
OH (Cleveland): The United Latvian Ev. Lut. Church of Cleveland will host their annual market from 9am-2pm in Lakewood. Traditional foods, jewely and crafts in addition to local Latvian artisan creations!

Saturday, December 14th

Denmark (Velje): 4-7pm Latviešu-dāņu biedrības Ziemassvētku eglīte un tirdziņš (source)

IN (Indianapolis): 10am-2pm Christmas market at the Indianapolis Latvian Community Center

MD (Baltimore): 12-4pm Traditional Lithuanian Christmas Eve Kūčios customs, lunch and vendors at the Baltimore Lithuanian Hall (source)

NY (NYC): 12pm-9pm Holiday market in the Daugavas Vanagu nams including concert by Normunds Rutulis (source)

Saturday, December 21st

IL (Chicago): 9am-3pm The Latvian School of Chicago’s annual Christmas bazaar (source)

Sunday, December 22^nd

CA (Los Angeles): 12-3pm Marytės Kalėdinė Mugė Christmas fair (source)

Please comment if you know of any Baltic Christmas markets/bazaars that I have missed – I will add them as I get them and I thank you in advance for your help!

Please, shop local and shop thoughtful this holiday season! Supporting the local tirdziņi is a great way to support the local craftspeople who are making traditional Baltic jewelry, textile goods and other handmade products, and not only do you get presents out of the deal, you also get fresh piparkūkas, oftentimes a warm lunch, and the company of other Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians in this very merry holiday season! Cheerful shopping and welcome back tomorrow on day three of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas for a Latvian dessert recipe!

* For future knowledge, those considering attending a Baltic Christmas market in November should look into the dates for the following:

- The Estonian House in Riverwoods, IL hosts the International Christmas Market “Jõululaat” on what is usually the second Saturday of the month. Holiday fun with Baltic and Scandinavian flare! (source)

- The Seattle Latvian Christmas Bazaar at the Latvian Cultural Center is often on the second weekend of November. (source)

- The Oregon Latvian Society hosts its market near the end of November (source) 

- The Jõululaat/Christmas Fair hosted by Estonian Society of Los Angeles/ Los Angelese Eesti Selts was this year on December 2^nd (source)

- The Boston Latvian Church Christmas Bazaar was Sunday, December 1^st this year (source)

For a full list, see the 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas Facebook event page.