Think Christmas markets and immediately you are whisked away by the festive atmosphere, the smell of food and gluwhein, the sight of that special gift and of course friends and family. But where did Christmas markets come from and just how did they start, let alone become the big business they are today. Do you know the origin of Christmas markets?
It is widely accepted that Christmas markets originated in Germany back in the middle ages with the first recorded genuine Christmas market being the Striezelmarkt in Dresden. That makes the tradition of Christmas markets nearly 600 years old, with the Striezelmarkt first appearing in 1434 on the Monday before Christmas on the Altmarkt square. Originally, it was a one-day market to provide the citizens of Dresden with the sale of meat and baked goods for the Christmas meal after the traditional Advent period of fasting.
Earlier markets of the season were considered “December markets, basically normal street markets that were held during the festive season. These early mentions can be found in Vienna (1298), Munich (1310), Bautzen (1384), Frankfurt (1393) and Milan.
The Spirit of Christmas markets
Originally called a Christkindlmarkt, which literally means Christ Child that theme lives on in the child dressed in white and gold robe that is often on display at these markets. Today it is accepted that the name refers more to the spirit of Christmas as theses were street markets that only operated during the Advent. That tradition is…
