The Union Square Holiday Market takes place each year from November 23 to December 24. At this place, people set up individual booths to sell both regular and peculiar items. Regular items sold include scarfs and gloves, but special items include colorful bowls, puzzles, and intricate paintings. During my first time there, I was taken aback by the number of shops open. From the outside of the market, it looked like a very plain enclosure of wooden planks. Once inside, the entire atmosphere changed. There were so many people that with every turn, you’d hear “excuse me” or a “pardon me”. The items on display also took me by surprise. I didn’t expect many handcrafted items to be sold, nor did I expect such weird items to be on display. One booth contained an assortment of eastern religious statuettes glowing in bright colors. Another booth was the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation selling signs such as “Union Square Park”. How crazy is that! One part of the market that was predictable was the presence the food stands. While I expected the regular hot dogs and pretzels for sale, the stands took a complete turn and were instead, selling unique types of food, such as meatballs, tacos, and macaroons. Though I didn’t buy any souvenirs for myself on this trip, it was fascinating to see all sorts of distinctive items gathered together at one place. In a way, it felt like being inside a museum exhibit of random items placed side by side.