What to Wear to Christmas Markets in Québec City

Packing philosophy

Dress for real cold. Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1991–2020 normals for Québec/Jean Lesage give December −3°C by day and −11°C at night, with precipitation on about 19 days and 75.7cm of snow for the month. That is eight degrees colder than any European market in this guide. The Marché de Noël allemand runs from Thursday to Sunday across five sites on Old Québec's hilly streets, from 19 November to 23 December. So the parka is knee-length down with a hood, the mittens are insulated, the boots are pac boots with felt liners, and the trousers go over a thermal layer. Winter white and red, with a patterned hat, is Québec's own palette.

What the dress code actually is

There is no dress code at the market, which began in 2008 as a one-afternoon market in a parish hall, moved to Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville in 2011, and now fills five sites in Old Québec with Glühwein, bratwurst and German crafts. Québec's winter dress is its own tradition: the ceinture fléchée, the arrow-patterned sash of the Carnaval, is the red-green-ivory palette people borrow in December too. The market is free and open Thursday to Sunday, with extra openings from 21 to 23 December. Some stalls prefer cash.

The capsule

1. 
   01

   Winter-white knee-length down parka, hood with removable ruff

   At −11°C / 12°F after dark only down will do, and knee length covers your thighs while you stand at a stall. The hood with a ruff shields your face from wind on Old Québec's slopes. Winter white is the look of Québec in snow.

2. 
   02

   Ivory fine-rib wool turtleneck

   A wool turtleneck under the crew is the base layer and the scarf in one, covering your throat at −11°C. Fine rib stays thin under two more layers.

3. 
   03

   Deep red lambswool crew

   The warm layer under the parka, and the red of Québec's winter palette. Lambswool is warm without bulk, so the parka still zips.

4. 
   04

   Winter-white pleated wide-leg wool-twill trousers

   Wool twill over a thermal legging is warm enough at −3°C by day, and a wide leg falls over pac boots. Winter white with an ivory parka makes one column against the snow.

5. 
   05

   Felt-lined pac boots, suede upper, rubber shell, deep lug

   Old Québec's streets are steep and snowed on through 75.7cm a month. A rubber shell keeps the snow out, a felt liner keeps your feet warm through an hour standing at −11°C, and a deep lug grips the slope down to Place Royale.

6. 
   06

   Black insulated gauntlet mittens, leather palm

   At −11°C fingers together in a mitten stay warmer than fingers apart in a glove. A gauntlet cuff seals over the parka sleeve, and a leather palm grips a Glühwein cup. Pull one off to pay.

7. 
   07

   Ivory knit hat with red and green bands, pompom

   Worn under the parka hood, a thick knit hat is the second layer your ears need. Red and green on ivory are Québec's winter colours.

8. 
   08

   Red quilted nylon zip crossbody

   A small zip crossbody worn over the parka holds a phone, cards and the cash some stalls prefer. Quilted nylon takes snow, and red matches the crew.

A suggested look — ivory hooded down parka, deep red lambswool crew over an ivory turtleneck, winter white wide-leg trousers, felt-lined pac boots, ivory knit hat with red and green bands.

What to avoid

• City boots — snow on hills
• A wool coat alone — −11°C
• Thin gloves — use mittens
• Monday to Wednesday — market closed