Also there Val d’Aosta, like other mountain locations in the Trentino Alto Adige or northern Lombardy, offers many evocative events in the pre-Christmas period that evoke ancient traditions. We go from the original Mistletoe Festival to the druidic bonfire, from the children who go around the houses in the village asking “Will Saint Nicholas pass by?” in Gressoney-La-Trinité at Micòoula Festivala gastronomic delicacy made of black bread, chestnuts and other fruits, at the various Christmas markets with typical Aosta Valley products.
Marché Vert Noël
Is called Marché Vert Noël the Aosta Christmas market is open from November 25th every day until January 7th, filling the squares and the historic center of the city. The Roncas, Caveri and Giovanni XXIII squares – the latter known as the Cathedral square – will host an enchanting alpine village, full of gift ideas to best celebrate Christmas. It will be possible to find artifacts of typical Aosta Valley craftsmanshiplocal food and wine products, objects from the past, Nordic inspirations. Everything is set up on the benches of the typical wooden houses of the Christmas tradition. The market is at free entry. It will remain open from Monday to Friday from 11am to 8pm; Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10am to 10pm; on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day from 3pm to 8pm. The Mistletoe Festival
The mistletoe of the Christmas tradition
Mistletoe, the evergreen shrub, already known as a symbol of prosperity among the Celtic populations, has its own festival, organized in Saint Denisin the Central Valley, to recall the ancient tradition of harvesting this auspicious plant that grows in the surrounding woods. The Mistletoe Festival is scheduled, as per tradition, for theDecember 8where the stalls of a typical market and the lighting of a druidic bonfire. The Petit Marché de Noël, a small market of handicraft products, is scheduled for Brussonin the Ayas valley, the following day, December 9th.
The party ends with a bonfire
“Will Saint Nicholas pass by”?
TO Gressoney-La-Trinité, the Wiehnacht Märt. as the Christmas market is called, takes place Saturday 2 December in the pedestrian area of the town: not only will it be possible to visit the exhibition-market with the creations of local artists and purchase the agri-food products of the region, but boys and girls will be able to meet Santa Claus and his elves in his home in Gressoney.
Still in the same Aosta Valley location, Tuesday 5 Decemberis celebrated Saint Nicholas, Sankt Kloas, It is a custom of the Walser minority inspired by the Germanic tradition still very much felt by children, who on the evening of Christmas Eve, go from house to house to bring a note drawn by them with their name written on it, asking: “It will pass Saint Nicholas”? To the answer: “Yes, certainly”, the notes are collected and placed under a plate: during the night waiting for the Saint, in the night, to bring him the gifts.
Petit Marché du Bourg
There are over 100 exhibitors at the event Petit Marché du Bourg in Châtillon. It takes place every year in the village on the first Sunday of December (this year the 2nd) and brings together around 100 exhibitors offering Christmas objects and decorations, candles, typical crafts, decoupage and cardboard, dried flowers, lace and ceramics.
Micòoula Festival
From 7 to 9 Decemberfinally, on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception, the celebration will take place in the village of Hône Micòoula Festival, the festival dedicated to the typical black rye bread with chestnuts, walnuts, dried figs, raisins, and sometimes even chocolate flakes. A true delicacy of the Aosta Valley gastronomic heritage. In the medieval village of the nearby municipality of Bard, at the foot of the historic FortThe December 10th the traditional Christmas market returns, adding to the magical atmosphere of the nativity scenes and the Christmas gnomes.
Chambave
Chambave, a small village in the valley that crosses the small region, Sunday 26 November meets tourists, residents and visitors, as per tradition, on the last Sunday of November, with Tsalende in Tsambava, a charming Christmas market. From 9am to 6pm, along the streets of the village, stalls of all sorts will display their products to the public.
And for anyone looking for accommodation in the Aosta Valley, the portal Booking Aosta Valley – the tool for booking stays managed directly by the Regional Tourism Office – offers the list of accommodation facilities in the Aosta Valley (hotels, RTA, B&Bs, farmhouses and apartments), with the possibility of booking directly online, by selecting based on the area or type of experience desired.
