Jaine Blackman talks to the woman behind Oxford’s Christmas Market

When Nicole Rahimi found herself missing one of her homeland’s Christmas traditions, she decided to do something about it.

“I grew up with Christmas markets and I was quite sad living in Oxford and there not being one,” says Nicole, originally from Dresden in Germany.

She moved to Oxford eight years ago with her Iranian husband, who was taking up a research post in the city, and their two children, Yasmina, 11, and Kiana, seven.

Nicole was taking an events management training course when she first thought about staging her own market.

“I was joking with a friend that we should do one,” she says.

And while the friend wasn’t interested, Nicole, 38, of Iffley, went ahead. The first event was held in 2009 at Oxford Castle and attracted around 15,000 to 31 stalls.

It continued at the site for another two years but Nicole was keen to more it to a more central location because of what she said was a lack of passing trade at the castle.

“It didn’t have footfall in the week and I was having trouble getting traders in” she says.

In 2012 she made a bid to more the market to Broad Street but was shocked when permission was refused by Oxford City Council after it found businesses did not support the idea.

“We just couldn’t believe it. We were really quite positive that we would get it,” she said at the time.

But not to be deterred, although the market was cancelled that year Nicole started a petition that attracted more than 1,200 signatures.

“Finally last year, I got permission,” says Nicole.

The market was held over 10 days and featured 41 stalls.

“It proved the perfect location,” says Nicole. “I just wanted to have the opportunity to do it in Broad Street to show people how positive it can be.”

She says she had a good reaction from permanent traders in Broad Street and managed to change almost all of the negative opinions.

“I hope to please the last one this year and then everyone will be happy,” she says.

Oxford Christmas Market began yesterday, will run for 11 days, and features 46 stalls.

Some, like Indigo and Demijohn, already have outlets in other parts of Oxford, while others come from further afield.

Food stuffs, crafts, art, trinkets, homewares, soap, candles, Christmas baubles and jewellery will be among the goods for sale.

And, of course there will be German mulled wine (Glühwein) and bratwurst.

One less than traditional stall – Not Dogs – will even be selling the only vegetarian German sausage available at a Christmas market this year.

Nicole stated planning the market back in January and by mid June was fully booked.

“From September it’s been full-on,” says Nicole, who is looking forward to a Christmas break in Germany with her family visiting her parents, grandmother and sister’s family.

And there will, of course, be a visit to a Christmas Market.

“It’s a different thing visiting than running one,” says Nicole.

Oxford Christmas Market will run until December 21. Opening hours are Thursday to Saturday 10am to 8pm; Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 7pm and Sunday December 21 10am to 6pm.

For full details and more information see oxfordchristmasmarket.co.uk

Oxford Mail:

POP IN FOR A POP-UP TRADITION

Another Christmas shopping tradition in Oxford is Flash in the Pan, a pop-up art gallery and gift store.

It’s now in its seventh year and will be in Jericho until December 23 at the former Posh Fish premises in Walton Street.

This year it will be exhibiting new artists’ works, including Neil Butterfield, Harriet Eagle and Helen Slater, together with more than 15 other artists and makers – most local.

There are ceramics, jewellery, painting and print, glass, wood turning, textiles and more, with goods from round the world.

The idea behind Flash in the Pan is that there is something for everyone, stocking fillers are displayed among the art pieces with prices ranging from £1 to £1,000.

It is the brainchild of jeweller Tess Blenkinsop and printmaker Susan Moxley, who have opened a Christmas pop-up shop each year since 2008.

For information visit flashinthepanoxford.com

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