Christmas markets around the world — experience.usatoday.com

From the super traditional to the unexpected, these Christmas markets offer up an array of festive fare sure to satisfy your appetite for holiday cheer. Christkindlesmarkt in Nüremberg, Germany With origins that stretch back to the mid-16th century, Nüremberg's Christmas market is one of the world's most venerable -- and one of its most magical, owing to its medieval Bavarian backdrop. While the market may be best known for its Christkind ("Christ child"), an angelic, elaborately-costumed local girl who's elected to represent the spirit of giving, its edible offerings threaten to steal the show. Snack on rostbratwurst, the petite sausages that are a town speciality, as well as lebkuchen, the spicy, honey-sweetened local version of gingerbread. Wintery chills face a formidable opponent in the market's 9,000 liter cauldron of feuerzangenbowle (touted as the world's largest), a hot punch of rum and wine into which flaming sugar is melted. For a souvenir that's decidedly quirky, check out the zwetschgenmännle, traditional folk figurines fashioned from prunes, figs and walnuts. Through December 24.

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