Random Thoughts on Life, Motherhood & Beyond: Julien's 1st Christmas Market Experience

The Christmas markets opened this week, and we decided to bring Julien to his first Christmas market experience. We checked out 2 over the weekend; the first one was at Stowe House in Buckingham and the second was the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Fair.

Stowe House is one of Britain's finest 18th Century houses. A majestic work of architecture, Stowe House is built to be a palatial show house with impressively designed rooms and landscaped gardens. Many famous people, including royals, had been its visitors. Now, the house is in use by the Stowe School, whose takeover saved the house from near destruction.

For one day only on Friday, Stowe House held a Christmas intimate shopping experience with vendors setting up stalls within its State Rooms, offering luxurious coats, vintage jewellery, antiques etc. We were not in need of anything specific, but thought that it would be a good opportunity to view the majestic house, besides browsing the wares. On entering its grounds, one is already impressed by the long driveway, which goes through picturesque and hilly grounds. On both sides of the driveway, there are trees and ponds, and I even spied an obelisk in the distance! And once we came up face to face with the building itself, it took our breath away, being so very huge and grand-looking. Going from room to room, we were more intrigued by the design features of the interiors rather than the stalls. We came away without buying anything much, but with a sense of having encountered something spectacular today. And as we drove out along that long driveway in the middle of beautifully landscaped grounds again, you can't help but think agree that the first Headmaster of the school, J F Roxburgh, achieved what he set out to do - that every pupil leaving Stowe would "know beauty when he sees it all his life".

The Christmas market in Birmingham is renamed the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Fair, because it is apparently the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria and has become very popular in the UK. Combined with the city's own local trade fair stalls, this year's market boasts 180 stalls, in picturesque wooden chalets, selling traditional handicraftss and food.

When we reached the market, it was jam packed with people. Luckily, we had decided to use the baby carrier to carry Julien rather than the buggy, which we would have a much harder time manuoevring in the crazy crowd and probably risk having a falling frankfurter in too!

In all, there were 180 stalls, all housed in little wooden chalets, which help to conjure up the European village atmosphere. And as you browse the market, you can almost imagine that you are in Europe - the same usual suspects in the stalls: stollen, mulled wine, female accessories, woollen scarves, gloves and knitwear, Christmas ornaments etc. It reminded me a little of the last Christmas market we were at last year in Vevey, Switzerland. You are only brought back to earth by the British accent of your fellow crowd jostlers...

In a way, I suppose the Christmas market is to the Western world what Chinatown would be to us in the days leading up to Chinese New Year. You head down to the packed streets and squeeze in with the crowd to buy some festive goodies and decorations as well as to soak in the festive atmosphere. And while there, take some pictures to show for your adventure.

Except that this time round is slightly more challenging, as we have a baby with us and so have to watch out that he doesn't get squashed. And this time we skipped the mulled wine too. In fact, we steered clear of the German beer and mulled wine stalls - if you are with a kid, you don't want to be anywhere near the booze in England - the stalls are swarmed by thirsty Brits!

As a new baby, I guess there is a special significance - everything is a "first"! So, to mark Julien's first Christmas, we decided to get him a little souvenier - a little snowflake globe. There was a giant carousel, and I was very tempted to have all of us go up for a ride, it being the first carousel I have seen with carriages big enough for adults. But I restrained myself, thinking that it would be more meaningful to do this, when Julien is older and better able to appreciate and enjoy the ride. So, we stood by the side and watched, and Daddy Low made the interesting observation that Julien actually seems to be tracking one moving part - a horse maybe - and when that vanishes round the side as it goes on its merry go-round, Julien's eyes return to the original point and start all over again. What did I say? My boy is a genius! :) There is system in his observation, not just some random, aimless stare! Heheh... the proud mother hen swells ...

We stayed a total of one hour, walking the length of the market and back again. And by now, we are hungry and ready for dinner. Before Baby's arrival, we would probably have just settled for the food in the market. But now, with a little one to consider, we decided to find a restaurant for fear that he would catch cold, for the temperatures were falling with the evening.

In the restaurant, we took turns to hold Jules and eat. And before the night's adventure is over, we had a surprise. A man came up to our table to admire Julien and before leaving, gave us a fifty pence coin. He said Julien is such a cute boy and it is an English tradition to give silver to new babies. We have not much idea about this tradition, but were so touched by the man's gesture. Daddy Low later joked that Jules has already earned money when he is barely 3 months old, and maybe, we ought to set him to work modelling! We had a good laugh.

Jules slept the rest of the way home, exhausted by the day's outing. He had been busy checking out all the dazzling Christmas lightings and the many people all around him in the market. At home, he looks at the snowflake globe curiously, but like all young babies, it does not hold his attention for long and his eyes are roving around inquisitively. I can only imagine his fascination when we put our Christmas tree up.

There is no question that our first Christmas with Julien is already off on a good start! :)