Christmas markets: how mulled wine became a feed sport

We thought we knew Christmas markets. Then social media turned them into a discipline: a story in front of the lights, a close-up of the mug, a vote for the best mulled wine. The winter ritual became content you collect as much as you sip.

The mug, a real cult object

Each town releases its mug of the year, often with a deposit, and some keep a full collection on the shelf. In Luxembourg, between the capital's markets and the ones in smaller communes, you can easily line up several designs in a single winter. The deposit almost turns into a treasure hunt.

The crossroads of languages

What makes the Luxembourg market so distinctive is the mix: German recipes, French accents, Belgian and Portuguese traditions all meet around the same stalls. On a December evening you'll hear four languages in one queue. Behind the pretty pictures, it's the one moment the whole city slows down and gathers outside. Put the phone down after the first story and enjoy the steam off the mug.