Philadelphia, PA – October 19, 2007 – Christmas-lovers and antiquers from across the country will sample the traditions of Christmas, meet local artisans and delight in dйcor, antiques and handcrafts on the “Enchanted Christmas Markets Tour,” December 1-9, 2007. Markets and special visits in the imperial city of Dresden as well as Bamberg, Meissen, Lauscha and Seiffen are included in the shopping tour.
The trip is offered by Heart of Europe Tours, a Philadelphia-based company that specializes in antique buying expeditions. The company’s tours are featured in the November 2007 issue of Country Living magazine. Copies are available online at www.heartofeuropetours.com or by phone at 215.991.9892. “ Germany is the country that ‘invented’ Christmas,” said Philadelphia-based dealer Tom Conrad, who will lead the trip. “There’s no better place to get in the Christmas spirit,” he added.
The Christmas tour includes extras, such as stops at antique shops and expeditions to two toy-making areas , including the famed Erzgebirge region, known around the world for its magnificent carved toys and figures, crиches and folk decorations. Participants will also have a private visit to one a collector who restores antique folk Christmas decorations and toys.
The trip includes a tour of Christmas manger scenes in Bamberg, Germany “Christmas Creche Capitol.” And to top it off, the group will sample the delights of traditional glassblowing in Lauscha, home of the first Christmas tree ornament (Kugel). We’ll learn about the history of glassmaking, ornaments – even marbles — in this little town, which hasn’t even made it into most guidebooks. “We’ve designed the December tour with a single-minded focus on Christmas.