Discover Belgium's Festive Cheer: Top 4 Fun Facts About Christmas Celebrations in the Heart of Europe

1. Beer and Carrots for Sinterklaas

Hold your reindeer and pass me a cold one, Santa: In Belgium, it's Sinterklaas who takes center stage on December 5th, arriving on his trusty white horse named Slecht Weer Vandaag, joined by his helper Zwarte Piet who hands out candy during parades. Belgian children leave a carrot for the horse and a can of beer for Sinterklaas, and in return, they might find chocolates, marzipan figures, and gingerbread cookies in their shoes if they've been well-behaved that year.
Source => sarahexplorerofworlds.wordpress.com

2. Brussels Airport Winter Wonderland

Who says airports can't sleigh all day? Brussels Airport turns trolley dashes into dashing trolleys, decking the halls and stalls with festive sparkle and high-tech magic: A marvelous sight to behold, the airport uses 8 UDX-4K40 projectors to display winter scenes and animated Christmas content, transforming itself into a winter wonderland, complete with trees, elves, and Santa himself. Safety comes first, with all equipment cleverly kept out of reach from visitors, making it an enjoyable and stress-free experience for families. Indeed, Brussels Airport is already considering using Barco projection for future decorations, so sunnier times may also see themed displays!
Source => barco.com

Did you know that in Germany, St. Nicholas has a wild sidekick, Knecht Ruprecht, who carries a kid-sized sack not for punishing naughty children but to serve as a helper during Christmas? Find out more about this intriguing tradition!

=> Fun Facts about Christmas-In-Germany

3. Epiphany Candy Hunt & Royal Crowns

Who needs trick or treating when you can embark on a royal conquest for candy and crowns?: Belgians celebrate Epiphany on January 6th with children dressed as the three wise men, going door to door, singing and receiving sweets or money, while a special bread called 'galette des rois' conceals a bean that crowns the lucky finders as king or queen for the day.
Source => whychristmas.com

4. Tartiflette Delight at Bruges Christmas Market

If you find yourself craving a pasta dish so scrumptiously divine it unites the flavors of melting Alpine snow, sizzling European winters, and cheeky mountain goats, trust the Belgians to have perfected the recipe: The Bruges Christmas Market proudly offers their unique and festive specialty called tartiflette—a heavenly wok-cooked medley of cheese, onions, bacon, parsley, white wine, butter, and fresh cream—which visitors can relish while wandering through the wonderland of over 500 Christmas trees and twinkling lights at the Winter Glow festival.
Source => rawmalroams.com