Christmas in Val Gardena is not just the period around December 25th but an entire preceding period, full of festive events ranging from the most traditional nativity scenes, to markets, to highly anticipated and followed ski races. Throughout the Advent season, from Ortisei to Santa Cristina, Val Gardena is a single large valley of joyful appointments with the magic of Christmas.
If hospitality is usually sought after in hotels in Ortisei or hotels in Selva Val Gardena, as well as in hotels in Santa Cristina, during the Christmas and winter period Val Gardena gives its best, with an even warmer welcome if possible and with the offer of typical Christmas dishes from the local cuisine.
These are the main events of Christmas in Val Gardena.
Ortisei becomes the Christmas Village
The Ortisei Christmas market is very well curated, immersed in a particular atmosphere where you can listen to Christmas melodies, taste homemade sweets, touch handcrafted wooden objects, admire the lights and the landscape, and smell the aroma of food and wood that will warm the environment. An Advent experienced with all five senses. Many products are offered by the stalls, all original and authentic, from wooden sculptures and dolls to Christmas wreaths, from lanterns to frames, from candles to felt products.
In Ortisei, in Val Gardena, throughout the Christmas period and until Epiphany (which takes all the holidays away, as a popular saying goes), nativity scenes made by the skilled hands of the Gardena sculptors are on display. This is the area where wood is still worked according to old carving techniques. For many years, in fact, the Gardena artisans have made their works of art known worldwide. They are simple objects or true works of art.
During this period, objects dear to nativity scene enthusiasts are displayed along the main streets of Ortisei. This year, in addition to the many praises for the local artisans, a special recognition was added. The sculptors of Val Gardena were included in the Guinness World Records for creating the largest nativity scene in the world. This “grand” nativity scene is displayed in Iman Square in Santa Cristina.
Tourists who want to take advantage of this special event can use particular guides such as the members of the Association of Wood Sculpture Producers themselves. The nativity scenes are located in special little houses scattered throughout the alpine center. A larger exhibition has been set up inside the congress hall. Here it will be possible to see the artisans at work.
For those staying in Val Gardena until Christmas Eve, we gladly highlight a musical event not to be missed. These are the small wandering concerts of the Christmas brass bands that will perform Christmas pieces according to the local tradition.
Every day you can enjoy the choir performances, listen to sounds of alpine horns, or even participate in courses to learn how to make many Ladin objects or dishes.
Finally, children can drop their little letters into a special mailbox in Stetteneck Square, sure that they will reach their destination… in Santa Claus’s house.
Santa Cristina Christmas Market
Traditionally offers many typical products, both from local crafts and gastronomy. Situated in a panoramic location, at the foot of the Sassolungo and Castel Gardena, it has always provided a special atmosphere and many good ideas for a Christmas gift.
The wide range of Tyrolean sweets and specialties will delight visitors’ palates, who can also watch live performances by the Gardena master sculptors and listen to mountain music and melodies. Every weekend and weekdays, from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, gingerbread cookies and the exquisite “Spitzbuben,” shortcrust pastry cookies filled with apricot jam, will be freshly baked.
Val Gardena once again confirms itself as the “Valley of Christmas,” offering many events and activities, all dedicated to the most important celebration of the year.
Christmas in Val Gardena
Selva di Val Gardena und „Mountain Christmas“
Das Bergdorf liegt im Herzen der Dolomiten, am Fuße des Sella-Massivs, und ist die höchstgelegene Gemeinde im Grödnertal, direkt an der legendären Ski-Tour „Sella Ronda“, wo Skifahren mit über 500 km Pisten Spaß bedeutet. Auch in diesem Jahr werden die Skipisten vom 2. Dezember bis zum 8. Januar idealerweise in die Fußgängerzone im Zentrum des Ortes verlegt, dank eines durchgehenden 350 Meter langen Lichterstreifens, 12 kleinen Holz-Seilbahnkabinen, in denen man Lebkuchen, Glühwein, hausgemachte Kuchen, handwerklich hergestellte Schokolade genießen oder einzigartige Gegenstände für das kommende Weihnachten kaufen kann.
Eine Vielzahl von Kugeln und funkelnden Lichtern zusammen mit Weihnachtsliedern werden die Herzen erfreuen und den Kindern Freude und Staunen in die Augen zaubern. Außerdem findet die traditionelle Grödner Schnitzkunst ihren Platz in einer schönen Krippenausstellung.
