♪♪ ♪♪ Something magical emerges in many towns and cities the first weekend in December -- Christmas Markets.

♪♪ Christkindelsmarik, as they are sometimes known, have been popular in Northern Europe for centuries.

♪♪ Today, the cities of Prague, Nuremberg and Strasbourg have some of the biggest and brightest markets, attracting millions of visitors.

♪♪ Several Iowa towns celebrate their European heritage with Christmas Markets too.

♪♪ ♪♪ Mike King: Christkindelsmarik started about 700, 800 years ago and really it was for the townspeople and the little villagers when you're at northern latitudes the days get really short and it's very cold, so it can be a little depressing.

So they wanted to come together and get ready for Advent and Christmastime.

So it was a time that they could have what we call -- just means warmth, goodness, food, friends.

♪♪ ♪♪ Today in Des Moines, there are so many treasures to be found.

Many local artisans sell traditional wares from open air stalls.

♪♪ Karl-Josef Schmidt: So, these are just some of the ornaments I make.

I do a number of things involving decorative pieces made out of tin plate.

And it is very reflective, as you can see.

It catches the light well.

So if you have lights on your tree it will really pick up the lights and reflect them.

♪♪ Mike King: The wooden huts, that is probably the marquee signature look that you would find in Europe at a Christkindelsmarik.

We had the specs that we brought over from Germany and then we had both Waukee High School shop class and Johnston High School shop class actually make them for us.

♪♪ The aroma of bratwurst, gingerbread and toasted nuts fills the air.

Traditional foods are available for purchase and sampling.

♪♪ For many visitors, the Gluhwein, or hot mulled wine, is one of the highlights of the market.

♪♪ Mikael Brown: The Gluhwein is a red wine based drink that is then mulled with a variety of spices, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, sometimes vanilla pods.

You sweeten it usually with some brown sugar.

And then there is usually a citrus element to it as well.

♪♪ Mikael Brown: In the Christkindelsmariks overseas it is very popular, every Christkindelsmarik would have their own mug so you can go around and you can collect the mugs.

♪♪ Modern Christmas Markets combine charming traditions with the excitement of an open air marketplace.

♪♪ A little music and dancing also adds to the fun.

♪♪ ♪♪