One thing I like about Christmas are the typical Christkindl markets that pop up everywhere here in Austria.
What I don't like, however, is when they are so overcrowded, that advancing is slow and though.
So I try to avoid those hot-spots and look for some smaller, more calmer markets that are not overly crowded but not totally empty either.

Eating some roasted potato slices or drinking some tea or hot chocolate while strolling along the booths and listing to calm Christmas music while watching merchants in their booths showing and selling their products to their customers, or listing to people gathering around small firepits and chatting with eachother.

I don't mind some more intense and spectacular christmas activities like shows, concerts and stuff.
But I don't need that nonstop. Therefore, Christkindl markets are one of my favourite retreats for me.