Every year before Christmas, Vörösmarty Square is transformed into a festival of light and colour. More than 100 wooden pavilions are set-up offering handmade porcelain, wooden boxes and toys, jewelry and traditional weavings. The market also has a variety of food and drink specialities such as forralt bor (mulled wine), kürtoskalács (sweet Hungarian pastry), roast chestnuts, kenyérlángos (flat bread baked in a cob oven), as well as smoked meats and sausages. The market attracts both locals and tourists. Various cultural and musical events are held daily.

Our feature photographer, Guillaume Narbonne spent this past week exploring the market. Here’s a collection of his photos.

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This popular hot spiced wine is served during the cold winter months throughout Germany and Europe. It is made with red wine and seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, citrus and sugar.

At the markets, vendors will offer various additions to the mulled wine, such as a shot of rum, amaretto, or elderberry cordial.

An alcohol-free version of mulled wine can also be made by using fruit juice instead of wine.

Zum Wohl!

Ingredients

1 bottle of dry red wine
1 cup (110 grams) granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
1 lemon or orange peel
1-2 tablespoons of rum, brandy, amaretto, or other liqueur if desired

Directions

Using a large pot, begin heating the wine over low heat. As the wine begins to warm, add the sugar and spices. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the rum or any other liqueur if desired. Heat thoroughly, but do not allow to boil! Add the lemon peel. Steep for about 1 hour over low heat.

Ladle the wine into mugs or glasses, leaving the seasonings behind. Garnish as desired.

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