The market draws 3 million people each year and includes 150 unique stalls that offer traditional Austrian foods, Christmas decorations and ornaments, handicrafts, and drinks. The largest Christmas market and one of the most well known is the Vienna Christmas World on Rathausplatz, near the Rathaus, Vienna's historic city hall. Most Christmas markets open in late November and last through December, closing right after 25 December, with a few staying open for New Year's. Vienna holds 20 different Christmas markets around the city. The first 'December Market' was held in Vienna in 1298. Ĭhristmas markets are also popular traditions in Austria, and are held in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Linz, and Graz. Additionally, the city of Berlin claims more than 70 markets, which open in late November and close just after Christmas. The two most visited Christmas markets in Germany are found in Dortmund, with more than three and a half million visitors of 300 stalls around a gigantic Christmas tree that stands 45 metres (148 ft) tall, and in Cologne with 4 million people. The Nuremberg and Dresden markets draw about two million people each year the Stuttgart and Frankfurt markets attract more than three million visitors.

Major Christmas markets Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt opening ceremony A Christmas market in Riga, Latviaįamous Christmas markets are held in the cities of Augsburg, Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart, making them popular tourist attractions during the Christmas holiday season. More regional food specialties include Christstollen ( Stollen), a sort of bread with candied fruit in Saxony, and hot Apfelwein and Frankfurter Bethmännchen in Hesse. Both help stave off the cold winter air which sometimes dips below freezing. Popular attractions at the markets include the Nativity Scene (a crèche or crib), Zwetschgenmännle (figures made of decorated dried plums), Nussknacker (carved Nutcrackers), Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds), traditional Christmas cookies such as Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both forms of soft gingerbread), Bratwurst, and Glühwein, hot mulled wine (with or without a shot of brandy), or Eierpunsch (an egg-based warm alcoholic drink) - both a highlight of the market for many visitors. On opening night at the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, and in some other towns, onlookers welcome the ' Christkind' (originally boy Jesus, but often depicted as an angel-like girl), acted by a local child. Traditionally held in the town square, the market offers food, drinks and seasonal items for sale from open-air stalls, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing.

In southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria, it is called a 'Christkind(e)l(s)(i)markt' (German language, literally meaning 'Christ child market'). In many towns in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the Christmas market or 'Weihnachtsmarkt'. Early mentions of these 'December markets' can be found in Vienna (1298), Munich (1310), Bautzen (1384), and Frankfurt (1393). Dresden's Striezelmarkt was first held in 1434 and one of the first true Christmas markets earlier markets of the season were 'December markets'.

They became a popular Advent custom during the Reformation era. Ĭhristmas markets date to the Late Middle Ages in the German-speaking part of Europe and in many parts of the former Holy Roman Empire that included many eastern regions of France. have adapted the name to the quasi-German Christkindlmarket, substituting market for German Markt. These markets originated in Germany, but are now held in many countries.

The Striezelmarkt in Dresden, Germany, one of the first Christmas markets in the worldĪ Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt (literally: Christ Child Market, but the term 'Christkind' usually refers to an angel-like 'spirit of Christmas' rather than literally the Christ Child), Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlimarkt, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, is one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world. Street market associated with the celebration of Christmas

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