Christmas market
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the advent, mainly the four weeks preceding Christmas Day. These markets originated in Germany and Austria, but are now being held all over the world.
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[edit] History
The history of Christmas markets goes back to the Late Middle Ages in the German speaking part of Europe. The Dresden Christmas market - first held in 1434 is often (incorrectly) said to be the oldest Christmas market. It draws each years between 1.5 and 2 millions visitors and has over 60 stalls.[1] But it is very unlikely that the Dresden market is really the oldest, because Dresden was a very small town in 1434 and other citys got equal rights earlier, for example the Christmas market in Bautzen was first reported in 1384.[2] Other Christmas markets may be older. A "December market" in Vienna, which was in fact a kind of a forerunner of a Christmas market goes even back to 1294.
In many towns in Germany and in Austria, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the town's "Christmas market" or "Weihnachtsmarkt", in the southern parts of Germany and in Austria often also called "Christkindlmarkt" or "Christkindelsmarkt" (South Ger. "Christ child market"). Generally held in the town square and pedestrian zones, the market combines food and drink in the open air, shopping and pageantry as well as tradition. On opening night and, in some towns, every night, onlookers welcome the "Christkind", or Christ child, in the form of a golden-haired angel played by a local youth.
[edit] Attractions and vendors
Some of the most popular items at the Market are the Nativity Scene (also known as a crèche or crib); Zwetschgamännla (figures made of decorated dried plums); Nussknacker (carved Nutcrackers); Gebrannte Mandeln or candied, toasted almonds; assorted cookies like Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both forms of soft gingerbread); Christstollen or Stollen, a sort of egg bread with candied fruit; and not least, Glühwein, hot mulled wine (with or without a shot of brandy), or Eierpunsch (an egg based warm alcoholic drink), to keep the body going in the cold winter air. Many other homemade crafts and toys, books, and (in recent years) more or less useful gadgets can be found at a Christkindlmarkt.
[edit] Markets around the world
- See also: List of Christmas markets
Many famous Christmas markets are held in the cities of Nuremberg, Dresden, Stuttgart and Augsburg making them very popular tourist stops.[3][4] The Nuremberg and Dresden markets draw each year about two million, the Stuttgart market attracts more than three million visitors.
Strasbourg, France has been holding a Christmas market, "Christkindelsmärik," around its cathedral since 1570, when it was part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation.[5]
Christmas markets are traditional in Alsace (an area of France with a heavy German influence) and most of the towns have their local Christmas market. A large Christmas market is held in Birmingham, England, with visiting traders from its twin city of Frankfurt.[6] The market claims to be the biggest German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria with over 90 stalls in 2007. Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester,[7] Lincoln and Nottingham also hold similar markets. German immigrants also brought the Christmas market celebrations to the United States.[8][9][10][11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Bakst, Alex. "A Visit to Germany's Christmas Markets", Spiegel Online, December 7, 2006.
- Zug, J.D. (1991). German-American Life: Recipes and Traditions. Iowa City: Penfield Press.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Schiller, M. (2007). 573 Striezelmarkt in Dresden. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://www.striezel-markt.de/
- ^ 623. Bautzen Christmas market, from http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/weihnachtsmarkt-bautzen.html
- ^ Stadt Nürnberg. (Unknown last update.). Christmas City Nuremberg. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/english/
- ^ Stuttgart Marketing. (Unknown last update). Stuttgart Christmas Market. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/ENG/leisure/weihnachtsmarkt.htm
- ^ Noël à Strasbourg. (Unknown last update). Noël à Strasbourg. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://www.noel-strasbourg.com/
- ^ Birmingham City Council. (2007, October 9). Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham. Retrieved December 1, 2007, from http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=28153&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=12745
- ^ Manchester City Council. (2007, November 8). Manchester City Council - Christmas Markets - Feeling Festive?. Retrieved November 8, from http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1654
- ^ German American Chamber of Commerce Colorado Chapter. (2006). Denver Christkindl Market. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://www.denverchristkindlmarket.com/
- ^ German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest. (2006, November 17). Christkindlmarket Chicago. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://www.christkindlmarket.com/facts.htm
- ^ German-American Society of Tulsa. (2007, May 1). Christkindlmarkt 2007. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://home.att.net/~gastulsa01/Christkindlmarkt.htm
- ^ ArtsQuest. (2006). CHRISTKINDLMARKT BETHLEHEM. Retrieved July 8, 2007, from http://www.christkindlmarkt.org/
[edit] External links
- Munich christmas markets
- Web Online Exercise about Christmas Markets in Germany
- Listing of UK and European Christmas Markets
- Christkindlesmarkt Augsburg [1]
- Full list of German Christmas Markets
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